Baba Black Lager - Uinta Brewing Company

harrymel

Washington

4.54/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Best by 11JUL13

Black with a nice light tan quilt. Smells malty, some coffee, some soil, some leather - all components come together nicely. I like the nose. Robust flavor with leather, cocoa, dark chocolates, coffee (espresso tradiitional), a slight earthy character. well fucking done. Medium on full bodied with moderate, but prickly carb. This is a sincerely well done beer. Absolute delight for the style. Really recommend this.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 07:58:46 | More by harrymel

chodinheaven

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Nearly black in color with bright ruby highlights. Creamy, almost tan head on top with pretty good retention. The smell is creamy, with dark roasted malts at the forefront. Milk and chocolate malts round out the nose.

Smooth with higher carbonation like a lager, but with a a taste that is reminiscent of the stout that it looks like. Refreshingly light in body, but it still manages to support a nice combination of dark malts and some crisp and clean hops, bringing about an even-keeled balance. A small nuttiness is present in the aftertaste and linger. Some nice complexities come through this very light ABV beer, and all aspects work very well together. Maybe its because this is the first euro dark lager I've had, but I'm pleasantly surprised by this one. No off flavors at all and an excellent refreshing mouthfeel that might just be the best part of this beer. After trying three of their beers, I like Uinta so far!

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 22:49:46 | More by chodinheaven

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a tall pint glass, color is dark brown to near black, amber hues on the edge; head is light tan, presenting dense, about 1/2" thick.

Smell is light roast, clean malt, light grass.

Taste is great, very pleasant, solid roast flavor, hint of mild malt sweetness.

Mouthfeel is very full, nicely carbonated and great lingering flavor; flavors bounce and fill the mouth.

Overall, very easy drinking, great tasting brew, great flavor and mouthfeel from such a low strength brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 00:16:25 | More by mvanaskie13

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Uinta Brewing Company
Baba Black Lager
Style: Schwarzbier
ABV: 4.00 %

LOOK: Stubby bottle, USDA certified Organic. Pours a dark brown, just about black. Clear, with a soapy off white froth. Leaves plenty of lace on the glass.

SMELL: Chocolate like malty aroma, bringing back memories of malt chocolate Ovaltine.

TASTE: Roasted, dark malt flavor with some smoke and bakers chocolate. Mild tea like hop with a complimentary bitterness.

FEEL: Medium bodied, well carbonated, smooth, full of flavor.

OVERALL: A nice dark lager, really easy drinking. One of the better session ales Ive had. I could recommend this to anyone.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 22:17:51 | More by Stinkypuss

Rhode17

North Carolina

4.22/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Just grabbed this today at Bottle Revolution.

Not much of a head, slight tan lacing. Dark cocoa in color.
Smells like a slightly carmel infused chocolate malt ball.
Malty lager body. Lighter than an ale, but certainly richer than most lagers. (Confused yet)
I like the structure of the beer though, easy enough to session but flavorful enough to enjoy. Has a light cocoa hint with the malts and just a little bit of a sweet chocolate in there as well.
Really enjoying this one, and at 4% Abv. I bet I'd be full before this one toppled me.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2011 02:21:50 | More by Rhode17

DoubleJ

California

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Black sheep often refers to a odd member of a group, so let's hope the reference has a positive spin. Coming from a 12 ounce bottle, on to the beer:

The beer is black with a hue of cola brown at the bottom of the glass. Sitting on top of the liquid is a half-inch of toasted colored head, which retains itself well after the pour and splashes sticky webbed lace around. The aroma is smokey like a porter, slight smoked meat note, molasses, unsweetened cocoa, and coffee roast. Not only is it complex, but the intensity is there there, unexpected for a beer at 4% ABV.

The complex does doesn't quite translate in taste, but it does deliver a good, more simple flavor. Smokey charcoal and bitter roasted coffee hit first. The bitterness dies and up comes a slight sweetness to keep the smokiness attractive. Smokey and roasty in the aftertsaste. It is a "lean" medium bodied beer, with well placed carbonation which doesn't kill the flavor, and without a doubt very easy to drink.

Uinta delivers a great package in this black lager, coming in at just 4% ABV. This would put me in a good mood while barbecuing.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 05:08:47 | More by DoubleJ

hosehead83

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a "stubby" 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass. Smart-looking label.
dark brown/black in color,with a nice, thick cap of fluffy tanfoam.
Aroma-faint whiff of roast coffee
Taste-Black patent malts, dark toasted malt,chocolate and black licorice note. Subtle hop kiss in a soft dry finish. More substance than a lager. Almost porter-like in mouthfeel. Very tasty and quite sessionable at only 4.0ABV. A great match for burgers or brats. My first beer from this brewery and I am impressed by this offering. More please!

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 22:44:36 | More by hosehead83

sulldaddy

Connecticut

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Cellar temp bottle poured into a mug.

The beer pours a deep mahogany with some ruby highlights. Creamy beige head foams up several cm with a gentle pour. The head fades slowly to a sturdy surface layer and leaves tight lattice on each sip.
Aroma is rich and malty with some roasted malt notes and toffee. Not quite roasty enough to call it burnt, but definitely roast malt. No hop presence on the nose. Fairly enjoyable nose.
First sip reveals an average body with fine tingly carbonation. The texture is silky smooth and the beer is very easy to drink.
Flavor is roasted malt and some molasses and brown sugar. Again no real hop notes to speak of and the beer finishes a little sweet. No booze and a very drinkable, easily sessionable beer.

Well made and interesting. This is a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 02:09:30 | More by sulldaddy

wac9

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

wow what can i say about this beer its year round and its black its organic and its say for best taste pour in a glass its has a great after taste pours great in a glass its a must drink beer. finally some
good beers have arrived drink it tonight drink it pour it enjoy it

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 01:00:02 | More by wac9

farrago

New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Close to two fingers of dark tan foam, presents a few islands of larger bubbles which dissipate back into an even surface, the retention is very good and the lacing shows above average stickiness. While pure black in color, not fully opaque, the liquid has great clarity despite the hue, a metallic orange cast shows up at the glass bottom. The nose gives up lots of roast, chocolate powder, café au lait as well as a nice spine of herbal matter, no real fruitiness, same for broad hop based scents, there is some country style bread, barley and oats, leans heavily on malts for effect. Medium-bodied, acts like it is trying to develop some bitterness, light grassiness and pine then yields to all that roast and toast, coffee beans, dark chocolate, malted milk balls and sweet bread dough. Comes up with some dried orange peel and licorice notes, adds welcome variety. The carbonation is unobtrusive yet present. Maybe some dark fruits at the end. It’s competent and consistent, pleases you for how it maintains a high energy level from first to last sip.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 03:44:41 | More by farrago

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.04/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A mini-trade with my colleague, Sam Knocken, netted me this and several other Uinta beers. That works!

From the bottle: "Earth, Wind and Beer Herded by Uinta Brewing Co. Salt Lake City Utah"; "For best flavor enjoy in a glass"; "Brewed with renewable power"; "Black Lager".

Yeah, I get that it is an allusion to the nursery rhyme, but how would any self-respecting rocker not default to The Who's Baba O'reily? Dunno. I did. I also utilized an aggro pour which resulted in a cascade-like action, finishing with a massive two-plus fingers of thick, dense, deep-tan head with great retention. Color was a deep, dark-brown with garnet highlights. Nose had a pleasant smokiness accompanying a dark chocolate semi-sweetness. Mouthfeel was medium-to-full, not quite creamy, but approaching. The flavor was smoky, slightly bitter with an underlying chocolatiness. Finish was semi-dry and the flavor of chocolate lingered well pat the swallow. The lacing that remained in the glass was remarkable. Good stuff! I would drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 00:59:51 | More by woodychandler

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a footed strange)

A- This beer pours an opaque black body with a boiling big bubbly light tan head that sticks to the glass in sheets. There is a gentle carbonation of microbubbles.

S- The dark pine hops with clean black malt hints are lagered smooth and finish with a flinty note that grows a bit as it warms.

T- The light clean dark roasted malt is clean with a slight chalky note and a clean slightly dry finish. The green hop hint lingers with a faint roast note comes through.

M- The medium-light mouthfeel with a gentle fizz.

O The crisp clean lagered beer has full fresh dark malt and a nice support of hops. Very drinkable and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 20:54:11 | More by rhoadsrage

cyclonece09

Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle, received in a beer of the month mix six pack from Vintage Cellar in Blacksburg, Virginia, into a 14 oz "pint" glass. The name does not lie, pours a nice black with a nice one finger brownish white head. Smells of roasted malt, definitely a little hint of coffee. Tastes of a heavily roasted malt, with little hop presence, but enough to balance it. The malt has a bit of a coffee taste. This beer is light to medium bodied (in between) and carbonation seems correct. Overall, a very good beer and a very good black lager.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 01:14:32 | More by cyclonece09

jmerloni

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Dark brown coloration with smallish, off-white head that laces decently but doesn't retain very well.

S - Woah. Huge, robust aromas of espresso, hops. Huge espresso here. Huge.

T - Robust flavors. Espresso, roasted almond, some subtle dark fruits, and a bit of milky chocolate malt.

M - Good mouthfeel. Balanced sip. Flavors are very prominent in the forefront with a good, carbonated subtle malt finish, although it's a little watery on the back end.

D - A good beer. Very drinkable. I would get this again.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 04:20:42 | More by jmerloni

alexgash

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle. Bottled on 08/14/12. As usual, great looking Uinta bottle/label.

Dark root beer brown body. Some light gets through the edges, revealing a clear beer. Good inch of dense, pillowy, cappuccino brown head. Nice lacing. Earthy, roasted malt aromas. Tobacco, dark chocolate, and a hint of licorice as well.

Roasted barley and coffee notes up front. Slight cardboard flavor as well. Singed caramel and more roasted malts fill up the palate. Tobacco and earthy, peaty notes into the finish. Roasted coffee bitterness in the end, with lingering semi-sweet chocolate. Moderate body, with medium carbonation. A nice session beer with good flavor and complexity.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 23:30:28 | More by alexgash

matjack85

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I picked this up as part of a build-your-own six pack for $9.99 at the Binny's store in Bloomingdale, IL, making it $1.67 for a single 12oz bottle. No freshness date.

The beer poured black, of course, and made a 2-finger mocha colored head that lasted quite awhile. It also left quite a bit of nice lacing on the sides of the glass.

Coffee and dark chocolate smell along with lots of roasted malts.

Wow is this beer thin! Roasted malt and coffee dominate the taste with a touch of dark chocolate in the background. Only a mild hop bitterness, which is surprising considering it has a 32 IBU rating.

It tastes good and goes down easy but has the consistency of water with fairly high carbonation. A very light beer both in body and in alcohol content. It has a lingering coffee flavored aftertaste.

If you like light beers, this is a good one with more flavor than most.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 09:07:53 | More by matjack85

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.03/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle purchased from Whole Foods SoMa in San Francisco.

Pours a lightish, browning black, with a fine, slightly filmy, slightly bubbly head of off-white. Lacing is minimal, but forms in oblique streaks. Body looks light and fluid, with fine carbonation. Decent look, but not exceptional.

Nose is pleasantly light, with some dedicated roast characters giving a faint suggestion of acidity. Some black olive character comes through as well with this roast. It's pretty light on, but pretty pleasant, and stylistically very appropriate.

Taste is similar. Pleasant roasted character, but a nice dryness and lightness in the body to keep it clean and drinkable. The roast flattens out towards the back, leaving a pleasant toasted grain flavour, and mellowing into a dry, almost crisp finish. Where the acidity was on the nose, this dips to become smoother and more savoury, leaving it crisp but interesting.

Feel is light and dry, but matches with the beer nicely.

Overall, this is a great dark lager. It has the lightness and freshness of a lager, with some genuinely well-delivered roasted characters from the malt. It's a delicate balancing act, and it's performed very well here.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 23:59:05 | More by lacqueredmouse

Omnium

Pennsylvania

4.01/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottle > Pint Glass

A - Pours dark brown, one finger of a tan head, thin lacing.
S - Smells of some really nice roasted malts, some coffee beans, and a hint of lager yeast, i also get a faint hint of some tart smelling hops, but not a lot.
T - Smooth roasted grains and malts combined with a good lager taste, some caramels.
M - Full feeling, coats your palate with those rich creamy textures.
O - Solid beer, love the good roasted flavors in this.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 00:23:17 | More by Omnium

horshack7

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: This one is a very dark amber very much near brown. On top is an off white only about a finger thick.

Aroma: Dark fruits, notes of smokiness, roasted hop, bits of rye, slight wisps of figs. Malts are very much dark roasted and bready.

Taste: Full bodied and crisp. Rasins, dark fruits, bready malts, faint plum notes in the towards the back. Dark roasted hops are well on the floral side with a nice dryness. In the end is a smokey finish to top it off.

Notes: The smokiness and the dryness makes this one a solid beer and a little bit hearty. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 02:58:01 | More by horshack7

Sjorge3442

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pickeed up a loose single at the bottle shop. Been a huge fan of Uinta recently. This beer like their others is wonderful. The flavors combine to make a nice black lager.

A- dark. Slight reddish hue, almost non transparent

S - smells like a nice cup of coffee. Hints of vanilla and hazelnut. You can smell the roasted hops.

T - none of the flavors are overwelming,but like before mentioned, blend together perfectly. Its smooth and mellow but very drinkable

M - very light here. A few flavors lingure around, but nothing is over powering. Little to know carbonation

O - an exceptional black larger in my opinion. Well balanced wiith nice roasted malts and very little hop presence. Would certainly putrchase this again.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 21:19:46 | More by Sjorge3442

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

The pour initially looks black but is actually a deep clear ruby in the glass, topped with 2 fingers of rich mocha colored head. This retains with a sturdy ½ finger of creamy froth, which leaves back a sticky latticework of lacing down the sides of the glass. The aroma smells leafy and citric up front, with a push up from underneath of cocoa, toffee, and roast. The hops here have an earthy ripeness to them that nicely compliments the sweetness of the malts.

The taste has a green citric bite the whole way through, which is softened by chalky chocolate character, some sweeter caramel flavor, and roast across the back. This finishes dry and bitter with a touch of lingering char. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and crisp on the tongue, with more of a crisp creaminess across the back. Some underlying oiliness really keeps this slick and smooth.

I really enjoyed this Schwarzbier, as it was nicely flavored, balanced, and mostly importantly, drinkable! I ripped through this glass a lot faster than I expected. This was another solid beer from these guys.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 19:34:06 | More by Kegatron

lackenhauser

Maryland

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep black in color with a nice sized coffee colored head on top. Very nice roasted and grainy aroma. Trace of malty sweetness. Mellow roasted and dark grain flavors. Touch of burnt caramel going on. Quick hop bite at the end. Nice mouthfeel-higher level of CO2 gives it a slight zing on the tongue. A lot of flavor for such a low abv. Very sessionable and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 01:33:17 | More by lackenhauser

CHickman

New York

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from 7/11/12: pours pitch black color with a creamy 2 finger tan head that was full of bubbles and faded slowly leaving great spotty foamy lacing and foamy rings as it went down.

Smells of rich roasted malts, chocolate, light vanilla, coffee, lemon zest, citrus hops, herbs, charcoal, piney hops and hints of flowers; roasted malts and hoppy notes work very well together, adding a fine bitterness that trails off on the sweet side.

Tastes like it smells, with roasted malts, chocolate, light vanilla, coffee, lemon zest, herbs, charcoal, piney hops, caramel, molasses, toasted grains and hints of flowers; complex and very tasty, getting better as it warms and letting the roasted malts synch up with the hops for a sweet and bitter finish that trails off like burnt coffee.

Mouthfeel is creamy and slick, with very light carbonation, a medium body and a chewy feel that runs off bitter. Overall a very tasty black lager that I'd definitely recommend.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 03:29:24 | More by CHickman

Onenote81

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I've seen this on the shelves here for quite awhile now, and finally picked some up last week. 12oz bottle poured into a stemmed lager glass.

Pours a deep black, like a stout. Small beige head on top that dissipates very quickly. Aroma of hot chocolate, dry husky grains, graham crackers. Easy subtle feel. Though this beer looks heavy, it is very light on the palate. Almost too easy to drink this one.

Heavy-hitting roasted chocolate flavors present. Sweet mellow flavors meld with a dry cracker finish. Cereal grains on the back end. This little beer packs on the flavor. This is organic too? Nice. A nice little beer here. This is a style that is underrated in my mind, and one I need to revisit more and more. Cool label art to boot.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 20:52:49 | More by Onenote81

Wasatch

Utah

3.93/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottled: 09/08/11

Pours a nice black color, nice carbonation, with a nice fizzy tan head, which leaves some sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, slight hop note, with some nice little chocolate notes. The taste is sweet, malty, very slight hop note, and caramel. Medium body, with a nice crisp feel. This is a pretty nice brew, one of the best Uinta makes at 4% ABV.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 21:37:08 | More by Wasatch