Bohemian Black Lager - Spoetzl Brewery

SickGnar

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Dark, dark mahogany brown, beautifully ruby when backlit. Clear, but it is hard to tell with dark color. Medium size creamy light tan head that settles slowly & retains well. Leaves moderate lacing.

S: Bits of bread crust & dark toffee with a hint of roast on a slightly toasty & grainy malt base. Barest impression of slightly spicy hops.

T: More base malt & sweetness than nose implied with just a tad less darkness. Lots of grainy bread crust, malty sweetness leaning to dark toffee & a hint of raisin. Edge or powdery roast. Background hops seem mostly for bittering.

M: A tad under medium body with CO2 matched or slightly above. Wet & creamy with just hints of texture. Roasty dry finish.

D: A very approachable & quite toasty dark beer. An excellent option at a price point hardly above macro swill.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 09:23:20 | More by SickGnar

lucasj82

Indiana

3/5  rDev -13.5%

06-18-2013 01:33:11 | More by lucasj82

Sudbuster

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

06-17-2013 00:15:31 | More by Sudbuster

Satsuma

Florida

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

06-16-2013 03:45:41 | More by Satsuma

Zuidman

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -20.7%

06-14-2013 20:05:16 | More by Zuidman

protton

Florida

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

06-14-2013 18:39:59 | More by protton

Kpitevl

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

06-09-2013 18:00:57 | More by Kpitevl

NYR_Rob

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

06-09-2013 04:03:15 | More by NYR_Rob

BeerOps

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

06-09-2013 01:27:37 | More by BeerOps

blastoderm55

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

06-07-2013 02:51:58 | More by blastoderm55

GreyJake

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

06-05-2013 01:34:06 | More by GreyJake

Amp

Oklahoma

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%

06-04-2013 00:52:14 | More by Amp

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.43/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours a dark ruby color with touches of transparency when held up to a light. There's about a finger's worth of light mocha-shaded head. There's only a modicum of lacing left on the glass, as well.

S: It's more interesting than the other Shiner brews I've sampled, that's for sure. There are touches of caramel, roasted malts, chocolate, and cream. I also notice the slightest hint of adjuncts, but they honestly kind of work here.

T: I like the pleasant roastiness on the opening. This gives way to light dark fruit esters and some cocoa powder. While it's straightforward (a trait ever-so-common with Shiner, seemingly), it also has a richer flavor and an enjoyable subtlety to it others lack - even in the style.

M: Good schwarzbiers can pass for an Irish-style dry stout in terms of mouthfeel; I feel like this one passes that test, to an extent. It's dry at first, but touches of sweetness lingers after a few sips. Carbonation is moderately low, so it's not particularly drinkable.

O: Not bad at all. It's quite good, actually, especially for the style. It's rich, subtle character almost belies its 4.9% ABV. Out of the mixed 6-pack from Shiner (other brewers, take note), this is probably the only one I'd buy a 6-pack of in the future.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2013 21:58:45 | More by ThisWangsChung

Texas_Speed

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

06-02-2013 15:55:52 | More by Texas_Speed

Garrettshu

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

06-01-2013 20:07:10 | More by Garrettshu

speedvagen

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

06-01-2013 14:52:54 | More by speedvagen

Beric

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%

06-01-2013 13:03:12 | More by Beric

Xzfgiimtsath

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

05-31-2013 20:02:57 | More by Xzfgiimtsath

herrburgess

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%

05-28-2013 12:58:53 | More by herrburgess

maketheheartglad

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

05-27-2013 04:13:35 | More by maketheheartglad

MN_Beerticker

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

05-24-2013 03:10:26 | More by MN_Beerticker

JG-90

New Jersey

2.75/5  rDev -20.7%

05-24-2013 00:50:36 | More by JG-90

Rdc67

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%

05-22-2013 19:56:40 | More by Rdc67

makersmarkers

Texas

3.6/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A year or two ago, my local package store had a special price for this particular brew from the good folks at Shiner, and I went home with two cases. My college roommate and I went through them in time and with no complaints, but it wasn't compelling enough for me to buy again. And now, many beers and many attempts at calibrating and refining my pallete later, I'm drinking Shiner Bohemian Black Lager once again.

This particular bottle came from a case of Shiner's Family Reunion variety pack and was poured into a double-walled Bodum glass. This is the first time I've actually seen the beer itself! Those two cases we put away so long ago were drank straight from the bottle. It is a dark brew, the color of cold-brewed coffee. It immediately formed a thin tan head which quickly vanished. No lacing whatsoever. Lifting the glass to my nose, I smell malt and a faint suggestion of caramel and sweet chocolate.

I am surprised by the taste. There's a lot going on here: caramel is the most prominent flavor, but there's also strong notes of bourbon with all of its corn sweetness and kick. Sweet pumpernickel bread. Pine bitterness from the hops is present but mild. Crisp, dry finish with lingering notes of carbonization from the roasted malt, ash, or smoke. This beer is light on the tongue, sessionable and very drinkable with moderate carbonation.

I'm looking forward to tasting this beer again as I work through the case, and I will certainly buy it again someday. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 02:45:10 | More by makersmarkers

cyclonece09

Maryland

3.49/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a mug. Pours a light black with a small brown head that dissipates very quickly. Smells of dark roasted grain, maybe a touch of coffee, but with sweet sugar. Tastes of dark roasted grain, slight caramel or chocolate taste. Beer is slightly under carbonated, but still goes down for its light body. Overall, a slightly above average beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 03:46:01 | More by cyclonece09