Winter Rental Black Lager - East Coast Beer Company

ColdWaffles

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a standard pint. Never heard of the company before. Kind of surprised to see a screw top.

Appearance: Looks the part. Slightly clear "black" lager/schwarzbier. Kept a surprisingly decent darker off-white head.

Smell: Can't pick up much on this one. Picking up a tiny bit of roasted malt.

Taste: This is a relatively "safe" play on this style. Solid roast malt taste with a hint of licorice and a dash of hops. I imagine this is cheap in Jersey, and for a cheap buy I'd be down next time I'm in that state. Problem is, that's normally not during the winter.

Mouthfeel: Light body, moderate, but not overabundant carbonation. Goes down effortlessly.

Clearly a "lower tier" and cheaper brew, but surprisingly good for being such.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 00:49:45 | More by ColdWaffles

leansean88

New York

3.25/5  rDev -8.5%

06-12-2013 01:53:48 | More by leansean88

skriv

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +12.7%

04-08-2013 00:20:56 | More by skriv

socon67

New York

3.39/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

A - Dark brown pour with some webs of lacing. Foam retention is minimal. Very little carbonation is noted.

S - Scents of sweet malt, light grains, and what smells like black licorice. However there is very little that stands out.

T - Light drinking beer that is true to the style. Has a sweetness that keeps it interesting, but not much in terms of complexity. I'd like either more of a hop presence or a bit more complexity. Still, not too shabby.

M - Light beer that at times feels a bit watery. Has a refreshing feel to it; a good beer with food. Finish leaves with a mild amount of sugary sweetness.

O - I appreciate the attempt at this style, as there aren't enough good ones domestically. But Winter Rental doesn't have enough to keep me coming back. Would work for those that like the sweetness of a doppelbock without the thick feel.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 00:03:40 | More by socon67

acurtis

New Jersey

2.5/5  rDev -29.6%

03-09-2013 20:31:17 | More by acurtis

aakerman

New York

3.25/5  rDev -8.5%

03-04-2013 14:36:48 | More by aakerman

tommy2x

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%

02-11-2013 01:32:29 | More by tommy2x

mkarmilowicz

4.25/5  rDev +19.7%

01-23-2013 02:34:23 | More by mkarmilowicz

NeoZaZ

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -15.5%

01-15-2013 03:44:51 | More by NeoZaZ

noremac423

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%

01-05-2013 03:48:50 | More by noremac423

WDJersey

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +5.6%

12-22-2012 05:27:54 | More by WDJersey

GFD400

New York

4/5  rDev +12.7%

12-16-2012 21:15:47 | More by GFD400

bacher468

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%

11-16-2012 21:42:00 | More by bacher468

abcdefghijkyle

New Jersey

3.33/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had this on tap at The Shepherd and the Knucklehead Pub in Haledon, NJ.

A- Had an off white head. Really faint lacing going on. Very black in color

S- Mostly malty but had some mild spices and caramel

T- Much like the smell but with a lingering malty booze taste. As I drank more the malts cam through as well as a toffee taste. Hops didn't come through much at all. It was a bit like a Heath Bar in the end.

M- Had a nice, light fizzy mouthfeel. Very true to the Schwarzbier style.

O- Glad I tried it but I probably wouldn't seek it out again. It might be a good beer for when you're snowed in.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2012 07:01:35 | More by abcdefghijkyle

Jlk819

3/5  rDev -15.5%

11-12-2012 01:28:56 | More by Jlk819

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Chestnut brown exit sits a steadfast midnight black in the vessel. A creamy khaki colored head sits moderately atop leaving a thin ring lacing. Strong backlighting reveals a steady and fast rate of effervesce.

S: Soft chocolate, sweet, with some dark caramel roast and licorice.

T: The flavor is sweet dark caramel roast, mild coffee, light chocolate with a bit of spicy hops. Nice spicy bite of of hops come on the swallow along with some sweet black cherry fruitiness.

M: Mouthful has a nice tingle, sharp carbonation wise, creamy with a medium body.

O: Overall easy drinkability, sweet with a nice roastiness, good enough for props, light enough for multiples. Its a schwarz people not a stout, and a pretty good roast backing for one at that.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 01:46:19 | More by beerthulhu

JohnK17

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%

10-09-2012 19:39:48 | More by JohnK17

Roose13

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +12.7%

10-02-2012 19:23:20 | More by Roose13

cde1218

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -8.5%

09-16-2012 23:59:22 | More by cde1218

jnardone235

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +5.6%

09-03-2012 04:23:17 | More by jnardone235

sulldaddy

Connecticut

2.83/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Picked up a bottle at a local store recently, and I am drinking it at cellar temp in a pint glass.
The beer pours a cola brown with frothy beige head that fades to a sturdy edge layer with a few strings of thin foam.

Aroma is mild malt with some caramel and a bit of roasted malt but fairly mild nose overall.

WIndowpane lattice develops as I sample the beer.

First sip reveals an average body with thinner texture than expected not quite watery, but certainly not robust or chewy.
Carbonation is mild and fine, gently rolls across my palate.
The flavor is all malt with hints of roasted malt and a bit of chocolate. Pretty mild but easy to drink.
I dont really get any hop presence and there is no alcohol to speak of either. The beer is easy to drink, but almost to a fault. Not too much going on here and only the faintest of roast malt on each finish reminds me I am drinking a beer. A little disappointed here, but wasnt expecting to be blown away anyway.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 03:30:01 | More by sulldaddy

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up from the House of 1,000 beers for a dollar. I new it was old but was intrigued when I found out it was a Schwarzbier.

A - I really didn't get too much head but it has a nice cocoa color with a deep amber hue almost pitch black looking beer.

S - A touch grainy but I do get the standard chocolate and mild roasts associated with the style.

T - Well crap for a dollar and being old it was rather good. Roast is minimal and chocolate/malts were well balanced. The grains did clash a bit the the hops making for a mildly bittering finish but overall not bad.

M - Light to medium quite easy to drink.

Overall I might have to see if I can get this again. Possibly fresh next winter release. Not a bad beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 05:14:31 | More by DrDemento456

KTCamm

New Jersey

3.45/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a pint glass. Picked up in a six mixer.

Pours a dark black with clingy tan foam. Laces. Chocolately malty smell. Some coffee notes. Taste is a light creamy dark malt. Coffee flavored. Very mellow. Little hop bite at the close. Milky. Pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 12:05:27 | More by KTCamm

Gww1864

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +12.7%

06-13-2012 01:13:18 | More by Gww1864

richbrew

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +5.6%

04-13-2012 19:49:17 | More by richbrew