Achluophobia Black Kölsch - Stoudts Brewing Co.

57md

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance is solid black with a finger of tan head that dissipated quickly, but left a touch of lacing behind on the glass. The nose is surprisingly smokey. Smoke is present in the upfront taste, as well - it's light, but distinctly there. The roasted malt flavor is a bit light for a schwarzbier, but there is a solid dry finish that combines with a touch of bitterness to end this offering on a high note.

Even in the finish, there is the faint essence of smoke. I hate to belabor the focus on the smokey flavor, but I see it as a surprise bonus! Frankly, the smoke profile of this beer outdistances several beers I have had that are marketed as rauchbiers.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2012 01:04:56 | More by 57md

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +7.5%

05-20-2013 22:13:51 | More by Slatetank

VikeMan

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%

04-23-2013 23:01:07 | More by VikeMan

jk3

New York

2.75/5  rDev -26.1%

03-01-2013 05:29:59 | More by jk3

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A -A standard pour yields for fingers worth of dark brown batter like whipped airy froth with a rocky top... Fabulous retention... Dark with little or no light leaking in... Still with no discernible carbonation...

S - The aroma is rather subdued... A slight charred character... Some lightly roasted malts... A subtle caramel sweetness... Not much else...

T - A bit of sweetness to start... Caramel... Bitter dark chocolate... Roasted malts... A slight burnt charred flavor lingers on the finish...

M - Light to medium bodied... Mostly chalky throughout... A good carbonated bite... Clean and crisp... Consistency with each and every sip...

D - An effective and rather quaffable schwarzbier... While achluaphobia may mean fear of the dark, there is nothing to be afraid of in this Stoudt's offering... Slightly one dimensional, but still quite effective... A good representation of an under represented style... Definately worth checking out if you're given the opportunity...

Serving type: growler

02-02-2013 01:06:38 | More by philbe311

MarvinSnyder

West Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +14.2%

10-21-2012 21:53:36 | More by MarvinSnyder

deapokid

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +7.5%

10-08-2012 02:17:13 | More by deapokid

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.8/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap in a pint glass

Appearance – Served a very deep brown colored beer with a small just off white head. The head faded relatively fast to leave a lighter amount of lacing.

Smell – The aroma was a mix of caramel sweet and roasted malts. There was a nice light cocoa, coffee, nuttiness and a smoky aroma mixed with the roasted malt and caramel; rounding out the aroma quite nice.

Taste – The taste started of a sweeter caramel and lighter chocolate flavor. With this was a more brown bread flavor that acted as a base for the beer. As the taste went on some of the sweet caramel faded as a bit more roastiness, smokiness and nuttiness comes to the tongue. In the end a slight bittering comes to the flavor balancing out some of the sweeter and roastier flavors well.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer was on the lighter to average side in terms of creaminess and thickness with a carbonation level that was rather average. The carbonation was fitting for making it rather drinkable, but a bit more of a body would have been quite nice for the roasted and chocolate flavors.

Overall – Quite a good dark kolsch. Somewhat sweet up front with a more subdued and balanced taste at the end. Quite drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2012 02:03:40 | More by Darkmagus82

stephenjmoore

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

08-26-2012 04:32:52 | More by stephenjmoore

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Pinocchio's, Media, PA

A black Kölsch sounded new and interesting, so I figured I'd give it a try. Basically falls under the characteristics of a schwarzbier or black lager. Poured a dark brown-black with a thin off-white head that didn't stick around too long. Aroma of dark roasty malts, ash, notes of coffee and light, indistinct fruity esters. Again, dark roasty malts and ash in the taste, along with some distant pils malts, yeast, coffee, and something almost banana-like in there as well. Aftertaste was a bit stale and bitter. Light-medium mouthfeel and pretty easily drinkable, thinner than your typical schwarzbier, which I guess is what they were going for by calling this a "black kolsch." Not likely something I'd go back for, but not a bad one overall.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2012 06:11:03 | More by Rifugium