Mönchshof Schwarzbier - Kulmbacher Brauerei AG

LittleCreature

Australia

4.15/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My original review of this beer disappeared for some reason. Strange.

Appearance - 4.0

Smell - 4.0

Taste - 4.0

Mouthfeel - 4.5

Drinkability - 4.5

OVERALL - 4.1
A lovely dark german lager that has is malt driven, roasty, yet light bodied and easy drinking. Very good.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2009 06:01:32 | More by LittleCreature

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Beautiful deep brown, very clear when held to the light, with 2 fingers of creamy tan head.

S - Bready with caramel and toffee and lightly roasted grain. Crisp lager aroma. Nutty.

T - Nutty and bready with chocolate, caramel and toffee. Clean and crisp. Burnt toast.

M - Light with low carbonation. Dry with a burnt toast lingering aftertaste.

D - Very tame compared to the American versions but comes to life a little as it warms. Reminds me of English porters vs American porters. Very drinkable and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2009 23:14:48 | More by brewcrew76

Vengeance526

Louisiana

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark black color with a rich tan head that holds up very well and leaves a lot of lacing behind.

Smells of roasted malt with a touch of chocolate.

Taste is mostly similar to the smell with a distinct roasty profile with notes of chocolate and caramel. The taste is a little watered down and not as strong and lively as the aroma.

Medium bodied with a fairly smooth mouthfeel but feels a little watered down. Overall pretty solid, worth a try and an easy drinker.

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2009 08:35:10 | More by Vengeance526

HitokiriNate85

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured beautifully. Dark brown that fades to medium with slight red highlights at the bottom of my pilsner glass. Creamy, tan head receded to a light cap. Laces pretty thin.

S - Pretty strong, grainy nose that's pretty rich with chocolate notes. There's a soothing, toast-y scent that's a little more delicate than I've experienced with the style.

T - The nose comes through pretty well here and is really representative of the flavors. The chocolate notes are really great and really wrap in with the toasted grain flavor, which are balanced by just enough hop bitterness. Nicely balanced. Overall, seeing as this isn't far removed from a dunkel, it's worth noting that this is less astringent and carries smoother, chocolately taste in comparison.

MF - Thin, but it still provides some body. It leaves the overall impression of being silky, which was a bit surprising and really nice. Carbonation is moderate and almost seems to...burst.

D - Fantastically drinkable. There aren't any off qualities to it, the chocolately notes keep pulling me back for another sip, and at 4.9%, there wouldn't be anything to stop someone from drinking it all day/night. I really wish the style was more popular, and I'd love to try this on tap.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2009 02:37:42 | More by HitokiriNate85

DerBayer

Germany

4.35/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hmmm this is a very good Schwarzbier - think refreshing stout

Pours a very dark Hazelnut brown almost schwarz

i smell hazelnut roast almond chocolate faint aramel

tastes divine

decent carbonation slightly prickly and only leaves a very faint coating in the mouth for such a dark beer

Drinkable guys

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2009 21:40:56 | More by DerBayer

farrago

New Jersey

4.18/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Extremely deep head with an aggressive pour, settles into a two finger deep dimpled froth, mostly minute foam with a few larger bubbles, light cream in color, leaves thin but persistent streaks of lacing behind. Semi-transparent mahogany brown to red-orange in color, especially further out from the center. Hard candy caramel and toffee scents in the nose, red grape and cherry fruit, glazed biscuit and bran muffin notes, roasted pecans, some mocha dust comes out as it warms, the hops have a serene consistency that just about eliminates any undesired sweetness to the nose as a whole. Medium-bodied, creamy textured with a soft, pliable carbonation which helps it cling to the mouth pores more than scrub at them. Admirably smooth, the chocolate, toffee, butterscotch flavors pair with the grape, cherry, red berry fruit to guarantee that the mouth entry will be sweet. This even as the hops more pronounced and apt to add a sour twist towards the end. Actually not overly smoky and you're more likely to discern white citrus or rye/wheat notes than smoke specifically. Drinkability is high and the dryness at the end contributes to this. Not a lot of "wow" factor yet it steadily wins you over.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2009 00:35:44 | More by farrago

erz316

Indiana

4.15/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

flip top bottle into brooklyn pokal

A - the head slowly forms but eventually there is enough for about one fingers worth; the colour is light brown. some lacing, though not much. the body is a dark brown until it is held up to the light and then brown-red hues shine through.

S - oh! wow, this is quite chocolaty, so my lady likes it. the nose has very strong malted chocolate component, which is right in the fore ground. once one can get past the shock atack of the malts and coco powder, there is a slightly nutty aroma to be had. once it warms up there some alcohol show itself

T - the taste is a good reflection of what the nose it. the initial taste is almost like a perfect beer form of a malted milk ball. it's malty and very chocolaty. the finish is more malty than chocolaty, and the aftertaste is more malty than dark chocolate. a fairly one sided taste, but for those who like an actual chocolate flavoured beer.

MF&D - smooth, crisp carbonation, and a medium body makes for a delicious experience. a good brew for those who want a beer in the winter, but dont want to have to chew their beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2009 00:14:27 | More by erz316

TLove

District of Columbia

3.58/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

(From Notes)

On tap at Pizza Paradiso in Georgetown, D.C.

Dark, shiny, opaque black with deep tan head and fizzy retention. Great, yeasty, chocolate smell with a decent amount of spicy flavors and coffee. Strong and grainy for a supposed black pils. Smooth and a little too sweet, but decent carbonation and good body.

Sweet, tart, and a tad bitter, but for the most part pretty drinkable and well-structured.

Serving type: on-tap

07-19-2009 23:59:57 | More by TLove

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500 ml swing-top bottle poured into an Imperial Pint. Number on the back but no date. World Classic rated by Michael Jackson.

A - Dark, almost black, mahogany color with a thick, large tan head with good retention. Started turning rocky and left lacing as it shrank in size.

S - Strong yeasty black malt aroma with little else behind the potency. The yeasty smell reminds me of the smell in the air around the Pabst brewery as a child. Caramel, chocolate, and toffee notes.

T - Bitter black malts with a touch of coffee and some caramel flavors that finish clean with a cocoa neutrality.

M - Begins bitter but ends dry and clean. Medium bodied with a neutral level of carbonation.

D - A delicious schwarzbier that is easily consumable!

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2009 01:41:05 | More by BeerFMAndy

ajayma

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

LOOK
Deep mahogany in color. Head is whippy and rocky, and fades from a redish foam to chalk-white at the top. Head fades but leaves a sticky lacing with each gulp.

AROMA
Toasty malt, maybe a faint whiff of molasses.

BODY
Medium-light in body, very smooth down the hatch. Tame, tiny carbonation.

FLAVOR
Begins and ends with a firmly toasted maltiness and a gently roasted bitterness. If there are hops they don't make themselves apparent--it's all about malt here. Finish is fairly dry and reminiscent of lightly roasted coffee.

AFTERMATH.
Flavorful but not filling. I'd love some smoked fish to go with this. Or perhaps lasagna, with that meaty sauce and those charred bits of crust...

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2009 09:25:44 | More by ajayma

drunkboxer1

Texas

3.95/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had out of a plastic mug, served from a part keg at an outdoor concert. Pours a deep dark brown with a thick tan head. I guess I should rate this down since its not black like the style suggests, but it looks nice so I'm not. Smells roasty, and of dark chocolate. First thing I noticed about how it tastes is that it has a earthy, somewhat metallic character to it. Not what I expected but I like it. Chocolate and roasted flavors dominate. Creamy head, but sharp, highly effervescent finish. I liked this beer. The earthy character makes it stand out I guess.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2009 04:18:16 | More by drunkboxer1

gfreed

Massachusetts

2.38/5  rDev -41.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Feh! With all the hoopla around this beer, I expected more. Nice appearance, brown and toasty looking with a decent head that held dents quite firmly. Good aroma, with all the roasty smell I've come to expect from a schwarzbier, with enough hops to remind one that this isn't an ale. But the taste... thin, lifeless, watery; no body to speak of and no reason to have another. I bought this expecting more from the brewery that produces Kapuziner!

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2009 01:10:49 | More by gfreed

WYVYRN527

Minnesota

4.18/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Just arrived today at the store. Looks more like a Dunkel when it is poured. Dark brown with big bubbles. Aroma is faint, but it expresses the roasted malts and light hops perfectly. I could almost mistake this beer for an English mild. Looking one more time at it into the light, it resembles burgundy with head. The flavors are amazing. Bready and toasted, with hints of caramel, and mocha, followed with a dry hop finish that is almost non-existent. This beer is so smooth, I could have a few at a time if I could afford it. Although I wouldn't consider this a Schwarzbier, It is a dark lager that holds up to the most notorious.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2009 06:21:03 | More by WYVYRN527

MLasoski

New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served: In a bottle, poured in an ale glass.

A: Dark, dark brown body with a decent 1 inch head, stuck around for a little while. Looks thick like a stout.

S: Nothing really to smell here, but it smells like a dark beer. There was a roasted coffee smell.

T: Tastes very thin for a dark beer. I like to think of it as a "light stout."

M: Very thin and leaves me with coffee breath, which corresponds to the taste.

D: For it being a thin black beer, it's not all that bad. I'm actually glad I bought it. I wish it had more character to it though.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2009 00:02:51 | More by MLasoski

botham

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

on tap at the Maproom in Chicago. pours a dark garnet brown color, almost black, with three fingers of healthy tan head that leaves solid lacings and has good retention.

aroma is lightly roasted with a touch of grain and a note of lightly breaded yeast and floral undertones. a touch of cream is present as well.

taste follows the aroma, with a crisp quality and smoothness that is quite nice. a watered down quality hurts the overall impression.

mouthfeel is light bodied with a lightly creamy texture and a watery feel throughout.

drinkability is decent; a bit thin on the palate and not rich enough to sustain the solid quality that a schwarzbier should have. still, it is well crafted for what it is.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2009 02:24:34 | More by botham

deg

New Hampshire

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

A nice bready smell. Dark brown, a little bit of light shines through. The head was rather impressive and thick, it took quite a while to settle down. A nice bitterness, a little bit of a roasted feel. I thought the beer felt a little heavy and thick in my mouth for a schwarz, but otherwise was quite good.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2009 22:20:57 | More by deg

jarmby1711

Australia

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The burnt grains are very prominent and dominate the flavour profile. The beer is quite dry and whilst there is no malty sweetness there it is not overtly bitter.
It is lightly carbonated and a pleasing dark brown /maroon colour
I would imagine this to be a very sessionable brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2009 23:09:04 | More by jarmby1711

tronester

Oklahoma

3.78/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a Super dark red, in indirect light, black. Thin, creamy light tan head. Smells of over-ripe fruit and molasses. Taste is maltier than I expected, with a hint of coffee. A touch of sourness as well. The finish is slightly bitter from the roasted malt, and a hint of hops. Mouthfeel is smooth, slightly high carbonation. Quite drinkable, a good example of a Schwarzbier.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2009 23:38:14 | More by tronester

Offa

California

4.85/5  rDev +20%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is a very nice schwarzbier, flavourful and highly drinkable.

Very deep red-brown, almost black but not, it has a medium, creamy tan head slowly shrinking to a thin, foamy top and leaving some lace.

The aroma is brown bread, whole wheat toast, burnt sugar, hints of coffee & fermented prune. Overall, it's very nice, pleasant and aromatic.

The taste is lightly sweet but mostly rather dry (sweeter than, say, Kostritzer), with firast sweet caramleised, fermented prunes and dark whole wheat toast then joined with rootbeer (anise, etc.), singed leaves, bark, and finishing dryish and slightly bitter. It's light in feel but silky smooth and not thin or watery.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2009 18:30:06 | More by Offa

Rennpferd

Wisconsin

3.55/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It poured dark brown with a black core. It had a one finger white head. It quickly retreated down to a lacing.

It had a very sweet malt scent. It was had a very lite floral hop accent.

It had a very smooth malt flavor. There was a slightly dry hop finish. It was medium bodied, and it was refreshing.

It was a drinkable beer. I liked it. I could drink a few in a sitting.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2009 04:01:26 | More by Rennpferd

berserker256

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark amber-to-black color with a nice dense lasting tan head and heavy lacing that sticks. Smells sweet and malty with prune and molasses-like odors. Tastes different than the aroma. Tastes like roasted coffee malt with a pleasant bitterness and surprisingly decent aftertaste. Semi-creamy texture and medium body. Good beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2009 17:36:33 | More by berserker256

Stunner97

New Jersey

3.55/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Appear- dark brown to black, though dark can still be seen through, small white to tan head decipates quickly, decent amount of bubbles travel up glass

Smell- Burnt and roasted malts with definite espresso and dark malt notes

Taste- Decently thin bodied beer with lots of malts and slight coffee notes, slightly bitter and little bit of hops, an almost smokey style finish lingers in ur mouth

Mouthfeel- light and soft, thin bodied

Drinkability- Highly drinkable, very light and easily a sessionable choice, I personally wasnt that blown away with this beer and definitely not one I would go for again but i can definitely appreciate how drinkable this one would be for many

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2009 20:14:24 | More by Stunner97

gabe23

North Carolina

4.3/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Deep, clear mahogany pour with a rocky tan head. Nice lacing.

S - Roasted malt with a distinct burnt toast aroma, along with some dark chocolate. A slight sweetness of dried fruit can be smelled also.

T - Quite smoky all-around, with chocolate, bread, and coffee notes. Slightly tingly in the middle with some fruitiness. The finish is very clean with almost no aftertaste.

M - Light and lively, which is deceptive given the smoky flavors reminiscient of a stout or rauchbier. Carbonation is fairly light.

D - This is an easy drinking beer with tons of flavor but a light body and ABV. This is a great alternative for times when you want a really dark beer, but don't want to feel weighed down. I like it!

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2009 02:11:25 | More by gabe23

yelterdow

New Jersey

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

Purchased at Ramsey Liquors for $4.29 on 2/12/09. Freshness code 1754412 is lasered on the back label. My first Monchshof beer <applause>.

16.9oz swing top bottle served in a pilsener flute at just over fridge temperature.

Appearance- Huge hiss as I swing the stopper from its previous home. Absolutely gorgeous color, somewhere between raisin and mahogany... the head is freagin remarkable, light beige and dense as hell. It begins four fingers tall and gradually settles to a gluggy mat. Good lacing, patchy and abundant.

Smell- Rolos candy, toffee, chocolate, custard, caramel, fudge... AMAZING!!! You'd have to be sitting here smelling this beer to appreciate how impossibly amazing this is. WOW, WOW, WOW. If Nugget Nectar is the be-all-end-all hop lover's aroma, then this is the malt lover's dream nose.

Taste- Malty with a nice, mildly tart underlying character... it's rich in flavor without the excessive weight in the mouth. Loads of complex malt manifestations like dark fruit and molasses. Delicious.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability- This beer goes into the mouth without much fanfare, then crackles at the first swish... it's lively and crisp without being too aggressive. So unique and savory, I recommend everyone at least try this once. It really dazzles the senses.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2009 04:15:05 | More by yelterdow

Tone

Missouri

3.7/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, dark brown color. Great, 1 inch head of a pale tan color. Great retention and good lacing. Smells of earthy malt, hops, sweet malt, and yeast cleanliness. Fits the style of a Schwarzbier. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp with a high carbonation level. Tastes of earthy malt up front, yeast cleanliness second, then the sweet malt and hop background come through, the finish is a bit sour/bitter with hints of roasted malt. Overall, not a bad schwarzbier, but I've had better - the hops aren't nearly as strong as the bottle claims.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2009 02:57:49 | More by Tone