5 O'clock Shadow Double Black Lager - Grand Teton Brewing Co.

scratch69

Missouri

4.05/5  rDev 0%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I poured a bottle into a pilsner glass.

Appearance- Very dark brown with ruby highlights. Two fingers worth of tan head and nice lacing.

Smell- Smoke and roasted malt with faint chocolate and coffee notes.

Taste- Roasted malt with bitter chocolate and hints of caramel.

Mouthfeel- Full bodied and nicely carbonated. Crisp and smooth with smoky finish.

Overall- Very nice. This is one of the best Schwarzbier that I have tasted.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 19:04:33 | More by scratch69

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.89/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: black in color, 1/4 inch head, low carbonation, opaque

Smell: roasted malt and bosco--not really attractive smelling

Taste: light coffee, sweet chocolate, cream--caramel and extra char on the finish

Mouthfeel: medium-light carbonation, medium body, very sweet with nice char bitterness at the end

Overall: Was not expecting such an impressive beer after such a disappointing smell. However if you can get past the average Bosco type of smell, this beer really delivers. Taste wise it is up there with the best domestic schwarrzbiers I have had. This beer is incredibly smooth for the style. I would certainly split this one again.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 14:52:25 | More by tigg924

Whiskeydeez

Kansas

3.5/5  rDev -13.6%

05-12-2013 16:01:59 | More by Whiskeydeez

cadaugherty

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%

05-08-2013 00:17:03 | More by cadaugherty

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From: Binny's, Glen Ellyn, IL
Date: Bottled 01/08/2012
Glass: Ayinger willi glass

Grand Teton takes the schwarzbier to higher planes of aroma and taste, without going over the top in terms of ethanol, as could be possible. While it appears like any other schwarzbier, the roast, chocolate, and sweetness are all expressed at a higher degree, along with the expected smoothness that lager yeast and aging will bring. Overall, a very satisfying beer, one that would be enjoyable in the early spring, late fall, or winter months.

Pours a 1cm tall head of tan foam, made up of small-sized bubbles, with average retention of about a minute. The head fades to a thick ring around the glass with a light cap of wispy foam lingering atop the body. Lacing is present, but fairly minimal, a set of small dots punctuating the insides of the glass. Body is a dark brown to black color, light bringing out amber brown hues. Carbonation is not visible through the opaque body.

Aroma is very nice, particularly as the beer warms, of noticeable roasted and black malt, with lesser toffee and vanilla scents. The interplay between the darker malts and the toffee-like sweetness with vanilla is enjoyable and pleasing.

Opens with darkly sweet chocolate notes, somewhat reminiscent of a chocolate malt made with bittersweet chocolate, with a bit of acridity in the back and well-done smoothness via the lagering process. Mid-palate is loaded with sweet, roasted flavors that have just a touch of acridity. What this means is a mix of roasted and black malts, some associated charred chocolate and coffee bean flavor, all with a strong undercurrent of caramelized sugar sweetness and a touch of vanilla. Again, the flavors are smooth and easy, courtesy of, probably, lagering. Back of palate features roasted malt, some char, touches of roasted cocoa and coffee beans. Aftertaste is of sweetish roasted and black malts with a touch of bitter chocolate and coffee.

Beer is medium to medium-light in body with carbonation of medium to medium-low intensity. The two feel well-paired and generate a mouthfeel that is easy on the palate, slightly foamy from the carbonation, and flows well. Closes quite dry, with moderate stickiness lingering across the palate.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 04:29:29 | More by falloutsnow

outdoor7or24

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

02-16-2013 17:30:25 | More by outdoor7or24

laituegonflable

Australia

3.48/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark brown colour, beige head with sparse, frothy bubbling. Slightly uneven, with thin lace on the glass. Head is crafty, frothy goodness. Looks natural and pleasant.

Burnt and nutty on the nose - charry roast malt notes with walnuts, coffee grounds and a touch of carob. Standard, but also fairly blaring, one-track dark beer aroma.

Taste is roastier, with a burnt bitterness lingering from the mid-palate. Spent coffee grounds, bitter cocoa plus some pepperberry, carbon and coriander notes late. Maybe could use some more body; a bit thin, so the roast is fairly harsh. Decent crack at the style, but I don't think it recommends more schwarzbiers to me.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 10:48:58 | More by laituegonflable

casapy

Idaho

3.75/5  rDev -7.4%

12-04-2012 03:43:13 | More by casapy

jcreegan

Florida

4/5  rDev -1.2%

11-16-2012 12:34:30 | More by jcreegan

rderedin

Maine

3.5/5  rDev -13.6%

10-28-2012 04:18:30 | More by rderedin

RandyKemka

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%

10-28-2012 02:07:50 | More by RandyKemka

bluckbeyes

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

10-23-2012 21:33:53 | More by bluckbeyes

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a tulip glass at Bad Apple.

Roast + burger = tastiness, right? This stuff pours a deep dark garnet-brown topped by a finger of sandy tan foam. The nose is a straight-up blast of roasted malts, with touches of dark chocolate and coffee creeping in at various points as well. The taste brings in more of the same, though now the coffee and dark chocolate are more intense, creating quite the panorama of dark flavors on the tongue. The body is a lithe medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, a damn fine impy schwarz, one that delivers on its roasty promises (and then some).

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2012 16:39:14 | More by TMoney2591

CarolinaKev

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -7.4%

10-22-2012 01:36:16 | More by CarolinaKev

TheRealBigC

Nevada

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Now here's a good Schwarzbier. I guess it's an Imperial Schwarz, but you can't really tell. What you can tell is that it's a glass of roasted dark malt goodness. You get a pretty good whiff as you bring it to you mouth. Taste follows suit, fairly complex compared to your typical Schwarz, although as it warms it doesn't get more complex but instead a little boring. That may only be the case with me, so I would recommend it to anyone. This is a really good showing by Grand Teton in a style that is only now gaining some traction in the US.

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2012 17:01:38 | More by TheRealBigC

bent

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

10-13-2012 16:51:14 | More by bent

st9647v3

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

10-07-2012 21:40:33 | More by st9647v3

mendvicdog

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%

10-07-2012 11:25:39 | More by mendvicdog

Hellpop65

Kansas

3.75/5  rDev -7.4%

09-23-2012 22:51:52 | More by Hellpop65

NilocRellim

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

09-17-2012 21:08:58 | More by NilocRellim

brotherloco

California

4/5  rDev -1.2%

09-10-2012 00:56:22 | More by brotherloco

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.48/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle purchased from BevMo in Sunnyvale, CA. Shared with @LaitueGonflable and @tobeerornottobe.

Pours a pleasant clear and clean black, with a bubbly but solid head of mild yellow-brown. Lacing is spotty. Body looks rather fluid, but slick, and it holds carbonation well.

Nose is lovely. Toasty malts leavened by a mild touch of something bright, fresh and even a little lemony. Dark rye bread, spread with cream cheese and shallots. It's a beautiful balance between darkness and light. Love it.

Taste is also excellent. Lovely clear lines to the feel and the vectors through the palate, delivering solid toasty malt all the way. Flavours of mild chocolate, a little crust and some dark seed cake on the back. This is all beautifully balanced with a really lovely dryness and a lovely clear but slick feel. Only a lager delivers that integration and lightness.

Overall, I love it. Black lagers are well underrated: this a superb example of why this should not be the case. This is clean and pleasant, but loaded with flavour and character. More craft lagers, please!

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 03:35:15 | More by lacqueredmouse

b2rade2n

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

08-15-2012 00:20:52 | More by b2rade2n

51mmz0rz

New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a normal pint glass. 2012 date on the label.

A: Nearly opaque black body, some brown highlights on the edges. Nice dense off white head.

S: Nice clean roastyness. Maybe a slight fruitiness as well.

T: Good roast malt flavor up front, mild bitterness. Clean and complex finish. Not as much going on as a stout or porter, but actually refreshing.

M: On the low end of carbonation, mouthfeel works well. More residual sweetness than I'd except, but not overboard.

O: A very clean roasty beer of high alcohol. I don't think I'm had anything quite like this. If I feel like a dark strong, but easy drinking beer, this would do it.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 04:28:58 | More by 51mmz0rz

Pinche_Oso

California

4/5  rDev -1.2%

07-24-2012 19:28:19 | More by Pinche_Oso