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

Blakaeris

Iowa

4.33/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours dark brown, almost black. Head is dense and creamy.

Aroma is smokey, charred dark grain with a touch of chocolate.

Taste is rich smokey dark malt and powdered cocoa up front. Then dark fruit makes an appearance - raisin and date. Woody and nutty. Finishes with charred dark grain and mild earthy hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel is medium-full.

A flavorful malt experience. Smoke is apparent, but understated.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 02:21:16 | More by Blakaeris

beagle75

Iowa

4.63/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a half-pint chalice.

A: Clear, dark brown color that shows no light at its core, with one finger of diminishing mocha-tinted foam head. Heavy lacing remains on the glass.

S: Roast is aggressive and slightly unctuous, suggestive of strong black coffee. Earth is a bit musty, complementing other dark qualities.

T: Begins off-dry, with creamy brown malt and sedate earthy hops. Acidity is extremely restrained, as more bitter roast emerges in the middle. Bitter chocolate is suggested in the waning finish that tapers down nicely, leaving a restrained earthy bitterness to linger on the palate.

M: Medium to think viscosity, velvety smooth and creamy on the palate, with low carbonation.

D/O: Smooth beyond belief, this is the strong dark beer I have been waiting for. It achieves such clarity of purpose in its ability to transmit pure roasted qualities. While clean, understand that this beer is more of a bold American creation than any real attempt to faithfully recreate a continental recipe--but that's okay. Another home-run for Grand Teton!

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 22:46:36 | More by beagle75

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

silentjay

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

looks the part for a Schwarzbier, a deep brown/black that light barely penetrates, but obviously much thinner than most dark beers. a nice mocha head forms, quickly recedes, but laces well.

slightly roasty aroma, molasses, chocolate, a touch of light roasted coffee.

flavor starts off sweet and malty with plenty of roasted coffee a bit of dark caramel and molasses, but it never goes too sweet and it finishes very clean.

light/medium and crisp but slightly slightly syrupy before it finishes clean.

very nice rendition of the style. Not overly roasty, not overly sweet, not too full bodied, not too light. No alcohol detectable... could sneak up on you because this drinks so easy.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2012 05:35:54 | More by silentjay

beergoot

Colorado

4.23/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A very dark, brown body with a thick, creamy tan head. Excellent roasted grains, dark chocolate and cocoa, and dark roast coffee dominate the smell. It maintains its lager smoothness and lightness while conveying the great dark tastes promised in the aroma. There is almost a hint of tartness or 'brightness' to the beer, but the malt characteristics are the showpiece. Finishes with just enough bitterness to bring great depth to this offering. Excellent beer...gonna get me another...

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 23:03:08 | More by beergoot

Etan

Illinois

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

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a Brooklyn tulip. Bottled Jan. 2012.

A: Pours a straight black with a nice spongy tan head. Good lacing.

S: Lightly sweet dark malts, coffee roast, lactic sweetness, slight hop resin.

T: Soft chocolate and coffee beans, light smokiness (very Grand Teton), vanilla, doughy malt, subtle bitter hop notes and dark fruit esters. Mild, pleasing dark grain and chocolate in the finish.

M: Creamy soft body with a nice carbonation level. Light enough to be very drinkable.

O: Tastes like a robust porter or milk stout that's been lagered. Quite nice.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 23:28:01 | More by Etan

FightingEntropy

Minnesota

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

Pours with a dark tan head that's two tone with brown as it swirls. Head falls quickly over a a nearly pitch black beer with ever so slight ruby highlights along the edge. Very clean, singular roast in the nose with a little bit of chocolate. Roast and chocolate follows in the taste with a sweet maltiness. Bitter roast finish that lingers a bit--almost too much. My notes say I had a draft on my wife's birthday at Grumpy's, but I don't remember much about it. I was either entranced by my wife or the beer didn't make much of an impression. Gloria likes schwarzbier and there's no note that she liked it.

In the final analysis, it's a good beer but the roast is out of balance with the smooth lager characteristics. Had this beer twice and that's going to be enough. If you like a a heavy roast, give it a shot. If not, find another dark lager.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 20:15:48 | More by FightingEntropy

KDawg

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

poured from 750 into a pilsner glass. Pours a dark chocolate color with a frothy head

Very pungent with aromas of coffee, dark chocolate, toffee, and loads of roasted malts. Good depth on the aromas as well

medium bodied with a smooth feel, but the flavors overpower a bit. The flavors of roasted malts, coffee, and dark chocolate aren't out of whack, but they feel like they are fighting for attention a slight bit

I think I would've liked more balanced and nuance to this. It's certainly a big schwarzbier and doesn't aim for balance as much as blunt force on the flavors.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 20:42:29 | More by KDawg

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

rand

California

4.4/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at Tiger! Tiger!, poured into a pint glass

The brew pours jet black in appearance and form a small chocolate-tan head. Small patches of lacing touch the glass, and it looks fairly viscous.

The chocolate malts establish the bouquet and they carry notes of buttery bread. Earthy grains poke through, a touch of hop dryness in the distance.

Roasty, chocolate malts are again the big player on the palate, slightly sweet and smoky. There aren't a lot of hop charecteristics to meet te sweet malts, but they're not needed - this brew is eminently drinkable. A little buttery, creamy mid-sip, which gives the beer a deeper complexion than you'd expect. The hops do their part towards the end, leading to a dry finish that leaves almost no lingering flavors between sips.

Damn, this has to be one of the better schwartzbiers I've tried. A little richer than some of the German varieties, but I hate getting hung up on categories. This is just a damn good brew.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2012 04:55:11 | More by rand

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

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

Lolli1315

Illinois

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

A- Dark brown color with a tan bubbly head. Disappears a little and is edging towards patchy. Lacing can be seen sticking to the glass.

S- Moderate amount of malty character with toasted malt and a bit of roasted malt being the most prominent. A slight amount of caramel in the nose with traces of coffee. No real hop aroma.

T- Moderate malty beginning that changes to a rich Munich malt in the middle. Toasted flavor as well as the roasted malt that was noticeable in the nose. Some low bitterness at the end with a clean lager character throughout.

M- Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Nice and smooth while finishing slightly dry.

O- Full flavored and smooth. Although I was surprised to see a "double" schwarzbier, this one worked out well.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 04:12:18 | More by Lolli1315

KuehneBe

Minnesota

4.23/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Just tried this from a 10oz tulip at JL Beers in Moorhead.

Appearance
Reminiscent of a heavy stout, for obvious reasons. Opaque, with a very nice head.

Smell
The predominant smell was smokey, dark chocolate with hints of coffee.

Taste
Damn good! Malts, heaps of coffee and dark chocolate. The dark chocolate and coffee add some pleasant bitterness. A flavor that I would describe as "roasted" and caramely.

Mouthfeel
I was surprised by the amount of carbonation in this one, until I remembered that it was a Schwarzbier and not an ale. A little less carbonation would make this one even more enjoyable, I think.

Overall
A tasty and wholesome beer. I would suggest letting this one warm up slightly before drinking it. After about 10-15 minutes in the glass, the flavor improved dramatically.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2012 23:48:22 | More by KuehneBe