Dog Schwarz
Flying Dog Brewery

Dog SchwarzDog Schwarz
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From:
Flying Dog Brewery
 
Maryland, United States
Style:
Rauchbier
ABV:
7.8%
Score:
89
Avg:
3.96 | pDev: 11.36%
Reviews:
77
Ratings:
98
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 25, 2022
Added:
Jan 07, 2009
Wants:
  33
Gots:
  4
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BEERchitect:
Photo of BEERchitect
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky

4.35/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Impressed to see the Dog Schwarz on the local shelves. Surprisingly, the beer holds true to the delicate yet bold schwarzbier character while interjecting a pleasant layer of smoke qualities.

The beer opens with a dark brown, nearly opaque clarity, and with head formation that remained formitable for most of the duration. No real lacing, but that does not deter from the look. A basic similar to a good porter or a dry stout.

Bold and super clean aromas with big bready, toasty malts, layered with light coffee, cocoa, roasted barley, toast, and a touch of nuttiness. Then there's the smokey aroma that takes on a campfire-like aroma- quite pleasant. On par with a Kostritzer, but bolder and toastier.

Likewise, the proportions of classic Schwarz make their way into the delicately balanced beer. Again, toasty, roasty, cocoa and a bit of coffee. Don't get this confused with a porter- this is much less sweet, no real hop character, and no fruitiness or phenols. Very clean tasting in the finish. A moderate dose of smoke flavor gives a meaty, savory character to the beer without dominating like many rauchbiers might.

For such maltiness and gravity, the beer remains remarkably dry, airy, and a little chalky. The beer just lifts and then evaporates from the tongue. Creamy and rich wihtout being heavy, sweet, or cloying to the palate.

A very enjoyable and refreshing beer. Clean, simple, and characterful. At first I was apprehensive about opening the bomber because I didnt' know if the boldness and smoke flavor would wear on me quickly. But now that I am at the tail end of the bottle, I could easily open another. On a side note, it must have been hard for Flying Dog to make a sub-50IBU beer!?
Feb 22, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Jan 25, 2022
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.14/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Corked "champagne" bottle, as Flying Dog Schwarz Smoked Double Lager, ABV 7.8%. IBU 25. Kindly shared by gunnar. Black colour, low tan head. Moderate aroma of dark malts and smoke. Very smoky flavour, the smoke dominates a bit too much for my taste.
May 11, 2021
 
Rated: 3.6 by grahamboudreaux from Tennessee

Mar 26, 2015
 
Rated: 2.5 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Dec 01, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by funkyaudio from Illinois

Sep 05, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by cfrobrew from Texas

Aug 20, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by KAF from Iowa

Jul 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by bleedsblu from Pennsylvania

Jul 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by jmslade7 from Florida

Jun 02, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Seaba from Pennsylvania

Feb 28, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by Sunn from Iowa

Nov 09, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by duceswild from Heard & McDonald Islands

Oct 30, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by mendvicdog from Maryland

Oct 19, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by jacewg from District of Columbia

Oct 16, 2012
Photo of jazzyjeff13
Reviewed by jazzyjeff13 from England

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A 355ml bottle with a BB date of Jan 2012, so it's a little out of date. Picked up recently from the York Beer & Wine shop. Double lager sounds delicious!

Poured into a Sam Smith's pint glass. A very dark reddish-brown; appears pitch black. Yields a large head of creamy light brown foam that lasts for a minute or two before collapsing. Aroma of nutty smoked malt with hints of sweet roasted grain, wood and smoky bacon/kippers.

Tastes of sweet, smoky malt with a dry finish. Notes of roasted grain, wood smoke, caramel and smoky bacon. A restrained malt bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is thick and smooth, with tingly carbonation. Great body. Somewhat astringent. Aftertaste of sweet, smoky malt.

Nice - if only every lager had this much character! Well-balanced flavour with a good malty backbone. The smoke is obvious but not overwhelming. Well worth trying if you like smoked beers.
Mar 19, 2012
Photo of thagr81us
Reviewed by thagr81us from South Carolina

4.12/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Apparently this beer style is second to David Hasselhoff as far as being loved by Germans, intriguing… Served from bottle with a cork that had a moldy base into a Mikkeller oversized wine glass. Poured a massively dark brown basically black with a minimal khaki colored head. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, smoked malt, smoke, and ham. The flavor was of sweet malt, smoke, ham, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate. It had a medium feel on the palate with mild carbonation. Overall this was a pretty good brew. I can see why Germans love this style of brew as it is one of my favorites out there too. The smokey tones come through very nicely on this brew and are quite refreshing. I was quite concerned upon inspecting and smelling the cork. Note for future openers of beers with moldy corks; DO NOT SMELL IT! Really glad this didn’t translate into the beer at all. A definite must try if you get the opportunity to do so.
Feb 19, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by AndrewMichael from Virginia

Jan 31, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by GrindFatherBob from New York

Jan 17, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Jan 16, 2012
Dog Schwarz from Flying Dog Brewery
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 98 ratings