Duck-Rabbit Schwarzbier - The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.95/5  rDev +22.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I fell in love with this pitch black beer whilst drinking in Pittsburgh a week ago. Piper's Pub was pouring some fine wares the night of our visit but between heavy hitters from Victory, Terrapin, Duck Rabbit, Sierra Nevada, etc the Duck Rabbit Scwarzbier was the best of show. Appears pitch black body with a cocoa tan head forming thick. Minimal lacing forms with each sip. Aromatics bring to mind cocoa, coffee, creamy toffee and caramel notes. Flavor sblend everything including a hell of a roasted malt flavor, malted milk ball chocolate tones, this is an excellent representation of the style herbal hops in the finish. Mouthfeel was medium bodied never cloying I again fell in love with the silky smooth finish. Drinkability solid from every perspective I could have and should have drank this all night long great beer I'm glad I found a taste of it.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2009 06:56:35 | More by WVbeergeek

starrdogg

District of Columbia

4.7/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours an extremely dark brown/black with a small off-white head. Smells is a fantastic roasted malt and chocolate, but with a bit of something maybe cola-ish in there as well. It's really quite enticing! Flavor is amazing - to me, this is the best-tasting schwarzbier out there. It's got a very heavy roast going on, but it also manages not to be too bitter and has a great lightness to it that makes it incredibly drinkable. Mouthfeel is also quite fantastic, highly carbonated and light, which is just as it's supposed to be, goes perfectly with the roasty flavor. Overall, this is the best schwarzbier out there and right up there with Moonlight's Death & Taxes as the best dark lager in existence. To me, this is absolutely underrated style that incorporates the lightness/refreshing aspect of a lager with the roastiness of a stout/porter, and this beer does it better than any other.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 02:12:13 | More by starrdogg

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.64/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark brown to black with a decent head at pour the disappates to a little foam around the rim. Smell is sweet and chocolately. Flavor is dry up front and dark malty through the middle but converts to a nicely balanced chocolate taste on the finish. They really eeked a lot out of this sessionable but flavorful brew!

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 23:35:11 | More by Oakenator

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.58/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This beer is one shade above black and pours with a fine-bubbled light tan head. Rich mocha aroma is quite appetizing and demands a taste. Smoky flavor has tones of quality roast coffee and sweet chocolate, rather like a good stout. Texture is tingly, lively and fizzy. Finish is chocolaty and slightly sweet. Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

08-08-2010 16:06:32 | More by Cyberkedi

PatrickJR

North Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into nonic pint glass.

A - Initially, this stuff looks black as night but upon closer inspection it's a very dark, opaque brown with just a smidge of light on the edges. Small tan-ish gray head rises about half an inch, though a patchy cap remains for a few minutes.

S - Wow, big on the roasty aromas, like a subdued stout. Moderate copper aroma ultimately becomes the focus rounded out with bits of coffee, near-burnt bread, and hints of smoke and dark chocolate. Roasted to be sure, but more subtle and complex rather than the coffee and/or caramel-esque overtones residing in stouts.

T - I don't know that I've ever thought too hard about schwarzbiers, but this is definitely the best one I've had. Very much in line with the nose. Semi-sweet burnt grain flavors hit immediately with a gradual drying effect throughout. The metallic taste peeks in and out of corners, but never makes itself nearly as prominent as it did in the nose. Roasty flavors continue mid to late palate with bitter, mild coffee edging in until the finish. Dusty, tannic notes come on full force in the finish, though the aftertaste is somewhat clean considering the big flavors with small, burnt coffee notes lingering.

M - Very smooth with a great moderate carbonation. It seems a bit thin at times, though this is probably what helps me deal with the burnt tastes much more easily than I can when it comes to stouts.

D - The bitterness in the aftertaste interferes slightly with the overall drinkability, but overall this stuff goes down quick. Definitely something I could have at least two of.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2009 05:47:46 | More by PatrickJR

jhamilton84

North Carolina

4.53/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I had this beer at the release party in Raleigh Flying Saucer. The coffee and caramel on the nose hits pretty well, and gives the illusion of being a big bold stout. Very black with a nice tan head that doesn't go away too quickly. The mouthfeel was very "thin" and I did not percieve it to be a big bodied beer. The taste was of coffee, caramel, and very crisp like a certain pilsners I've tasted. Overall, this beer was very good, and I was excited to be one of the first to try it at the Saucer in Raleigh North Carolina.

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2009 21:53:57 | More by jhamilton84

pvo

Virginia

4.53/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I was talking to a fellow shopper in Carrboro Beverage Company about this, which they were offering on tap, and he recommended against it. Luckily, a friend of mind walked in soon afterwards, and we shared their $2 pours of both this and Sierra Nevada's Hoptimum. I'm glad I didn't miss this one.

Many Schwarzbiers, to me, are too thin; the Kostritzer one has always been too carbonated for my taste, and several others- like Uinta's Baba Black Lager- I've tried seem to lack depth. I realize lightness is supposed to be a characteristic of this style, but some seem to go too far in that direction. This one may have the opposite problem for many.

It has the same roast, chocolate flavors one would expect in a mild stout or porter, but has a distinctly lighter finish. It's a nice addition to the belgians/wheats that I've been drinking all summer. I'd seek it out again.

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2012 23:33:26 | More by pvo

brentk56

North Carolina

4.47/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a fudge brown color with ruby highlights and a rocky head that leaves a few strands

Smell: Roasted coffee aroma with hints of ash, licorice and chocolate

Taste: Starts out with a black bread flavor that is quickly joined by chocolate and citrusy fruit; by mid-palate the roasty coffee elements appear, only to build, after the swallow to a big, complex finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with crisp carbonation

Drinkability: Quite possibly the best schwarzbier I have ever tasted, this beer packs a lot of flavor

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2009 02:51:48 | More by brentk56

joepais

Maine

4.47/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Thanks to Jay for this want
Bottle poured into a dimple mug produced a finger worth of tan head that faded to lace. The brew was a black larger so guess the color... yup you are right.

Big aroma of roasted malts and a light smokiness hits you, as you sit by the glass. The flavor is roast forward as well (coffee and bitter chocolate), but the feel of the beer comes into play as you drink it. This is nice and light in your mouth, so you know it's a lager. This one has a sweet finish in the flavor. It is a pleasure to drink. This is my first Schwarzbier and I know it won't be my last

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2009 02:11:23 | More by joepais

aerozeppl

New York

4.47/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Black with only the slightest hint of brown around the edges. Really nice looking beer. A little bit of coffee colored head with minimal head retention.

S: Huge chocolate and roast character. Little bit of sweetness in the back end and a touch of lager yeast. The chocolate and roast are really pleasing though.

T: Smooth as part of the taste. The chocolate and roast are so nice and work so well together that this beer is a joy. The most flavorful example of the style I have had by far.

M: To style the mouthfeel is light and never overbearing. Nicely carbonated.

D: Really nice drinker for a cool evening. We have snow on the ground here so it was time. I have had their super rare one off stuff but their normal seasonals should not be overlooked.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2010 23:55:18 | More by aerozeppl

oberon

North Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is probably the best schwarzbier I have had.Poured a oil slick black,I mean no ruby tint here at all,a 1/2 finger off white head atop.Aromas of deep roast and molasses with just a hint of citric hop.Deep dark roasted notes on the palate mixed with black licorice and molasses,just a hint leafy hop in the finish.Wow this a great black lager,full on roast with just enough sweetness,but light enough to have a few.Hell yeah.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2009 22:37:34 | More by oberon

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

(Served in a pokal) enjoy before 11/09
A- This beer pours a black dense body with a thin sudsy head of tan that last as a film for the full beer. There are a few bubbles stuck to the glass but otherwise it is a bit to dense to see any carbonation.
S- This flinty aroma is followed by a smooth roasted black malt note with a light char hint at the finish.
T- This beer has a smooth black roasted malt flavor with no bitterness and a nice cream flavor to follow. As the beer warms there is a note of black licorice that supports the black malt flavor.
M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with no alcohol heat noted.
D- The full rich but lagered flavor has some nice roasted character but still smooth and very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2010 19:02:14 | More by rhoadsrage

Patrick

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours almost pitch black, but you can see through the light brown edges. A thin egg shell colored head dissipates quickly to leave a ring around the edge of the glass. No lacing.

S: Smells like black coffee and chocolate went on a date. Some light molasses is in there too, but this one is all about the coffee and chocolate.

T: Nice dark chocolate up front with some espresso following right after. The middle has some sweet molasses and caramel, and the end comes in quick with some bitter coffee and dark chocolate. Delicious.

M: Dry, well carbonated, tannic (like drinking black coffee), medium bodied.

D: Delicious schwarzbier, glad I had the chance to try this one!

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2009 16:35:54 | More by Patrick

gford217

Georgia

4.4/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a tulip.

Pours very dark, almost completely black in the glass, but not quite. There's a thick one-inch tan head that recedes slowly and leaves a surprising amount of lacing.

The aroma is fantastic, dominated by some heavily toasted malts bread. There's also plenty of coffee, heavily roasted coffee, and a faint chocolate sweetness in the background, though the massive toasted character is dominant.

The taste is slightly sweeter than the aroma and really tastes almost like a mocha with an extra shot of espresso. There's some coffee bitterness but with a toasted malt backbone and hints of chocolate and even some earthy hops in the finish.

For a schwarzbier, the body is full with decent carbonation and a very dry roasted finish.

This is one of the best schwarzbiers I've ever had. It's full bodied with tons of complexity and a great mouthfeel. Towards the top of the Duck Rabbit list for me.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2009 05:12:04 | More by gford217

CampusCrew

Florida

4.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

appearance: deep dark brown, not black with some low head retention

smell: sublte dark malts, lots of chocolate flavor, some coffee

taste: low hop profile, lots of deep dark malt flavor. right on style.

mouthfeel: medium and light for a dark beer

drinkability: world class scwartz. i expect nothign less from this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2010 02:43:30 | More by CampusCrew

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours dark like coffee or cola with a half inch tan head that is quite dense.
The aroma is that of rich toasted malts. Hints of coffee and espresso come through.
Rich and malty tasting, roasted. Tastes similar to a porter.
Tastes and feels like a lager.
Everything about this beer suggests that it is a porter. In a blind test taste you would too, but as the beer warms up the lagerness comes into play.
As schwarzbiers go, this is definitly tops.
Drink well my friends.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2010 11:30:34 | More by micromaniac129

NCSUdo

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle

A: Dark black under a medium sized off white head. Good retention, decent laze.

S: This is where the beer shines. Excellent aroma. Caramel, nutty, toffee, sweet, toasted, very malty. Just an overall excellent aroma profile. Perhaps even a whiff of smoke as well. Very well done.

T: Not as big as the aroma, but well done. Toasted malt, caramel, toffee are all the big story again. Sweetness is kept at a minimal, an hint of coffee and bitterness is a little stronger then expected and can be slightly off balance at times.

M/D: Medium to full bodied, carbonation is medium. Drinkability is very good. A superb schwarzbier.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2009 00:29:15 | More by NCSUdo

cvstrickland

North Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Duck-Rabbit's new schwarzbier pours clear and is dark polished mahogany in color with a three-finger deep cap of beady-bubbled, sticky ecru foam atop. The headcap retains very well, slowly settling into a rocky-surfaced cloudscape as it plasters sheeted webs of lacing onto the sides of my imperial pint-sized willibecher glass.

The aroma is a touch fruity with mild candied sweetness and is laced with a streak of smoky charred grain. Nuances of soft and mellow fallen apples, medium roast coffee, and dark vanilla caramels are woven into the profile and augmented with savory cereal sweetness.

The taste is a blend of chewy candied malts, mellow caramel, black plums, and a balancing splash of semisweet mocha. A lovely finishing bite of mildly-bitter dryness superbly complements the subtly grainy, sedately fruity sweetness.

The drink is medium-bodied and highly quaffable with mild carbonation that suits the brew and this drinker just fine. An excellent first-time offering that I hope to see in D-R's rotation again.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2009 14:42:40 | More by cvstrickland

Bitzy

New Jersey

4.35/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Given to me by a friend from PA, Since I can't get Duck Rabbit in NYC

Appearance: Opaque black, moderate carbonation, light brown head (great retention).

Aroma: Dry cocoa, bittersweet chocolate, some nuttiness, hints of coffee, roasted malts, and that metallic lager taste.

Taste: Very impressive! A nice bittersweet chocolate, roasted malts, some sweet coffee in the aftertaste, and some of that metallic lager taste (blended in well)

Mouthfeel: While cold ie out of the fridge, the mouthfeel was sorta light, but once it warmed up to about 48-52F a nice creaminess replaced the former sensation and made the beer quite enjoyable.

Overall: My new favorite Schwarzbier!!!

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2009 02:29:01 | More by Bitzy

Hojaminbag

Colorado

4.35/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks go out to Mikesgroove for this one.

Duck Rabbit Schwarzbier is a very dark brown that is opaque everywhere except its edges, where a few rats of light pass through to reveal brown and ruby tones. The head is only about a finger thick, but it has a thick, creamy look to it. A few spots of lacing cling to the glass.

As soon as I poor the beer I get a good whiff of a wonderful aroma. Lots of smoke, chocolate, toffee, coffee. Pretty nice.

A ton of sweet chocolate bursts on the scene up front, dominating the flavor. Next comes a good bit of toffee, which is followed by roasted malts and maybe a hint of coffee. The coffee is weak, and it could just be the taste of the roasted malt as it fuses with a little bit of smoke flavor. The finish and aftertaste is where the smoke is strongest; the same goes for the roasted malt. The background has a noticeable yet muted hop flavor that lends a little bit of bitterness and a little bit of citrus flavor to the beer.

The mouthfeel is a little bit creamy, a definitely on the heavy bodied side of the style, which is fine by me.

I was really impressed with this schwarzbier. More so than the few others I've tried from Duck Rabbit. Overall, it isn't the smokiest schwarzbier I've tried, but it is one of the best.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2010 00:49:51 | More by Hojaminbag

Fatehunter

Oregon

4.35/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pint glass. Black color, I guess that is why it is called a "Schwarzbier." Two fingers of dirty to tan head.
Smells like toasted barley and a little bit burnt, but in a good way. Really pleasing.
Burnt bread, a hearty malt side that ends with a little bitter bite at the end.
Medium bodied, little carbonation, fairly crisp.
Really impressed with this one. I think the "true" style is a little lighter bodied with a touch less malt, but this is delicious.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2011 16:31:53 | More by Fatehunter

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

sn't it funny the ones you just never get around to trying? This was another one that seemed to have alluded me this past year, and much thanks to Roborb for trading me a sixer as I had literally been dying to try it. Served cold and poured into a pint glass, I was thrilled to be able to enjoy this one on 02/07/2010.
 
The pour was dark, rich looking dark brown with a small one inch head of off white that capped the top of the glass very, very nicely before it settled down leaving with it some nice lacing up and down the sides of the glass that seemed to really thicken up and push through as the time went on. Aroma is smoked malts right off the top. Dark, evil, with hints of campfire, peat, dark roasted chocolate and a good bit of almost a licorice touch to it. As I take the first sip a rich and creamy feel overloads the senses. Wonderful and rich, dark and foreboding, it seems that it is just meant to be evil and dark. Loads of roasted and smoked malts just rolling across the tongue. Lightly dry finish leaves just enough room for a small amount of smoky flavor to pop its head in and really give it a nice show. Solid, rich, and dark, exactly what it should be.
 
Overall I was very impressed here. As always, they really seem to have their act together over at Duck Rabbit. Solid ale and a nice warmer on a cold night.
 

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2010 01:17:15 | More by mikesgroove

alleykatking

Indiana

4.33/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12oz bottle. I don't remember who gave me this but I really enjoyed it!

A- Pours a near black color. Light red hues when held to the light on the sides of the glass. One finger light tan head stays for a short bit before becoming just film on the top of the beer. Some light streaking lacing that slides down the glass.

S- Some roasted and light smoked malts upfront. Very clean smelling by far. Some light chocolate notes bring in a bittersweet aroma to the beer. Some very light whiffs of coffee every now and then.

T- Sweet chocolate and light bitter smokey malts upfront. There is more of lager body in the middle with a light hopping in the back end of this beer. The darker color fools you into thinking this is going to be a stout style but it's not. Nice lager with some baby stout like qualities.

M- Medium mouthfeel. Carbonation is good for the style. Light drying in the mouth as I sipped on this. Roasted bittersweet malts left on the palate with some light hopping in the aftertaste. Clean tasting through and through.

D- This was a very good beer for a company whom I've not had much from. I think this is a wonderful style that most people overlook. I would love to get my hands on more of this!

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2010 14:09:47 | More by alleykatking

dgfair

North Carolina

4.3/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into my Samuel Adams Boston Lager specialty glass.

The beer pours a beautiful dark black color with a nice big tan foamy head. The head dissipates fairly quickly, leaving the glass lined with some nice sticky lacing. As I take a whiff, my nose is greeted with a lovely smokiness of roasted malt with a slight caramel/toffee backbone...a perfect balance of sweet and smoke in the aroma.

The taste is delicious roasted malt upfront with a little balance from the sweet malt behind. I also get a slight touch of oak and vanilla as the beer remains in my mouth. On the swallow, the beer leaves an earthy flavor of roasted oak with a little bit of almost fruity sweetness.

This is a fantastically easy drinker...not sure on the abv, but this one goes down smooth. Definitely a sessionable beer with a ton of flavor. The only other schwarzbier that I've had in quantity is the Sam Adams Black Lager, and I think the Duck Rabbit is head and shoulders above. I would love to see DR add this to their standard lineup, as it could become a go-to.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2009 00:29:22 | More by dgfair

blackie

Virginia

4.28/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

a: pilsner glass, the scwarz is a deep stained chestnut brown in color, capped with a light mocha head that shows good retention and lace

s: big aromas of dry, charred barley dominate with undertones of cocoa and earthy hops mostly masked by the roast, smoked meats and a touch of lager malt underneath, some mildly caramelized sugars, it's evident already that D-R has taken a very unique approach to the style - kicking up the roasted barley to levels not really found in other examples

m: carbonation on the full side, creates a surprisingly creamy mouthfeel in combination with the light-medium body

t: much like the aroma, rich charred barley is the dominant flavor here, big roasts suggest coffee and cocoa dances underneath with a light toffee sweetness on a supportive body of clean malt, finishes with a lingering dry roast (surprise!) and mild bitterness, with sub-flavors of meat left on the grill to the point of carbonization, does all this make a good Schwarz? I dunno, but I dig it

d: easy, drinks like (and very much resembles) a dry Irish stout, drinks well and continues to do so even after warming

six-pack from Whole Foods, Vienna, VA...glad to have the Duck-Rabbits up here in the Commonwealth

sampled subsequently on tap at Bierria Paradiso DC and have found it to be considerably more appealing in bottled form

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2009 01:21:28 | More by blackie