Duck-Rabbit Schwarzbier - The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery

pvo

Virginia

4.53/5  rDev +12.1%
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

PatrickJR

North Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +12.6%
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

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.58/5  rDev +13.4%
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

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.64/5  rDev +14.9%
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

starrdogg

District of Columbia

4.7/5  rDev +16.3%
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

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.95/5  rDev +22.5%
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