Duck-Rabbit Schwarzbier - The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery

ewright

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a standard pint glass. A finger of creamy beige head forms and recedes to a thin layer. The beer is black like a stout, but very slightly less opaque.

S: Aroma is dominated by the smell of a natural wood smoker mingling with notes of coffee.

T: Coffee and faint caramel notes are overlaid with moderately strong smoke. The smoke is more of a woody smoke than a meaty smoke that I've found in some German rauchbeirs. Hops are just present enough to balance the malt sweetness.

M: Moderate carbonation with a medium body. The creamy body hinted at by the head comes through in the back of the mouth.

D: The smokiness that adds to the taste score slightly decreases the drinkability. By the end of the beer, I've had enough smoke for one night. On the other hand, that makes it a good 6pk purchase as it should last for the better part of a week!

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2009 01:43:50 | More by ewright

deapokid

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark brown/black with nice carbonation and a thin brown head. It's lacey and well-presented, making me really excited for the first sip.

The overwhelming scent immediately hits you in the face, packing a big roasted malt and coffee bean stink, which is disarmingly delicious and enticing.

Consistency is thin (which is common for this type of lager), with sweet dark chocolate and espresso being the prevalent flavors. All tastes are extremely well-balanced and the roast smokiness accompanies the bitter sweetness of the chocolate.

As you sip, the liquid coats the tongue, hitting the tastebuds with sweetness and the back of the tongue with a roasted dryness.

I'm always a big fan of schwarzbiers and think they're one of the most drinkable lagers. Although this one is heavy on roast flavor, it is still really easy to down and potentially one of the best American renditions of this German style.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2009 01:15:51 | More by deapokid

dirtylou

Washington

4.28/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz single, kindly gifted by blackie

enjoyed during bears-steelers.

if you self-proclaim yourself "the dark beer specialists" then your schwarz had better be good.

appearance: nice pour into a great dane imperial pint glass, extremely dark body, inky black, creamy chocolate cap and nice lace

smell: smokey, sugared dates and raisin, peat, toffee, roasted barley

taste: nice bold flavor - big roasted malts, dry chocolate, smokey and earthy, dried dark fruit...big on roast and big on smoke, this one is clearly in the same vein as the other duck rabbit darks

mouhfeel: creamy, moderate roast-bitterness, full body

drinkability: good

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2009 21:39:01 | More by dirtylou

Onenote81

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This has been one of the more elusive bottled D-R offerings for me, so when I saw a case at City Bev last week, I happily grabbed a sixer. Best by November, 2010 notched on label. 12oz bottle poured into a pilsner glass.

Pours a dark ruby-tinted chocolate brown. There isn't a bit of light creeping through at all. Great thick look. A large tan head grows on top. Retains fair enough. Leaves some light sticky lace behind. Scents of chocolate powder, fresh dark breads, ground coffee, and a husky dryness on the finish.

The mouth is the weakest part of this beer. It's a little too thin for my liking; could stand a bit more depth in this dept. All is forgotten when I taste this though! Wow! Great chocolate-y flavors, with some light bitterness. Warm bready flavors as well. Slightly roasted as well. Excellent finish. This is one of the best of the style I've ever had. Great representation. Get some if you have the chance.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2010 18:11:39 | More by Onenote81

BamaBeerBuff

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Very dark brown with maroon highlights. Head is firm and creamy, with a mocha color. Spotty patches of lacing.

S: Black licorice and dark roast coffee are highly prevalent. Some notes of dark fruit. A robust and inviting aroma--like a porter without as much roast and bitterness.

T&M: Incredibly complex! Dry dark chocolate and coffee flavors meld with a bread-like flavor up front. Light citrus flavor comes in mid-palate, and the finish is a complete gear-shift to notes of ash and smoke. A wonderfully contemplative beer. Rarely does a sessionable, lighter beer such as this pack such a complex and robust flavor. Body is light and smooth, with a subdued and gentle carbonation.

D: A fantastic schwarzbier. Quite drinkable and complex, with a fantastic mouthfeel. Well done, Duck-Rabbit.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2010 20:16:26 | More by BamaBeerBuff

Vec2267

Florida

4.28/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - black, with red tints when held up to the sun, 1/2 tan head which falls fast and coats the side of the glass nicely

S - smokey, peat, coffee

T - much the same as the smell, lots of smokey roasted flavors

M - medium in body, rich without the syrupy feel of some styles and low in alcohol

O - wonderful beer

I love this style, but have a hard time finding it. I occasionally find Palone, this is much better. Purchased at Bruisin' Ales in Asheville while on vacation last fall. One bottle made it home for the review.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 22:08:22 | More by Vec2267

hippityhops85

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer blew my mind. I had never had a Schwarzbier before this one. The color of the beer made me thing "oh here comes another heavy weight" while the viscosity should have tipped me off otherwise. The taste of this beer really reminds me of good coffee and smoldering embers. The beer is black, and i mean BLACK. It's really nice looking in a glass mug. Really happy with the results and I am on the hunt for more Schwarzbiers!

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2009 00:16:19 | More by hippityhops85

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A 355ml bottle with a BB of Nov 2010! At least I think so - it's notched into the side of the label. Seems pretty damn old - I bought this just last week from a webshop. Oh well, here's hoping it tastes OK. I'm liking the labelling, although I reckon the duck is more of an albatross.

Poured into a Sam Smith's pint glass. Yeast sediment indicates conditioning with live yeast. Pitch black in colour - a deep brown when held to the light. Yields a massive head of creamy light brown foam with excellent retention; this lasts for ages before subsiding to a thick surface layer. Incredibly rich aroma of roasted malt with strong notes of coffee and hints of cocoa/chocolate, burnt grain and yeast.

Tastes of intense roasted malt with a bitter finish. Notes of coffee, burnt grain, cocoa, stewed hops and subtle earthy yeast. Has a dry, spicy quality. A powerful bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly, with a spicy astrinency. Dries the palate. An aggressive aftertaste of roasted malt and bitter coffee.

Wow - fantastic! Not sure it quite matches the traditional style, but an excellent beer nonetheless. Roasted malt and coffee notes take your tastebuds hostage. A top notch brew - don't hesitate if you have the chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 23:48:58 | More by jazzyjeff13

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tall pilsner glass, color is dark brown to black with some amber edging; head is tan and dense and frothy, light lacing.

Smell is a wonderful blend of mild toasted malt, roasted malt and chocolatey malts - delicious.

Taste is clean, a little sweeter than most schwarzbiers, maybe closer to a stout but very clean finishing and only a bit of light fruitiness, but no excessive bitterness - smooth. Flavors start out roasty, blend to chocolate and finish a little thin and clean.

Mouthfeel is nearly exceptional, a bit of roasted bitterness, but other than that exceptional clean flavors and lighter lingering sweetness. Carbonation is not excessive, light lingering bitterness

Overall, a great, tasty brew - great roast presence, nice sweet balance and great smooth finish

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 23:36:28 | More by mvanaskie13

Genghis22

California

4.22/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Best By 11/09

A - Pours completely black, with a nice thin mocha color head. No light penetration at all.

S - Smokey, woody, nutty goodness. All malts in the nose. Great aromas from the roasting process.

T - Big roasty malts are at the front of this beer, both in the nose and the mouth, but the hops really come through. The malt hits you first, but the hops come in and balance the flavor out very quickly. The aftertaste is more of the smokey, nutty roasted malt taste.

M - Light to medium bodied beer with moderate carbonation. Crisp and clean, leaves the mouth a bit dry.

D - Very tasty beer. Almost like a diet porter. Good nutty smokey flavors from the roasted malt, but enough hops to give it some character. The body is not very thick, making this an easy drinker.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2009 01:14:46 | More by Genghis22

indiapaleale

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pour - yep, its pretty obvious that this beer pours pretty damn dark. There is a reason the style is simply known as "black beer" in German. Thin white head on top, it looks ominous and foreboding.

Aroma - dark roasted malts, dark roasted coffee grounds, charcoal, soy sauce, liquid smoke and finally a bit of burnt sugar.

Taste - light in body for the color, don't let the darkness fool you. This is a very smooth and deceptively light as far as flavor goes as well. Very much a lager brewed with dark malts with not a lot of sweetness and some dryness in the finish, sort of like that last sip of coffee. There is a bit of a hoppy bit in the aftertaste that I didn't pick up on the first couple sips.

Overall - Very roasty, toasty and malty but also very easy drinking. If you're looking for a dark beer other than a porter or stout then check this out sometime. Duck-Rabbit continues to impress.

Would I buy more of it? - absolutely. I wish I could buy a mixed case of all of their beer releases!

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2010 03:27:59 | More by indiapaleale

Bung

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. Picked up a six of this at a local tasting and I'm down to the last one so I better review it.
A somewhat transluscent black pour, some white bubbly head. Good amount of chocolate, roast malt in the aroma, with some of that, lager smell, not sure quite what to call it. Light/medium body not quite creamy, refreshing on the pallet. Roasted chocolate malt, cocoa, burnt nut with some piney hints throughout. Finish is just a bit of roast coffee.
A real good drinker of a Schwarzbier, like it should be. One of Duck Rabbit's best efforts, saying something considering their others are good as well.
I wish more breweries would focus on this style, this is the session beer for the dark beer fan.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2009 01:48:08 | More by Bung

wedge

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Very dark brown with chestnut highlights. A nice, fluffy milk shake-y like head tops it off. Big, pleasing aroma of rich, roasted (almost charred) malt, nuts, and cereal. Chocolate covered fruit and a whiff of coffee and cream as well. Rich, heavily roasted malty delights flood the tongue...cocoa sweetness, dark chocolate, finishing with some fruity hops. Medium-light body...smooth and dry.

Tasty for sure. I'm glad DR decided to put out a summer seasonal with some real drinkability. Being the "dark beer specialists", a schwarzbier seems like a logical choice and they pull it off very well.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2009 21:03:27 | More by wedge

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Purchased at Abe's in Bethlehem for around $1.75. Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into my nonic pint glass. Notched freshest by 11/09. The lager appears a nearly opaque dark chestnut color with about an inch of creamy light tan foam. the foam lingers for a bit before settling to a thin layer. Awesome dark roasted grain and bitter cocoa are the first notes to attack the nose and taste-buds, followed by notes of slightly burnt caramelized malt, a touch of smoke and char, grassy hops. Medium in both body and carbonation. Very nice!

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2009 15:45:05 | More by ClockworkOrange

Proteus93

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on draft at Beer Run in Charlottesville.

A: Opaque black, just as I'd hope! Nice, slightly offpwhite head tops about a finger and a half tall. Nice looking, decently creamy, with a bitof a frothy quality to it. Several patches of lace paint the walls of the glass.

S + T: A nice coffee bean scent, and a straight iced coffee flavour to go with it - though it doesn't carry a lot of the chocolate or sweet notes that other styles often exhibit with the roasted malts. Nice and raw, the graininess is very clean and tasty.

M + D: Lighter in body, easy going and smooth drinking. This is a very nicely done beer, certainly accessible and easy to drink. I look forward to imbibing in many more of these as long as it lasts! Recommended drinking.

Serving type: on-tap

09-03-2009 00:34:34 | More by Proteus93

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Single bottle poured into a Lancaster Brewing glass.

A- This has a dark porter like look with a deep black shade. The head rose up two inches or so with a dark tan look, semi thick. When i came back it was mearly a cap which left minimal but noticable lacing.

S- The smell is weird considering this is a black lager. While awaiting mostly grain and the like, this one had some chocolate with some sweet malt, just a hint of cream. I do get some grain from this though.

T- This is a great beer, kind of a very light stout with small chocolate and minimal cocco. Some roast comes from the malt, a small and ample amount. Just a touch of bitterness from the hops, almost none existant.

M&D- The feel on this was smooth as hell, almost like a milk stout. the body was light and the carb was on point. no rough spots, very creamy. The lightness makes this a real winner and a huge drinker, will get more for the upcoming cold months.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2009 06:05:01 | More by onix1agr

rfgetz

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a shiny crude oil black, minimal khaki colored head, little to no retention and lacing. Scent is of dark roasted malts, esspresso beans, chocolate, slightly burnt. Taste follows scent with a dark roasted, sometimes burnt blend of malts, esspresso beans, cocoa powder. Definite hop presence noted as it warms and a lager like twang on the back end. Body is lighter side of medium, enough to hold the dark malt charachter. Very nice Schwarz... a style more Stout/Porter and Imperial Stout heads should give a shot.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2009 13:53:35 | More by rfgetz

Stigs

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle, served in a SA perfect pint glass

A - pours with a finger of loose but bubbly tan colored foam. the beer is just about black with some dark ruby hues around the edges in front of light.

S - very Porter-like with ample chocolate, coffee (nice fresh dark roast), and roasted nuts and grains. very warm and inviting.

T - nice and roasty with some great compliments of dark chocolate, coffee, licorice, and nuts. finishes with some earthy hops and a sweet caramel kick. when warmed a nice smoked chipotle spiciness opens up.

M - light bodied with a solid amount of carbonation. Creamy and comforting.

D - why havent i had this before? awesome representation of a cool style...will make a great winter beer, loaded with flavor yet light and easy to drink. DR impressed again.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2010 00:53:44 | More by Stigs

aval89

Arizona

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Special thanks to wedge421 for this brew.

A: poured a nice dark dark brown almost black color with at least a 3 finger worth of head (off white almost tan).. Very creamy head with tight small bubbles.. Head sticks around for quite some time.. As it settles it becomes more frothy..

S: roasty & sweet upfront.. Cocoa & toffee for sure with hints of milk chocolate... Lightly roasted coffee beans are also in there..

T: taste almost follows the smell.. Has a quick roasty coffee note upfront with cocoa quickly overpowering it.. Then a very noticeable milk chocolate flavor comes in with a nice toffee/caramel underlying flavor... Finish is dark chocolate with roasty coffee bean bitterness but is very clean for what it is..

MF: a little more carbonated than I'd like.. Heavy medium mouthfeel.. Still nice though..

D: nice drinkable brew.. It actually blew me away a little.. Wish I had another..

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2010 07:40:18 | More by aval89

jimpala

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Is this supercharged with co2?
Makes a vigorous noise when opened and pours a huge head.
Even as it warms up a little it still pours a huge head.
Let the head settle and it is very drinkable. Nice smokey, chocolate, hoppy flavor.
I'll look forward to the 2011 rendition.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2010 23:10:49 | More by jimpala

orbitalr0x

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours into the glass a deep dark black with a small bubbly light tan head on top. Aromas of wonderful roasted malts mingling with chocolate, molasses, caramel and a bit of peppery spiciness as well. Touch of burnt coffee in there as well. Really love the depth here, draws you in!

First sip brings big dark roasted malts upfront with some char, chocolate, burnt coffee and caramel. Real great depth of flavor in here and a bounty of roasty goodness. Flows down with a touch of peppery spice and lingering roasted grain on the finish. Damn fine brew.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with good steady carbonation. A really solid brew as the weather turns a bit cooler outside. I wish I could get this locally as I would love to drink this more often! Thanks much to smokeypeat for sending this my way.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2011 01:31:38 | More by orbitalr0x

TheDinger

South Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into a pint glass. Rich, deep brown/black with nice 2 finger tan head. Minimal lacing, spotty at best. Smell is of rich malts, some notes of cocoa and brown sugar, a hint of coffee. Not a strong aroma. Taste is sweet and a bit on the chocolate end of the spectrum. A little hint of coffee, similar to the nose. A little hop ending to even out the sweet beginning. A good balance of carbonation to wake up the tongue. Creamy and silky to round it out. Overall- A very good schwarzbier that is complex and smooth. Roasted malts and sweet chocolate with coffee blend with a decent amount of carbonation. A solid brew I will seek out again- Tasty

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 01:16:55 | More by TheDinger

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4.18/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle

Pours a slick black with mocha highlights and a quickly fading tan head that recedes to a thick ring with little lacing. Roasted, smokey malt aroma, with coffee and chocolate notes, very rich and full. Creamy, medium-full body with soft carbonation and a fairly dry, smooth finish. Flavor is roasted and burnt barley and malt, with mild coffee and chocolate notes providing a little balancing sweetness. Also some light fruitiness near the finish that is unexpected but pleasant. I like black lagers and this is one of my favorite beers from Duck Rabbit (I've been hit or miss with them in the past).

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2009 21:39:17 | More by yourefragile

JohnQVegas

Tennessee

4.18/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle into Sam Adams sensory glass, picked up in Asheville. One of my favorite styles, so very eager to try.

Pours deep ruby brown, verging on black depending on how it's viewed. Massive light brown head is very fluffy, rocky, looks very much like the head on a root beer float. Three to four fingers at first, then it actually grows a bit, before finally settling down enough to let me finish the pour a couple of minutes later. I'm thinking some carbonation issues may be present, eh? Still, retention is very good - takes forever and a day for the head to die down enough to really start drinking, and 20 minutes on top of that before it fell to a thin but solid light brown cap. And when it did finally die, there were sheets of lacing all down the sides of the glass.

Nose is rich with baking cocoa, preceded by just a bit of acidic roasted malt bite up front. Dry, powdery even. Lightly sweet, with just a hint of espresso.

Taste is smooth initially; nice fruitiness is surprising, adds a bit of brightness to the subtle dark cocoa and lightly acrid black malt notes that follow and come to dominate. Moderate amount of caramel sweetness in there as well. Just a bit of woodiness on the finish, with more lingering caramel sweetness, and a light, dry hop bitterness lingering the longest. A bit sweet for the style, yet still quite balanced. I found it quite enjoyable.

Should be noted, I also detected the light metallic taste noted by others on the first few sips, but that quickly faded as the beer warmed.

Mouthfeel is light, with a lightish carbonation that has a nice, soft fluffiness to it - guess the massive head did away with the carbonation issues I previously feared. Finish is nice and dry by the end.

Light in body, very flavorful, very well balanced, crisp - very nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2010 21:52:33 | More by JohnQVegas

Jayli

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Can't recall who I acquired this one from ...
Poured in to a pint glass

A: This beer pours black in color, minor mahogany hues around the bottom edges when held to the light. A two finger of foamy, creamy tan head. Head has ridiculously nice retention and leaves ringlets of sticky lacing on the glass.

S: Nose is deep roasted malts, light chocolate notes, roasted grain, and a hint of hops.

T: Taste starts with a bit of roasted grain before being taken over by prominent chocolate notes. Chocolate notes hang out while taking on a hoppy, grassy flavoring. Charred malts and minor hints of coffee come in during the finish along with some dry cocoa nib flavoring.

M: Lighter side of medium body, high carbonation, very prickly on the tongue, with a touch oily finish.

D: Goes down easily, very tasty, not too filling, mild kick, nice representation of style. I highly enjoyed this beer - it's one that I would revisit often. The only down side for me was that the carbonation was a touch too much.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2011 03:10:18 | More by Jayli