154: Monchshof Schwarzbier

I had this beer in the midst of an epic German beer-tasting, the likes of which I’ve never experienced. I’ll be the first to admit I’m not much for lagers, and most German beers tend to be more of that lineage than the fruitier, creamier ales I tend to gravitate towards. Something about all that carbonation and dryness, and those skunky-tasting hops doesn’t sit well with me.

I think at a deeper level, American craft beer geeks tend to shy away from this tradition because of lager’s association with “American-style pilseners” of their adolescence. I’ll be clearer – I don’t have a lot of fond flavor memories of my Budweiser days, and when I hear lager, I hear “beechwood-aged.” Advertising works.

My tasting was conducted at Gustav’s, where they now have a serious lineup of 20+ German draft beers. No boots or BeerFest-like drinking contests (they do have traveling accordianists next door at the Rheinlander), but a diverse selection of Germany’s best. It was revelatory.

The schwarzbier wasn’t my favorite of the session, but I had ales and all kinds of bocks (Optimator and Celebrator on tap!) and pilseners that re-opened my eyes to a world I haven’t done much exploring in, so look for more German beer reviews in the next few weeks.

Beer Name: Monchshof Schwarzbier
Brewer: Kulmbacher Brauerei
Price: FREE*
Sampled: June 3, 2010
Rating: 3/5
Notes: Lightly smoky, but fairly noticeable. It’s not rauchbier smoky but it’s there. Kinda Pepsi-like but a touch more water-y and thin. Band-aid?
ABV: N/A
IBU: N/A
OG N/A
TG N/A
Serving Type: Draft.

* Full disclosure: my tasting was courtesy of Gustav’s. Extra full disclosure: my lineage is half-German, and thus, my opinions are heavily swayed by good schnitzel and spaetzle, of which Gustav’s has both.