Hop City Brewing Co. 8th Sin Schwarzbier at 5.0% ABV ($3.98 at Dominion Stavanger)
Pours deep ruby brown with one fat finger of light beige head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate lacing (4/5). Nose is muted coffee, roast malts, nuts, ashes (6/10). Taste is low sweetness and moderate bitter, smoke, burnt (5/10). Light body, moderate to low carbonation, bitter smoky finish (3/5).
Considering the only other schwarzbier I can recall having tried is the Krombacher Dark, I’m not entirely sure I know what this style is aiming for. If they were going for “watery stout in which somebody snuffed a cigarette”, well, bullseye, I guess. Dunno – if anything, I’m less thrilled with this than the Krombacher. Not all that interesting a style, though perhaps marginally preferable to a macro lager. Definitely not my favourite beer from this brewery. (10/20)
5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
