Another Winner From Einbeck: Einbecker Schwarzbier
Jul 07 '03
The Bottom Line A very delicious German beer.
I’m going to let you in on a cardinal rule among beer lovers. If a beer comes from Einbeck, Germany, it’s probably going to be a good one. Einbeck, the birth place of bock beer and once so successful in the brewing arts that other German cities intrigued to lure away or steal its brewers outright, is still today a leading German brewing center.
The tradition of world-class brewing is carried on by the Einbecker brewery, which can trace its roots back some 600 years. Not a bad pedigree, considering many countries and most governments don’t go back that long. Most famous for its delicious Ur-Bock beers, Einbecker brews other exceptional products too, among them their curious Schwarzbier.
As good as it is, this beer will take a little explaining. To my taste, it’s a hybrid between a Dunkel and a Schwarzbier. That’s easy for me to say because the neck label says Dunkel, while the larger bottle label says Schwarzbier. I’m not sure why the Dunkel (German for dark) tag is there. But the beer really does taste like a fusion between the two. So without further ado, let’s briefly look at both styles.
A dunkel is a soft malty lager noted for its sweet dark malt flavors. It should be brownish in color and lightly hopped, and the malt should predominate. The classic dunkel lagers come from Munich. Schwarzbier, by contrast, is much darker in color; it should be black. Literally, dunkel means dark, but Schwarzbier translates as black beer. Schwarzbiers are usually gently roasty though not overly so, creamy and clean tasting.
I think Einbecker Schwarzbier leans more to being a dunkel than a black lager. It doesn’t have the depth that a true Schwarzbier does, though it is incredibly delicious all the same. It is surely a five star brew.
Einbecker Schwarzbier pours to a deep brown mahogany color with a light but creamy head and a soft sweet malty nose. The palate is creamy and slightly sweet, delightfully nutty and toasty with hints of molasses, chocolate and rich Munich malt. The sweetness intensifies into the finish where it is eventually balanced by a light, minty grassy hop character.
Certainly not a classic Schwarzbier, for that you'd be better off with a bottle of Kostritzer or Monchsoff. Still, this is a treat nonetheless, and very reasonable at $1.49 per 11 ounce bottle. Limited amounts are also being brought in on draft, so if you see this one don’t miss it.
Epinions Criteria:
Overall Rating: Five Stars
Beer Rating: Better than Most
Weight: Medium body
Flavor: Balanced
Complexity: Complex
Price: $1.49 per 11.2 ounce bottle
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.