Uptown Brewing Company “Summer of Schwarz”

Style: Schwarzbier
ABV: 5.3%

Nick’s Take

We’re back with another schwarzbier review – this time, “Summer of Schwarz” from Uptown Brewing Company. As I received my pint in an Uptown-branded shaker glass, I noticed the color and opacity of the beer  immediately. It has a striking caramel color, and allows almost no light to pass through. The tan/off-white head was nice and frothy and was present from start to finish.

At first, I wasn’t able to pick up the nuances in the aroma of the beer, but later (after indulging in a few hearty swigs) I detected an overall sweet profile. There were hints of some cocoa, as well as a nice buttery-sweet smell of toffee and caramel. The malt presence was definitely the star of the show and was very appealing.

Despite being a darker beer, “Summer of Schwarz” was still noticeably crisp on the palate. The carbonation settled into a smooth, soft finish, though. It was a nice medium-bodied beer that didn’t leave any drying in the mouth, and made it easy to keep drinking.

I quite enjoyed the complexity of the flavors, while overall being fairly sweet. The malt compounds produced enough richness to subdue the sweet flavors of chocolate and burnt sugar. I wouldn’t go so far as to call this a dessert beer, as I would definitely drink this with a meal as well as just a standalone beer (or two, or three).

Foreshadowed by my last comments, this schwarzbier is super easy to drink. It’s very smooth and sweet, with a great mouthfeel that is conducive to guzzling. I’d pair this with a nice savory dish, as I think the sweet profile would complement those flavors well. Definitely one of my favorite brews that I’ve had from Uptown. If my informed opinion isn’t enough validation for you (spoiler: it’s not), I guess you’ll have to come down to try it for yourself.

Joe’s Take

“Summer of Schwarz,” a dark and roasty summer refresher, poured a chocolate haze in the classic Billy Beer branded pint glass. It was a bit lighter in color than expected for a schwarzbier but had an appealing look to it, almost like liquid chocolate. The beer came with a smooth collar of foam that slightly subsided but remained in a nice layer atop the beer.

The aroma of the schwarzbier highlighted the roasty malts used to craft the brew. There were bountiful aromas of roasted coffee, light chocolate, and a hint of sweetness. The aroma was smooth and inviting. It complemented the look of the beer and wasn’t harsh.

The mouthfeel of this dark lager was smooth and complemented by a tingling carbonation that wasn’t too overbearing. The beer was medium-bodied and was not drying at all. Overall, it had a great mouthfeel that made it easy to get down.

The taste of “Summer of Schwarz” was a balance of mild bitterness and malt character. It featured roasty caramel, coffee, and chocolate notes. There was a mild sweetness that complemented the bitterness and roast well, making the beer smooth and balanced. Combined with the smooth mouthfeel and soft aroma, this beer was an easy drinker. I could easily see myself having a few of these on a Friday night…oh wait, it is Friday. Guess I’ll order another.