Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

Bottle at Den Tatoverede Enke, Copenhagen. Funky farmhouse aroma with notes of honey. Flavour has some honey (not much), but is surprisingly dry. A bit watery and bland though.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

Temporary review, as BeerPal previously did not allow sake - of the beer rating websites, only RateBeer allowed it. This is the standard cheap sake that you'll find in "Japanese" restaurants in the US and Europe. Flavour of boiled rice, a hint of salt and mushrooms.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

500 ml bottle, classified as a Schwarzbier, from EkoMarket, Stavanger. ABV is 4.1%, IBU 20. Very dark brown to black colour, moderate beige head. Aroma of Schwarzbrot and lightly roasted malts. Flavour with the same elements, not too sweet, hints of roasted nuts, very moderate hops.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

330 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 5.2%. Brewed for Cervisiam at 7 Fjell. Deep reddish brown colour, moderate off-white head. Aroma of malts, dark bread and dark fruits, a hint of mild spices. The flavour is malty but not too sweet, with the same elements as the aroma, moderate hops. Smooth and pleasant to drink.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

First sampled August 2021: Shared bottle at regional tasting. Dark brown to black colour, large beige head. Aroma of roast malt, a hint of ashes. Dry flavour, roasty notes. (Sampled again now, 750 ml bottle, from Vaaland, Bryne. ABV is 4.7%)

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

440 ml can, at Cardinal, Stavanger. ABV is 5.8%. Black colour, moderate tan head. Moderate aroma of roast malts, hints of mild coffee. Smooth mouthfeel. Pleasant flavour of roast malts, black rye bread, mild coffee and a little sweetness from the crystal malts.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

200 ml from tap at the brewpub. Black colour, beige head. Pleasant malty and creamy character in this Schwarzbier, both in aroma and flavour, sufficient hops.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

440 ml can, from SPAR Norheimsund. ABV is 4.7%. Cola / mahogany colour, huge off-white to beige head. Aroma of roast malts, burnt breadcrumbs and mild coffee. Thin mouthfeel. The flavour has some sweetness, but not too much - otherwise the same elements as the aroma. Roasty and hoppy bitterness in the aftertaste. Drinkable, but not very exciting.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 3 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

Sampled RBESG 2006 Grand Tasting. Dark brown colour. Malty sweet aroma with notes of vomit. Unpleasant. Sweetish moderately malty flavour with nothing to delight you. Pass.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

500 ml bottle, bought at Pivni Galerie, Prague. Label says Herold Bohemian Black Lager, tmavý speciál, 13 degrees plato, Schwarzbier, ABV 5.2%. Very dark reddish brown colour, nearly black, deep ruby when held to the light. Moderate tan head. Excellent aroma of roasted malts, tar, leather and tobacco. Flavour of roastiness, notes of dark chocolate and liquorice, well balanced with the hops, not particularly sweet. Mouthfeel a bit too thin to deserve a straight "10", still a very good beer. Recommended!

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Draught at the brewpub/restaurant at the monastery. Dark brown, nearly black colour. Thick creamy head. Aroma of roasted malts, some leather, hints of treacle. Solid flavour of roasted malts and coffee, notes of dark bitter chocolate. Reminds me of a Baltic porter. Dry bitter aftertaste from the roastiness and hops. A very good beer - good enough to make me go back the next day for more! By the way - the brewery restaurant serves decent food too.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Sampled 500 ml can, later also 500 ml bottle (now available in Norway). Advertised as 'Das Schwarze mit der Blonden Seele' (= The Black with the Blonde Soul). Dark brown to ruby colour, nearly black. Large brown head. Fairly weak but decent aroma, smells like German Schwarzbrot. Roasted malt flavour with coffee and burnt toast. A bit watery mouthfeel. (Is that what the brewers refer to as the 'blonde soul'?) By all means, this is a very drinkable Schwarzbier, but the style unfortunately seems to lack the rich velvety mouthfeel of a good stout or a Baltic porter. Still, this is a beer well worth sampling!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 6

(500 ml bottle, bought in Norway). Pours with a good lasting head, colour is black (= very dark brown to ruby). Very nice aroma of hayloft, some barnyard, molasses, dark syrup, coffee and German bakery. Flavour and aftertaste have interesting rich malty notes with some roastiness, but are unfortunately ruined by the invertsugar syrup which has been added to the brew. Must be another beer for "convalescents and nursing mothers".

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Sure it's black - but when I feel like anything black, I'd most likely go for any dry or imperial stout instead, any time - if given the choice. As far as German Schwarzbiers go, there are tastier ones around than this one. Disappointing lack of flavour and 'bite'. Of course it's drinkable, but I expected more.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

My 500 ml bottle (brewed and bottled in Slovakia, purchased in Finland) just says Topvar Marina Schwarzbier - with an ABV of 5%. I'm slowly getting the idea that the high % in the Slovakian name of all Topvar beers is NOT the ABV, but the malt content or something. This is a delicious Schwarzbier: Black to mahogany colour, good head, oily garage aroma with coffee notes ("coffee break at the garage"). Well balanced malty roast flavour with just the right sweetness - not very complex, but this proves that a well balanced beer does not necessarily have to be complex to be GOOD. In other words - a very drinkable and refreshing Schwarz. A nice roast finish makes you want another one. Yes, please!

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Draught at Pivni Galerie, Prague. The PG beer list says ABV is 4.9%, but the brewery website says 4.5%. Plato is 11%. "Havran" seems to mean "raven" in English, acccording to the website. Black colour, moderate tan head. Nice lacing. Malty aroma with notes of leather, liquorice and tobacco. Easily drinkable, moderate but nice roastiness, hints of liquorice. A slight sweetness in the aftertaste. Very good.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 4

330 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal, Stavanger. Ingredients include maize (corn) and rice. 10.8 degrees Plato. ABV is 4.3%. Very dark colour, nearly black, ruby in the highlights. Low head. Very moderate malty aroma, hints of coffee. Flavour is surprisingly watery and bland, drinking it after the excellent Nøgne Ø and Nørrebro beers obviously didn’t help. "Boiled" notes, wet cardboard and dust abound. Disappointing.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

500 ml bottle, bought at KaDeWe, Berlin. dark brown colour, nearly black. Large and lasting greyish brown head. Moderate malty aroma with notes of caramel and bakery, hints of prunes. Moderate carbonation, mellow and pleasant mouthfeel. Nice moderately malty flavour with a pleasant roastiness, hints of schwarzbrot. Easy drinking. I like it.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

500 ml bottle, bought in Germany, named "Fürst von Louny", must be the same beer, but ABV is 5.4% - one rater has had one in Germany at 4.8% and brewery website says 5.1%, seems to vary quite a bit. Very dark brown to ruby colour, large to moderate light tan head that doesn’t last very long. Aroma is malty sweet with notes of caramel, chocolate, schwarzbrot and leather. Flavour is strangely sweet for a "Reinheitsgebot" schwarzbier: malts, syrup, molasses and caramel, just a faint hint of roastiness. Too sweet for me, very little hops to balance the sweetness. I could swear some kind of syrup had been added to the brew, but they say no. Despite the sweetness and the ABV, mouthfeel is a bit thin. Not my favourite schwarzbier this one.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Draught at the brewpub / restaurant. Black (= very dark brown) colour, good creamy head. Moderate roasty aroma with notes of chocolate and liquorice. Very moderate flavour with roastiness and some caramel, minimal hops. Moderate rye bread aftertaste. I’m not that impressed.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

500 ml bottle, bought in Bier Spezi Hamburg. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Large and lingering greyish tan head, nice lacing. Pleasant moderately roasty aroma, also notes of dark fruits, chocolate, Schwarzbrot and coffee. Very nice flavour of roasted malts perfectly balanced with the hops, not too sweet, notes of coffee. Moderate roasty aftertaste which lasts "forever". A very good Schwarzbier!

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

Sampled bottle, RBNAG 2007 in Grimstad. Reddish brown colour - certainly not "schwarz"! Moderate bakery aroma. Moderate roasty flavour, relatively thin mouthfeel, some fruitiness.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Sampled bottle, RBNAG 2007 in Grimstad. ABV was 5.2%. Nearly black colour. Decent roasty aroma. Fairly roasty flavour, not bad, some fruitiness, relatively light bodied.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

500 ml "Bügelflasche" (swingtop bottle), at Die Kleine Bierstube, Aarhus. ABV was 4.9%. Very dark ruby colour, nearly black. Big to moderate beige head. Moderate but nice aroma of brown bread and dark malts. The flavour is smooth and malty but not too sweet, with a very subtle roastiness. Low bitterness. Easy drinking.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

500 ml bottle, from Systembolaget. ABV is 6.0%. Mahogany coloured beer, big cream-coloured long-lasting head with an orangey hue. Nice malty aroma, notes of caramel, brown bread and other baked goods, some moderate fruity notes too. The flavour is fairly rich and malty with notes of caramel. Dry hops, some spice and burnt caramel in the finish. Some resinous hops and distinct "burnt" notes in the long aftertaste. Quite good.