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Styles · Schwarzbier

Beer style · BJCP 2021 8B

Schwarzbier

Dark European Lager

Published ranges These are the ranges the BJCP 2021 guidelines publish for this style.

Original gravity
1.046–1.052
Final gravity
1.010–1.016
Bitterness
20–30 IBU
Color
17–30 SRM (33–59 EBC)
Alcohol
4.4–5.4 % ABV

What it is

A near-black German lager that drinks far lighter than it looks: gentle roast, a touch of cocoa, and a dry crisp finish with noticeable noble hop bitterness. Debittered dark malts supply the color without the harshness. Think pils manners in dark clothing, not a lagered stout.

Flavor

What a Schwarzbier should taste like, on the three wheels the studio scores every recipe against. The shaded ring is the style’s range on each axis, from 0 at the center to 5 at the edge.

Hops

Room for floral, herbal or spice.

Malt

Grainy, bready/biscuit, toasty, coffee/roast and chocolate, with room for sweet/honey.

Fermentation

Clean, with room for sulfur.

Hops that suit it

The traditional choice

What Schwarzbier has classically been brewed with.

Also right on character

Varieties whose loudest notes all sit on this style’s hop wheel, best fit first. How much to use is the recipe’s question; these are the ones that taste right.

And 2 more hops whose character fits. These are the 24 that fit best.

Yeasts that suit it

Strains the lab made for beers like this one, whose fermentation character sits inside the style’s wheel. A strain sold by several labs is listed once; its page names the others.

And 14 more yeasts whose character fits. These are the 24 that fit best.

Style numbers, names and vital statistics are from the BJCP 2021 Beer Style Guidelines, where you will find the official descriptions. The descriptions and flavor wheels here are Beerwright’s own. Beerwright is not affiliated with or endorsed by the BJCP.