Köstritzer Schwarzbier

The second Schwarzbier I had on my trip was Köstritzer (4.8%), a dark black lager of exteremely high standard. This beer is particularly remarkable espcially the feat of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who sustained himself on black beer from Köstritz when he was unable to eat during a period of illness. The brewery has a long history after being founded in 1543 and it is one of the oldest producers of Schwarzbier (black beer) in Germany. The brewery is now owned by Bitburger.

The beer does indeed look almost black, but is in fact a very dark brown colour when held up to the light, with a pale, fine-bubbled and lasting head. Nose is of dark malt, roast coffee, black treacle and dark dried fruit. It is quite lively in the mouth, with initially a somewhat lactic taste of creamy coffee, but quickly developing into rich, malty and dark but slightly sour fruity flavours - figs, blackcurrants, black cherries, black treacle, burnt sugar, dark chocolate, bitter dark-roast coffee (still with a dash of cream) and a touch of hop. The more bitter of these flavours (coffee, chocolate, hops) increase in intensity towards the finish, though still tempered by sweeter red fruit notes. Aftertaste is a gorgeous lingering malty bitterness, much like a dry stout, with a warming, spicy touch that wouldn't be out of place in a much stronger beer. A thoroughly lovely experience from start to finish. I'll get my hand off it now!

The closest thing I could find to an official website is this one which is bizarely enough a beers of Austria website!