Schwarzbier is a dark lager beer from Germany with a color ranging from dark brown to black. It has an alcohol by volume of 5.0% and features a dry, roasted taste from dark barley malt.
How it is made
Schwarzbier is brewed using the bottom-fermentation method, making it a lager. Its dark color comes from dark barley malt, which is produced by roasting germinated barley grains. This gives the beer a dry 'roasted' flavor, though less pronounced than in stouts.
History
Schwarzbier was one of the first beer varieties to emerge in Germany, as efficient technologies for producing light beer only appeared in the 19th century. Initially brewed with top fermentation, it later switched to bottom fermentation. The first written mention dates back to 1543, referring to beer produced in Bad Köstritz, Thuringia.
Types and styles
In Germany, Schwarzbier is the most popular type of dark beer. It is also produced in other countries including Czech Republic, Spain, Latin America, and the United States, where it often has local names.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Чёрное пиво, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.