Style: Schwarzbier

All Styles

Style Profile based on 500 recipes

BU:GU

0.50

Hops

3.7 g/L

Mash pH

5.43

Style Guidelines BJCP 2015 Beer
OG
1.046 1.052
1.052
FG
1.01 1.016
1.012
IBU
20 30
26
ABV
4.4% 5.4%
5.3%
SRM
17 30
Description

A dark German lager that balances roasted yet smooth malt flavors with moderate hop bitterness. The lighter body, dryness, and lack of a harsh, burnt, or heavy aftertaste helps make this beer quite drinkable. History: A regional specialty from Thuringia, Saxony and Franconia in Germany. History is a bit sketchy, but is suspected of being originally a top-fermented beer. Popularity grew after German reunification. Served as the inspiration for black lagers brewed in Japan. Style Comparison: In comparison with a Munich Dunkel, usually darker in color, drier on the palate, lighter in body, and with a noticeable (but not high) roasted malt edge to balance the malt base. Should not taste like an American Porter made with lager yeast. Drier, less malty, with less hop character than a Czech Dark Lager.

Examples: Devils Backbone Schwartz Bier, Einbecker Schwarzbier, Eisenbahn Dunkel, Köstritzer Schwarzbier, Mönchshof Schwarzbier, Nuezeller Original Badebier

Typical Grain Bill

% of total grain weight across all recipes · sums to ~100%

Common Additions

% of Schwarzbier recipes using each malt category (addition % in brackets)

Hop Usage by Addition Type

g/L · median with IQR range

Bittering
0.4 g/L 1.5 g/L
0.75 g/L
Flavour
0.38 g/L 1.37 g/L
0.69 g/L
Aroma
0.4 g/L 1.37 g/L
0.75 g/L
Whirlpool
0.39 g/L 1.37 g/L
0.69 g/L

Common Hops

% of Schwarzbier recipes using each hop

Common Fermentables

Colour = malt category · bar = % of recipes

Typical Water Profile

Ca²⁺ 80 ppm
Mg²⁺ 12 ppm
Na⁺ 8 ppm
Cl⁻ 37 ppm
SO₄²⁻ 30 ppm
HCO₃⁻ 100 ppm

median across recipes with a declared water profile

Similar Styles

Ranked by similarity across OG, IBU, ABV, hop rate, and grist composition.