Kostritzer - Schwarzbier Can - 500mL

Schwarzbier — German for "black beer" — is one of the oldest beer styles in the world, with records of dark lagers being brewed in Thuringia and Saxony stretching back to the 16th century. Köstritzer is the benchmark example, brewed in Bad Köstritz since at least 1543, making it one of Germany's oldest continuously operating breweries. The beer was famously favoured by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who reputedly drank it through a period of illness when he could no longer eat solid food — his image still appears on much of the brewery's heritage marketing today.

Despite its near-black appearance and rich mahogany highlights, Köstritzer Schwarzbier is surprisingly light on its feet. Brewed in accordance with the Reinheitsgebot (the German Purity Law of 1516) using only water, barley malt, hops and yeast, it pours with a creamy, fine-bubbled tan head and delivers aromas of roasted chestnuts, dark chocolate, rustic bread and a hint of dark honey. The palate is light-to-medium bodied with clean, dry roasted malt character — think pumpernickel and milk chocolate rather than the heavy, chewy profile of a stout or porter. Gentle herbal hop bitterness and a soft malty sweetness fade together in a balanced, refreshing finish.

At 4.8% ABV, it's an exceptionally drinkable dark lager that pairs beautifully with grilled bratwurst, Schweinshaxe, smoked meats, mushroom dishes, medium-intensity cheeses and dark chocolate desserts. Suitable for vegans.