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Brooklyn Winter Lager

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Brooklyn Winter Lager is the brewery's cold-season beer, a dark lager in the Schwarzbier tradition that first appeared as Insulated Dark Lager and later took its current name. Munich, Carafa and pilsner malts, with a share of black barley, give it a near-black colour and notes of dark chocolate, dark bread and roasted grain, with a faint trace of coffee. The hops add a grassy, herbal edge. Despite its colour, the body stays moderate and the finish is dry and surprisingly light.

ABV
5.6%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark30
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
roastedchocolategrassy
roasted
chocolate
grassy
herbal
dark fruit
bready
Aroma
The nose opens with roasted grain and dark chocolate, followed by subtle notes of dark bread crust and a whisper of coffee.
also:coffee,clean
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Brooklyn Winter Lager

◎ Appearance

Nearly opaque black-brown beneath the light, with a fine tan head that settles into a delicate collar along the glass wall. The dense malt bill produces modest carbonation evident in a steady stream of small bubbles. Despite its dark intensity, the beer transmits light at the edges, revealing deep mahogany tones.

near-blackfine lacingmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with roasted grain and dark chocolate, followed by subtle notes of dark bread crust and a whisper of coffee. Beneath the malt foundation sits a restrained herbal and grassy hop character that adds freshness without dominating. The overall impression is balanced and inviting, with no harsh roasted edges.

dark chocolateroasted grainherbal hopssubtle coffee

◐ Taste

The palate enters with gentle roasted malt sweetness and a pronounced dark bread flavor, building into a dry mid-section where the herbal hops emerge with a grassy bite. Bitterness remains measured at 25 IBU, supporting rather than asserting itself against the malt backdrop. The body stays moderate despite the dark colour, allowing clean malt flavors to come forward.

dry finishlow-moderate bitternessmalt-forward

◑ Finish

The finish is unexpectedly light and clean, with roasted grain lingering briefly before the beer fades to a dry, herbaceous aftertaste. No heavy residue or sweetness remains.

drylight body
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
79
Finish
76
Serve at 7–9°C

Serve at 7–9°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Brooklyn Winter Lager

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About Schwarzbier

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Schwarzbier?

Schwarzbier is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Schwarzbier

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same dry, roasted, chocolate character as Brooklyn Winter Lager will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Schwarzbier beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →