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Black Giraffe

Burleigh Brewing Company
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🌍 Australia · Schwarzbier · One of 39 Schwarzbiers in hopIQ

Black Giraffe first appeared in 2010 as a black lager brewed with coffee from a Queensland roaster, using hundreds of kilos of freshly roasted beans. Barley, wheat and specialty malts are fermented with the lager yeast the brewery uses across its lagers, and the hopping draws on American varieties. It pours deep mahogany to black under a tan head. Espresso and chocolate lead the nose with a hint of cola, and the full-bodied palate joins caramel and toffee malt with cocoa and roasted coffee bitterness before a crisp, drying finish.

ABV
5.3%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark30
See all Schwarzbier alternatives →

AWARDS

Silver
World Beer Championships
Silver — World Beer Championships
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Lean body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

A sharp texture drives the beer — a clean, direct pour with room for the palate to fill in.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Schwarzbier.
Malt character
coffee
chocolate
caramel
roasted
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Black Giraffe

Appearance

Black Giraffe presents a deep mahogany to black pour with excellent clarity beneath a tan, persistent head. The carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, supporting stable lacing that clings to the glass throughout the drink. The color sits at the darker end of the Schwarzbier spectrum, conveying the substantial roasted malt foundation.

deep mahogany to blacktan head with lacingmoderate carbonation

Aroma

The nose leads with prominent espresso and dark chocolate notes, underpinned by roasted grain character from the specialty malts. A subtle hint of cola adds sweetness to the profile, while the American hop varieties contribute restrained floral and herbal complexity without dominating. The freshly roasted Queensland coffee beans remain the aromatic anchor throughout.

espresso, dark chocolateroasted malt, cola hintAmerican hops, restrained

Taste

The palate opens full-bodied and malty, with caramel and toffee notes establishing a sweet mid-palate foundation. Cocoa and roasted coffee bitterness develop mid-sip, creating a balanced interplay between the brewed coffee adjunct and the lager's clean fermentation character. The finish transitions crisp and drying, with lingering roasted notes and a moderate bitter edge that clears the palate cleanly.

caramel, toffee, cocoaroasted coffee bitternessfull-bodied, clean lager

Finish

The finish is crisp and drying, with the roasted coffee bitterness persisting without harshness. A brief wave of malt sweetness fades quickly, leaving a clean, mineral-like aftertaste that invites another sip.

crisp, dryingroasted coffee fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
85
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Black Giraffe

Serve at 7–9°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

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

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Black Giraffe

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 coffee, chocolate, full-bodied character as Black Giraffe will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Schwarzbiers in hopIQ

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