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The Premium Malt's Black

Suntory
Japan·Schwarzbier
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The Premium Malt's Black is the dark lager of Suntory's premium range and returns regularly as a limited release in Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan. It is brewed without adjuncts, using black malt selected for a gentle roast, European aroma hops and a double decoction mash. Dark roasted grain leads, with coffee, cocoa and caramel over a mellow, rounded body. The roast stays soft rather than sharp, and a light sweetness carries into a smooth, clean finish.

ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark30
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedchocolatecoffee
roasted
chocolate
coffee
caramel
clean
malty
Aroma
The nose opens with prominent dark roasted grain and black malt, underscored by distinct coffee and cocoa notes.
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for The Premium Malt's Black

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany to black in color with excellent clarity and a dense, persistent tan head. The beer presents with fine carbonation and strong lacing that clings to the glass throughout drinking.

deep mahogany-blackclearpersistent headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with prominent dark roasted grain and black malt, underscored by distinct coffee and cocoa notes. European aroma hops contribute subtle herbal and floral notes that complement rather than dominate, while a gentle caramel sweetness rounds out the bouquet.

dark roastcoffee and cocoablack maltsubtle hop character

◐ Taste

Entry is soft and malty with roasted grain at the fore, followed by coffee and chocolate notes that develop across the palate. A restrained sweetness balances the gentle roast, which stays smooth rather than sharp or burnt. Bitterness remains minimal and integrated, allowing the malt's complexity to shine.

roasted malt-forwardchocolate and coffeesoft roastbalanced sweetness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and smooth with lingering cocoa and subtle roasted grain notes. The aftertaste remains dry and composed, free from harsh tannins or sharp edges.

clean finishsmoothsubtle roasted character
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
83
Taste
84
Appearance
85
Finish
78
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 The Premium Malt's Black

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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 roasted, chocolate, coffee character as The Premium Malt's Black 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 Japan beers →