Sam Adams Black Lager

Boston Brewing Company
Boston, Massachusetts

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Big, espresso-colored head. Lots of bubbles. Dark brown, almost opaque.

AROMA: 2.25/4
Subtle roasted chocolate aroma, subtle sweetness. Clean, little hop aroma.

TASTE: 5.5/10

Hop/Malt Balance: 2/4: Very sweet, all malt with no hop. Roasted character with sweet overtones.
Aftertaste: 1.5/3: Very subtle hop bitterness, slight sweet-cream aftertaste, both fade quickly.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Weak, light-bodied, a bit watery (even so, the best aspect of this beer, for what it's worth).

OVERALL: 1.5/3: Unremarkable. Slightly better than the Boston Lager, but there are a million better beers out there. This large "craft brewer" has lost sight of its roots.

TOTAL: 12/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Did they put black food coloring in their Boston Lager? This is a half-hearted attempt to capitalize on the popularity of craft beers.
Ben: A gateway beer for Bud Light drinkers who think they are cool by drinking a supposed craft beer. Little do they know…

Shiner Bohemian Black Lager

Spoetzl Brewing Company
Shiner, Texas

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Essentially black - does have a slight reddish hint. Creamy head that rings the glass and lasts.

AROMA: 2.75/4
Clean, crisp, subtle roasted malt character. Very little hop aroma. A roasted nuttiness is present.

TASTE: 6.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.75/4: Sweet maltiness up-front. Very little hop, all malt.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Some roasted residual notes. Fades to a subtle roast bitterness. Very little hope bittering if at all.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Very light bodied. Very crisp. True lager feel.

OVERALL: 2/3: Very clean and crisp, with subtle roasty notes. A good session beer.

TOTAL: 14/20–I'll Try a Pint

NOTES:
Matt: A nice alternative to a standard lager. More hop bitterness would be nice.
Ben: A little on the light side, could use more body. But overall a good showing.

Avery Anniversary Lager Seventeen: Dry-Hopped Black Lager

Avery Brewing Company
Boulder, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 3/3
BLACK–opaque coffee color. Creamy, espresso-like head.

AROMA: 3.5/4
Chocolatey–caramel notes, roastiness, a hint of vanilla. No hop aroma.

TASTE: 8.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.5/4: Lingering hop at the very end–hop is masked by roasted malt (dominant).
Aftertaste: 2.5/3: Strong chocolate, some caramel coffee, sweet vanilla. An unexpected grassy finish.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Smooth, malty and very sweet. Could use more hop character.

OVERALL: 2.75/3: Unique–a good beer with a mellow hop flavor. A good after-dinner beer.

TOTAL: 17.75/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Tough to classify–a nice alternative to a heavy stout. Dark, sweet, hoppy–good.
Ben: Clean, crisp chocolate espresso with a hop finish. A unique beer–I'd have another.