Top 10 Schwarzbiers Brewed in North America
This Top Ten List of Schwarzbiers is from the results of the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and World Beer Cup. The best schwarzbiers are very dark brown to black beers have a mild roasted malt character without the associated bitterness. This is not a full-bodied beer, but rather a moderate body gently enhances malt flavor and aroma with low to moderate levels of sweetness. Hop bitterness is low to medium in character. Noble-type hop flavor and aroma should be low but perceptible. ABV: 3.80% – 4.90%. IBU: 22-30
1. Black Flag – Hansa Brewery – Ohio
2. Black Goat – Perrin Brewery – Michigan
3. The Black Lager – Silversmith Brewing – Ontario
4. Black Bavarian – Sprecher Brewing – Wisconsin
5. Babe’s Blackfin Lager – Babe’s Bar-B-Que & Brewhouse – California
6. Cascadian Schwarzbier – Jack’s Abby Brewing – Massachusetts
7. Rogue Farms Dirtoir Black Lager – Rogue Ales – Oregon
8. Magnetron – Metropolitan Brewing – Illinois
9. Von Trapp Trosten Lager – von Trapp Brewing – Vermont
10. Schwarzbier – The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery – North Carolina
History of Schwarzbiers
Schwarzbiers, meaning “black beers” in German, trace their origins to the historic brewing regions of Germany, particularly Thuringia and Franconia, with roots stretching back to the Middle Ages. First documented in the 14th century, these dark lagers emerged from monastic brewing traditions, where monks in places like Kulmbach refined recipes using roasted barley or malt to create a deep, opaque color and rich, malty flavor. Unlike the lighter beers of the time, schwarzbiers were prized for their smooth, balanced profile—neither as heavy as porters nor as bitter as stouts. By the 16th century, the style gained popularity in southern Germany, especially in Bavaria, where brewers leveraged local ingredients and cold fermentation techniques to produce crisp, clean lagers with subtle coffee and chocolate notes. The beer’s distinct character made it a regional staple, often enjoyed in taverns and during festivals, cementing its place in German beer culture.
The modern era of schwarzbiers saw both challenges and revival. Industrialization and the rise of pale lagers like Pilsner in the 19th century overshadowed darker beers, pushing schwarzbiers to the margins. However, their legacy endured in East Germany, particularly through breweries like Köstritzer, which claims a brewing tradition since 1543. After World War II, Köstritzer’s schwarzbier became a symbol of regional pride, surviving the standardization of beers under communist rule. The fall of the Berlin Wall and the global craft beer movement in the late 20th century sparked renewed interest, with brewers in Germany and beyond reviving the style. Today, schwarzbiers are celebrated worldwide for their dark, elegant appearance and approachable flavor, blending roasted malt depth with lager’s refreshing finish, appealing to both traditionalists and modern craft beer enthusiasts.
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