Nice stuff. Decent roast but not full on. Not so much of the soy sauce. Touch of creaminess and a bit of chocolate.

Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6

Otaru Schwartz 5% Nice looking brew with deep cola black and a thick rocky beige head. Aniseed, black licorice, chocolate syrup in the aroma. Medium bodied with a thick bitter chocolate paste flavor with roasty elements. Solid but not the flavor profile for me.

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle, mail order from the brewery, since the re-emergence of the covid threat cancelled my plans to visit them this week. Shiny black with a big, bubbly, pretty tan head. Nose is roasted malt, dark chocolate and a bit of coffee, a touch of licorice, a hint of vanilla. Some fruitiness too. Great nose. Flavor is dry, roasty, 80% cacao chocolate cafe au lait. burnt woody notes, light fruitiness, like plums or figs. Finish is dry, roasty, some licorice and coffee. Excellent Schwarzbier, really. Dry and crisp and leaves you wanting another gulp.