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Session Black
Hood River, Oregon
BJCP Category: 4A Dark American Lager
Full Sail Brewing Co. <visit site>
41
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[expand]Total Score: 41/50
Refreshing bitterness and dry finish make for a very drinkable beer. A lot of flavor for a Dark American Lager. Roasted malt aroma and flavor a bit over the top for this style but it works. more >
[close]Total Score: 41/50
Aroma: Medium roasted malt aroma, more pronounced as the beer warms a little. Very light floral hop aroma. No DMS. No diacetyl. No fruitiness. Alcohol not apparent. Very inviting, crisp lager aroma, but with a roasted malt aroma that’s almost stout- or porter-like. (9/12)
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Appearance: Very dark amber color, but not opaque. Bright clarity. Thin, tan head dissipates rapidly leaving a ring of bubbles on the sides of the glass. (3/3)
Flavor: Roast malts balanced with moderate hop bitterness. There’s a hint of sweetness trailing to a dry finish. Well balanced with surprising hop bitterness and very low floral hop flavor. A bit of corn-like flavor, perhaps from the use of corn in the grist and not DMS. No diacetyl. No fruity esters. Alcohol not evident. Clean, crisp lager fermentation. (16/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Smooth. Low astringency from roasted malts. No warming from alcohol. Dryness from both fermentation and roasted malts. High carbonation leaves a tingling mouthfeel. (5/5)
Overall Impression: Refreshing bitterness and dry finish make for a very drinkable beer. A lot of flavor for a Dark American Lager. Roasted malt aroma and flavor a bit over the top for this style but it works for this beer making it both interesting and refreshing. When judging to style, even a great drinking beer may not be quite to style; this is somewhat porter- or stout-like. Still, it would be good to have with a steak smothered in mushrooms, the roast malts complementing the charbroiled steak but the dry finish and hop bitterness making it less filling with the meal. Definitely one I’d keep in my fridge. (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 40/50
Body is on the full side for what I expected, more like a Continental version (Heineken or Baltika #4) than Shiner Bock or Blackened Voodoo. more >
[close]Total Score: 40/50
Aroma: Low caramel and bready malt with a hint of spicy, herbal hop aroma. No diacetyl or fruitiness, though a ghost of DMS emerges as the beer sits a bit. (10/12)
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Appearance: Dark reddish brown turns ruby red when held to the light; brilliant clarity. Light tan foam rises to persistent, creamy head. A few larger bubbles form as the beer sits. (3/3)
Flavor: Low caramel malt up front gives way to light graininess, then moderately sweet malt flavor with no burnt or roastiness. Hint of hop bitterness provides balance for a clean finish. Bready, slightly grainy character toward the end accentuates the crisp hop character. As the beer sits in the glass, a very light roast acidity emerges, which also amplifies the bitterness. No hop flavor. Very clean. (16/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium light body, with moderate carbonation and low alcohol warmth late in the finish. Smooth, almost silky texture, except for a slight roasty tang, though not astringent. (4/5)
Overall Impression: Body is on the full side for what I expected, more like a Continental version (Heineken or Baltika #4) than Shiner Bock or Blackened Voodoo. Very clean and fresh, though with graininess that suggests six-row barley malt. A perfect beer for the transition from hot summer nights to balmy autumn evenings, when a Pils isn’t enough, but a porter is too much. This Full Sail definitely lives up to its name as a Session beer. Wouldn’t mind keeping this one regularly stocked in the fridge! (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 41/50
This is a very nice session beer. The roast character and overall malt strength are both a bit higher than expected, but it does not come across as a “big” beer compared to the style. more >
[close]Total Score: 41/50
Aroma: Light chocolate malt is at the forefront with a restrained roastiness. A hint of caramel and maybe toffee in the background. The fermentation character is clean, with just some minimal light esters. A touch of metallic character emerges as it warms, but this is more of a mineral complexity than oxidation. (10/12)
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Appearance: Deep brown color with some orange/copper highlights. The head retention is adequate, and the clarity is excellent as it should be in a lager. (3/3)
Flavor: It has a lot of complexity, beginning with a generous malt character with toasted and caramel malts. The backbone is sustained though perhaps a little too substantial for this style. The roasted malts lend a bittersweet chocolate character and a touch of dryness to the finish. The hop bitterness is low, leaving the balance toward the malt. There are no significant fermentation flavors. (16/20)
Mouthfeel: It has some body and depth in line with the malt flavors noted above, almost on par with an oatmeal stout. A very slight astringency lingers after the beer is swallowed, and the carbonation adds a light tingling sensation on the tongue. (5/5)
Overall Impression: This is a very nice session beer. The roast character and overall malt strength are both a bit higher than expected, but it does not come across as a “big” beer compared to the style. Rather, it is a clean, malt-focused beer with flavor. (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 43/50
Excellent drinking beer! A little roasty and bitter—at the upper end of the style, but very tasty. Light and crisp, capturing the essence of the style. more >
[close]Total Score: 43/50
Aroma: Medium to medium-low malt aroma, lightly roasty, moderately caramelly, some deeper Munich-like character. Clean lager character; barest hints of esters and hops. The malt character is a little rich for the style, but it’s very pleasant. (11/12)
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Appearance: Deep copper-brown color. Clear, but you have to hold it up to a light to tell. Low beige head, settled quickly. (3/3)
Flavor: Medium to medium-low malt, lightly roasty and somewhat caramelly. Light cocoa and burnt sugar flavors. Medium to medium-low bitterness. light to medium-light hop flavor. Balance is slightly malty; bitterness is a little higher than most. Dry finish, crisp, with a light palate. Clean lager character. Fresh, clean flavor. (16/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. High carbonation. Crisp, with a slight carbonic bite. Smooth. (5/5)
Overall Impression: Excellent drinking beer! A little roasty and bitter—at the upper end of the style, but very tasty. Light and crisp, capturing the essence of the style. Similar to some of the premium European dark lagers listed as commercial examples. This belongs in the guidelines. Their session lager is a great beer too; stubbies rock. (8/10)
