Cowboy Black Beer

The sun stabs relentlessly from the cloudless sky across the endless expanse of the prairie A tuft of dry brush rolls silently across the dusty ground and from afar you can see the rakish rider on his horse The cowboy gallops into the scene, taps his hat in salute and disappears in a mighty cloud of dust just as quickly as he arrived

It must have been something like this when the brewers from Hummel-Bräu in Merkendorf came up with their Cowboy Schwarzbier The Franconian interpretation of the Pilsen-style beer has a pleasant 5.0% alcohol content and tastes so wonderfully balanced that it would have calmed even the biggest riots in the saloon

The fine dark beer flows into the glass in a shimmering copper-red mahogany hue and is adorned with a handful of hazelnut-brown foam The nose unfolds a symphony of delicate smoke, roasted walnuts, buttery caramel, soft malt and some fruity hops The full-bodied attack unfolds a full-bodied aroma on the tongue and delights with notes of sun-ripened grain, oven-fresh bread crust and caramel malt A hint of chocolate provides a mild sweetness, while hints of coffee contribute subtle acidity and a harmonious bitterness The hops bring subtle fruity notes to the aroma and skilfully round off the beer enjoyment with a round, hoppy finish