Schwarzbier / Black Beer

History

Black Beer was first brewed in the town of Bad Kostritz, starting in 1543. This style has only been a lager since 1878.
This style has also been brewed in Japan since 1892. "Why Japan?", you ask. Well, in the 1870's, German breweries were toured by a researcher from Japan, who in 1876 helped establish the Sapporo brewery. Sapporo is one of many Japanese breweries that make Black Beer.
The classic beer style is the Kostritzer Schwartzbier. The present brewery has ben open since 1907. Their Schwartzbier classically has been brewed in two different styles: one brewed with sugar and the other without. But with the fall of the Berlin wall, Reinheitsgebot was expanded to cover former East Germany. Thus the sweetened version had to be dropped. The current version attempts to stike a balance between the previous two versions. The O.G. comes in at 1.050 and uses three malts (50% pale lager, 43% Munich, and 7% roasted). The hops are Huller for bitterness and Hallertau Mittelfruh for Aroma. The beer has 35 IBU and a color of 90 EBC. Alcohol is 4.6 ABV.
Modern commercial examples of Schwarzbier include: Kostritzer Schwartzbier (classic German), Sapporo (Japanese).

Characteristics

The characteristics of the style is dark brown to black in color. It has a medium body with evidence of roasted malt. There is low sweetness in aroma and flavor, and has low to medium bitterness (primarily from the roasted malt). There should be no fruitiness or esters. Low diacetyl is okay, and "Noble-type" hop flavor and aroma are also may be present.

Statistics	O.G.: 1.044 .. 1.052 F.G.: 1.012 .. 1.016 IBU: 22 .. 30 Alc.: 3.8 .. 5.0 % (by volume) Color: 25-30 SRM, ranging from dark-brown to black
Water	pH: ??
Malt	Pale Lager, Munich, and some roasted.
Hops	Bittering Hops: Huller Aromatic Hops: Hallertau Mittelfruh
Yeast	?

Final Note: BJCP identifies 2 subcategories:

Robust, a dark ale with fairly full body, a coffe-like dryness from the use of roasted malts, a malty flavor, and a strong hop character for balance. Dark brown to black color.

Commercial Examples: Sierra Nevada Porter, Anchor Porter, Great Lakes' Edmund Fitgerald Porter (east), Summit Great Northern Porter (midwest)

Brown, generally lower alcohol than robust porter with less roasted malt character. Medium malt sweetness with low hop aroma and flavor. Medium light body. Medium to dark brown color. Starting gravities tend to be lower than robust porters.

Commercial Examples: Samuel Smith's Taddy Porter, Bateman's Salem Porter Shephard Neame Original Porte, Yuengling Porter (east)