Neuzeller Klosterbräu Schwarzer Abt is the best-known beer of the Neuzelle Monastery Brewery in Brandenburg, a brewery whose history at the site dates back to 1589 and is closely linked to the local monastery. The deep dark Schwarzbier with 3.9% ABV and an original gravity of 14% is brewed from water, barley malt, hops, and invert sugar syrup, with the addition of the sugar syrup giving the beer its distinctive sweetness. The brewery conducted a legal battle over this for about ten years, which was decided in their favor in 2005. In the glass, Schwarzer Abt appears almost black with creamy, brown foam, and the aroma is spicy and roasted malt. On the palate, the beer offers a full-bodied, velvety texture with intense roasted notes of coffee, caramel, and dark chocolate, a fine, gentle sweetness, and a long, harmoniously sweet-spicy finish with slight smoky hints. The beer is served chilled at up to 8 °C and pairs well with hearty dishes as well as desserts with coffee or chocolate notes. Bottled in a 0.5-liter bottle, it contains gluten-containing grains.
