Although all beers at one time were dark, few were truly black. Schwarzbier has some resemblance to an Irish stout in that it combines snappy bitterness with dry, coffee like roast flavors on a light to medium-bodied frame.  The main difference between other dark beers and the Schwarzbier, is that the Schwarzbier is aged so it is round, clean, smooth, and finishes with a crisp bitterness.  Chuckanut Schwarzbier won Silver at the National Great American Beer Festival 2009.