The popular limited-release brew makes its return this Friday…
Some beers return with marketing noise. Others come back because the brewery knows people have quietly been waiting for them. Susquehanna Brewing Company’s Pils Noir, a black pilsner that hasn’t appeared regularly in years, falls firmly into the second category. And on Friday, December 5, from noon to 9 p.m., the Pittston brewery will tap a fresh batch for a one-day, limited release in its tasting room.
SBC’s announcement frames it simply: ’Tis the season for dark beers. But Pils Noir isn’t heavy, spiced, or built for the holiday dessert table. It’s still a lager, clean, crisp, approachable, just darker in appearance and richer in flavor. A nearly black pour with roasted malt depth, without crossing into stout territory.
A dark beer built like a pilsner…
In typical SBC fashion, the technical details don’t overshadow the drinkability. They describe Pils Noir as a “Black Pilsner,” while BeerAdvocate has long categorized it as a European Dark Lager, a subtle but helpful distinction. At 5.4% ABV and historically listed around 33 IBUs, this beer doesn’t aim to overwhelm. It’s balanced, session-friendly, and built to be enjoyed by the pint.
The grain bill starts with pale pilsner malt and adds crystal and Cara malts for a deeper color and flavor. SBC “naturally darkens” the beer through decoction mashing, an old-world Czech technique that cooks part of the mash to layer in complexity. Pair that with the brewery’s husk-free milling and modern BrauKon brewhouse, and you get a lager that shows how small process choices can shape a beer’s final character.
Hop profiles from past releases mention American-grown Willamette and Mt. Hood, all finished with classic Czech Saaz. Today, SBC keeps the emphasis on the Saaz finish, the clean, floral note that ties the beer to its pilsner roots.
The flavor: Dark looks, light heart…
For anyone new to dark lagers, Pils Noir can be disorienting in the best way. It pours nearly black with a pale, foamy head, yet drinks lighter than it looks. PorchDrinking once described it as “a roasted chocolate truckload of flavor,” while still “nice and light in body.” BeerAdvocate reviewers consistently reference roasted bread, mild chocolate, and soft coffee notes, enough roast to signal “dark beer,” but with the crisp finish of a pils.
Expect:
- Roasted malt without heaviness.
- Chocolate and toast, but restrained.
- A clean, crisp finish that stays refreshing.
It’s a beer that looks like a stout from across the room but behaves like a well-made pils once it hits the table.
Why bring it back now?
SBC hasn’t explained the timing, but the decision makes sense. Pils Noir is one of those beers that shows up repeatedly in older Untappd comments: “wish they brewed this more often,” “my favorite SBC beer,” “hoping it returns.” Their release language taps into that nostalgia: “Heading into the vault to bring back an oldie but goodie.”
The return likely reflects a mix of winter seasonality, the longer timelines required for lagers, and the growing interest in dark lagers in general. Drinkers are exploring the lager category more deeply, and breweries with strong lager backgrounds, SBC among them, are well-positioned to bring these styles forward again.
A quick history of SBC…
If you’ve taken SBC’s free Saturday tour, you know the basics: six generations of family brewing experience, roots connected to Wilkes-Barre’s Stegmaier legacy and the original Susquehanna Brewing Co. in Nanticoke, all brought together again in Pittston in 2012 with a state-of-the-art BrauKon system.
SBC has always excelled when the beers are straightforward but polished: Goldencold Lager, the crowd-pleasing Orange Is the New Ale, Hazy River IPA, or the seasonal Blueberry Thrill. Pils Noir fits neatly into that lineage: familiar foundations, careful execution, and a small twist that gives it character.
A beer that bridges seasons…
Older coverage once called Pils Noir a “perfect summer camp-out brew.” It makes sense. The color suggests winter, the drinkability leans warm-weather, and the combination works year-round. Dark lagers don’t need to be heavy or seasonal; they just need to be well-made.
Pils Noir embodies that idea, a beer that doesn’t need to perform or fit a category, just one that tastes like what it is. Honest, unfussy, and grounded in technique.
The release…
Pils Noir Limited Release
Friday, December 5, 2025 — 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
SBC Tasting Room — 635 S. Main St., Pittston
Draft and to-go options will be available while supplies last.
For SBC regulars, this one’s an easy choice: a rare return of a well-liked beer. For newcomers, it’s a welcoming introduction to the world of dark lagers, offered by a brewery that knows how to make lagers well and has been doing so for generations.
Pils Noir is back for a winter cameo, at just the moment when NEPA settles into its darker stretch of the year. And for a beer built on contrast, the timing feels just right.
