Guinness Black Lager
Guinness Ltd.

Guinness Black LagerGuinness Black Lager
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From:
Guinness Ltd.
 
Ireland
Style:
European Dark Lager
Ranked #73
ABV:
4.5%
Score:
72
Ranked #27,794
Avg:
3.14 | pDev: 19.43%
Reviews:
449
Ratings:
1,988
Status:
Active
Rated:
Oct 13, 2023
Added:
Apr 03, 2010
Wants:
  39
Gots:
  338
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by biegaman:
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

3.25/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Guinness Black Lager is about as dark as Guinness' ubiquitous Stout, tough it lacks the brand's trademark chunky, foamy head; it doesn't even have a single bubble or thread of lace. The fact that it's no more black than the stout - both have a deep ruddy tinting - says more about the stout than this - Dark Lagers are expected to have a little colour.

The aroma has very mild notes of roast, smoke, and dark purple fruits (plum, raisin) as well as a trace of hazelnut and restrained sweetness. It's an encouraging sign: this is exactly what I'd expect from the style. Fortunately the smell of the adjuncts is just as mild as those of the grain.

The flavour kicks off with the same notes as the aroma (roast, subtle coffee, dried fruits) but quickly turns sweet and starts to taste more like corn syrup than I care for. I was anticipating a mild tasting beer based in the nose and the brand's reputation, but this is thin and textureless even for a lager. You wouldn't know dark malts were used if not for the colour.

Guinness Stout is a true Stout only as much as Kraft Singles Slices can be considered real cheese - it may be true on a technicality but mass- and industrial-production as well as intentional watering down (figuratively speaking) strip the product of virtually all of its character...

Guinness Black Lager, however, is a half-decent example of a Dark Lager. Its dulled, forgettable features, mind you, are unmistakably those of a very hackneyed, commercialized offering. As such, it's best suited as an introduction to those accustomed to mainstream lagers; drinkers already familiar with German Schwarzbiers and quality craft renditions need not bother with it.
Oct 04, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 2.98 by TheIPAHunter from California

Oct 13, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by tonystanhope from Florida

Apr 04, 2022
Photo of edthehead
Reviewed by edthehead from Maryland

4/5  rDev +27.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark brown appearance with a fizzy tan head, moderate retention and light lacing. Coffee, molasses, licorice, roasty malt. Medium body, moderate carbonation.
May 10, 2021
 
Rated: 2 by Urk1127 from New Jersey

Dec 10, 2020
Photo of JWChamberland
Rated by JWChamberland from Maine

4.27/5  rDev +36%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Yum
Nov 02, 2020
Photo of crazyspicychef
Reviewed by crazyspicychef from Pennsylvania

1.79/5  rDev -43%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.25
The worst beer Guinness ever brewed.
We could not give this stuff away at our Pub.
It smells horrible, tastes horrible and is horrible.
There is nothing good about it.
Any other dark lager is better than this swill.
It tastes like steel wool.
If you pick up some, put it back down.
Oct 22, 2020
 
Rated: 3.25 by imnodoctorbut from Texas

Dec 18, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by MJSFS from Florida

Dec 07, 2019
Photo of mothmanscott
Reviewed by mothmanscott from Georgia

3.22/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
From notes 1/24/13: Pours a deep brown appearing to be ebony black with garnet hints when held to the light. The pour produces 1.5 fingers of frothy, somewhat lasting, light tan head that leaves a nice collar with tiny motes and streaks of lace. Aroma is thin being subdued dark roasted/burnt malts, a little chocolate and toffee, a hint of sourness and a faint hint of smoke. Taste is also thin and similar to the nose but more robust. Lightly bitter, very dry and peppery from mid-sip into the finish, declining to a lightly bitter, roast aftertaste. Mouthfeel is medium to heavy bodied and smooth with abundant, spicy amounts of carbonation.
Oct 31, 2019
 
Rated: 3.1 by KMcGrath from Massachusetts

Dec 04, 2018
 
Rated: 3.32 by jbclib7285 from Georgia

Sep 18, 2018
 
Rated: 4.03 by PuffySAJ from South Carolina

Jun 09, 2018
 
Rated: 3.25 by DigitGrowler from Kentucky

May 22, 2018
Photo of singletary
Reviewed by singletary from Mississippi

3.3/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
It pours a deep black color with a tan head they fade very quickly. The Smell is very faint and I really can not pick up on anything. The taste is of a roasted flavor and watery. Overall it was fair, just a little disappointing.
Apr 22, 2018
 
Rated: 2.92 by Hroth from New Mexico

Nov 19, 2017
 
Rated: 3 by BenHoppy from Michigan

Nov 16, 2017
 
Rated: 3.46 by jbehlar from Mississippi

Aug 30, 2017
 
Rated: 3.78 by adam36 from Illinois

Aug 02, 2017
 
Rated: 3.53 by SaisonRichBiere from Michigan

Apr 11, 2017
Guinness Black Lager from Guinness Ltd.
Beer rating: 72 out of 100 with 1988 ratings