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Guinness Black Lager
Guinness Ltd.
- 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:
- 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:
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
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, 2013The 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.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by edthehead from Maryland
4/5 rDev +27.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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, 2021Rated by JWChamberland from Maine
4.27/5 rDev +36%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.27/5 rDev +36%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Yum
Nov 02, 2020Reviewed by crazyspicychef from Pennsylvania
1.79/5 rDev -43%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.25
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, 2020We 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.
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
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, 2019Reviewed by singletary from Mississippi
3.3/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
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
Guinness Black Lager from Guinness Ltd.
Beer rating:
72 out of
100 with
1988 ratings
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