Speight's Old Dark
New Zealand Breweries Limited

Speight's Old DarkSpeight's Old Dark
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From:
New Zealand Breweries Limited
 
New Zealand
Style:
European Dark Lager
ABV:
4%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.63 | pDev: 15.15%
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
25
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 19, 2018
Added:
Oct 28, 2003
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  4
No description / notes.
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Ratings by kylehay2004:
Photo of kylehay2004
Rated by kylehay2004 from Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Feb 21, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.68 by robotic_being from Illinois

Jul 19, 2018
 
Rated: 5 by Npapuzz from New York

Jun 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3.81 by dansmcd from Australia

Nov 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Stoutmeister from Massachusetts

Oct 07, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by Aimeeford

Jul 04, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Bobhoya from Arizona

Nov 05, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Brionna from Pennsylvania

Aug 13, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by thebigredone from Wisconsin

Mar 16, 2013
 
 
Rated: 3.5 by Hairrrrrrrr from Illinois

Feb 09, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by sloelco from California

Dec 26, 2012
Photo of bylerteck
Reviewed by bylerteck from Canada (ON)

2.62/5  rDev -27.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pint at a pub during trivia. From notes.

A - Poured deep red with a nearly brown sorta colour. Good carbonation, one finger of creamy beige head. Good lace, film retention.

S - Nutty with some cola. Boring.

T - Nutty, quite sweet, cola.

M - Good carbonation, medium body, sweet finish.

O/D - Pretty sweet and fairly unexciting for what was advertised as a dark ale. Not terrible, just not exactly worth revisiting.
Sep 30, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by Chou from Oregon

Apr 17, 2012
Photo of DCon
Reviewed by DCon from Missouri

4.15/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Shared a 330mL bottle of this w/ loldmopar. He brought this back from New Zealand along with another brew. Poured from the blue and yellow bottle into a Speight's Hefeweizen Glass and has Best Before 01-11-2012 on the back.

Aroma- High maltiness and has a low amount of caramel aroma. So much sweet malts present that you can't even notice any other aromas (hop, yeast, anything else).

Appearance- Pours 2 fingers of off white head that has decent retention. Has a clear, brown body but doesn't leave much lace at all.

Flavor- Has a nice maltiness and perfect level of sweetness. Almost like a light brown ale with hints of coffee and cocoa. Very light bitterness but still around.

Mouthfeel- Light-Medium Bodied, High Carbonation, Smooth, but doesn't do much... Very light on the finish.

Overall Impression- Once again, a great, malty brew from New Zealand. How could you judge a Kiwi for having a good brew? Refreshing and would certainly enjoy again if available in the states!
Aug 17, 2011
Photo of dgilks
Reviewed by dgilks from Australia

3.7/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This was one of two drinkable in the Air New Zealand Koru Club at AKL.

Pours a clear brown colour with garnet highlights. The head is foamy, light tan and short lasted.

Mild tart roast aroma with a hint of herbal character. Nothing special.

Smooth, light malt flavour with a roasty finish. Clean, easy drinking and a fairly straight forward dark ale.

Medium-light body with moderate carbonation. Good.

This is a simple, uncomplicated Dark Ale with the flavours being clean, appropriate and unexceptional.
Jun 30, 2011
Photo of Stinkypuss
Reviewed by Stinkypuss from Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Speights dark, pours a nutty brown in color. Aroma of flowery hop, dark roasted malts and Speights fruity ale yeast. Flavor is much of the same, nutty dark roasted malt, light ale like tang and a mellow bitterness though the finish is still alittle sweet. A decent euro dark lager, mild and easy to drink.
Apr 25, 2011
Photo of lacqueredmouse
Reviewed by lacqueredmouse from Australia

2.62/5  rDev -27.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Tried out of a bottle at Auckland Airport. That's mostly for my benefit when I read this review in the future, it has no bearing on the review.

Pours quite a lusciously thick deep red colour. Surprisingly goopy in the glass for a beer that's only 4% ABV. No head whatsoever, unfortunately, even with a reasonably vigorous pour. There is, perhaps a slight accumulation of bubbles around the edges that get released when it's swirled. Not bad all up, I'm quite impressed with the body, in any case, and the colour is very pleasant.

Minimal character on the nose. A bit of grainy sweetness, but very little else. Indeed, it reminds me of other Speight's beers I've had, although whether I'd say that if I were tasting it blind, who's to say. Not a lot to it, in any case.

Taste is similar. Slight honeyed grain character that lingers throughout, and dries out to a husky cardboard note on the finish. Feel is smooth, thanks somewhat to the body and somewhat to the very low carbonation levels. Not a lot to it, but it's inoffensive at least.

Not the best beer I've ever had. I think that's certainly a safe thing to say. It's mild and inoffensive, perhaps a little too sweet after a while, but otherwise pretty forgettable.
Oct 22, 2010
Photo of t420o
Reviewed by t420o from Colorado

4.01/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I loved drinking this beer when I was in New Zealand on the North Island. Whenever I'd go out and get something to eat I would grab a few of these. Has a special spot in my heart as I was backpacking through and this was my favorite local beer.
It was Very easy to drink and light roasted malt taste. Sorry I cant give you more info on this one I just saw it and it made me think of the good times I had.
May 29, 2010
Photo of femALEist
Reviewed by femALEist from California

3.02/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Traditional brewers of fine ales since 1876. 4% abv. This poured a reddish brown with a touch of a white head. It smelled of light caramel, toffee and vanilla. This tasted like sweet malts mixed with a touch of light cherry cola. It was just ok, and slightly weird. It didn't give me that wow factor by a long shot.
Mar 23, 2010
Speight's Old Dark from New Zealand Breweries Limited
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 25 ratings