Darkest Before Dawn
New Orleans Lager & Ale Brewing Company (NOLA)

 

RB transfer

Bought a can of this beer at the local Total Wine.

Poured into a tulip glass. Murky mahogany color with a thick creamy white head and great curtain lacing. Smell and taste of caramel and roasted malt. A bit of milk chocolate at the finish. Good smooth feel. Enjoyable beer and great with cheese and crackers.

3000th beer!

This was another beer that I picked up at the Total Wine in Baton Rouge, Louisiana when I was down that way not too long ago. Wanted something for the fall and yeah, the label also drew me in but it was on par with how enjoyable this was. Indeed, this represented the style well as it did not last in my pint glass for very long!

Loved the deep and bright mahogany hue that this had as it was topped off with enough lively, offsetting foam that burst out of the can as soon as I cracked it open. Very little lacing stayed behind with only a hint of a ring remaining at the center of my glass. Lots of hazelnut, brown sugar, and a hint of chocolate in the nose as caramel, barley, dark bread, and malt emerged on the palate once this fully warmed up. Plenty full in the sense that it was cloying and subtly sticky, this was easy to quaff without being light or underdone. The finish was as clean as could be with the carbonation being on the lighter side.

Combined with a recessed alcoholic presence, the lack of bubbles allowed for the flavors to meld together nicely and linger for the time I had with this. This had "BATCH2300" written on the bottom of the can with "22237" written below that. If this was canned on the 237th day of last year, then it held up well over the last six months. While Munich Dunkels aren't a popular style, this was a good case of why more should be brewed - especially in the fall when Marzens and Octoberfests flood the shelves. Nice job all around by NOLA with this winner!

 

NOLA Brewing - September 2015

 

I just bought my second six pack in as many weeks.
I haven't poured one, but have imbibed straight from the can at room temperature. So don't ask me about what color it is or how much it foams up.
What I can tell you is that for me it is a malty,clean tasting craft beer with a great mouth feel just a hint of hops. But it's like hops with training wheels for people who don't like hops.
Well done NOLA. This is the second NOLA brew that I really liked.

Drinking this at home due to the ongoing pandemic.
Poured from a can into a pint glass.
Appears dark brown with a foamy head that dropped very quickly.
Smells malty, bready.
Taste follows the nose.
Mouth feel is medium for the style.
Overall, I probably wouldn't order again.

 

 

Currently ranked #26 in the Top Munich Dunkel Lager style. #59 on the Top Rated Louisiana Beers list.

CAN: A sixer ran me $10.99 USD plus tax at a Whole Paycheck in New Orleans, LA. 12 fl oz pull tab with can art apt given the beer's name. Best by: 12/31/19.

"Munich-Style Dark Lager." 5.5% ABV. Fall seasonal.

APPEARANCE: Pours a deep amber-brown body but the head fades too quickly for me to note its characteristics (i.e. head retention is poor). No yeast/lees are visible.

Looks adequately carbonated. Not the most dazzling brew to look at, but it's generally appealing.

AROMA: Subtle toastiness and bready Munich malt sweetness, pumpernickel, caramel, subtle roast, brown bread.

It isn't doughy like many German style lagers and lacks any overt yeastiness...this is clean attenuating pastorianus through and through.

Not overtly hoppy. I find no off-notes. Doesn't seem boozy.

Aromatic intensity is mild. Promises an easy drinking but filling European lager that doesn't seem overhopped like so many American stabs at the style.

TASTE: Matches the aroma, but its depth of flavour is lacklustre up front though it picks up towards the finish; this starts out a bit empty and shallow but finishes rife with bready malty sweetness and enough roast and toastiness to keep it balanced. I can't say I find the "hint of sweet chocolate" the can's description advertises, but it is indeed a rich and sweet beer without tasting imbalanced.

I don't taste any hop character (which is true to style).

TEXTURE: Bready but not too heavy or filling. Smooth, wet, clean-drinking, approachable. No alcohol is overt. Medium-bodied. Well-carbonated.

OVERALL: It's a competent stab at the style but I do think they could go bigger in terms of roasted barley and toasted malt flavours to better effect and its depth of flavour does need work. Also, a scintilla of Noble hop grassiness could only help. Not a beer I'd buy another sixer of at $10.99 especially with superior German imports available at comparable prices, but it's not the overhopped nonsense a lot of U.S.-based breweries might put out.

High C+ / ABOVE AVERAGE

 

 

 

Good malty fun,

pours a clear medium brown. half finger of off white head which fades quickly, leaving the slightlest ring around the glass. leaves much to be desired from appearance perspective.
nose is lightly toasted malts, and caramel.
taste is toasted malts, nutty, caramel, chocolate, bready malts.
crisp, smooth, easy to drink. lingering bready chocolate.
good beer.