Starobrno Black Drak
Pivovar Starbrno, A.S.

(330 ml bottle, airborne from Praha/Prague). Reddish brown colour, deep ruby when held to the light. Very good and thick tan head, good lacing. Roasty and malty aroma, hints of coffee, caramel and toast. Roasted malty flavour, hints of brown sugar but not really sweet, dominant coffee-like bitterness. Difficult to tell how much of the bitterness is from the roasted malts and how much is from the hops. Extracts and artificial colouring, hmm?? This is a tasty brew anyway.

This beer is quite unusual and nothing like most other Czech dark beers. It's colour is a dark red/black, but instead of the expected caramel comes a strong liquorice and aniseed aroma and flavour and a dry malty finish. Some toffee is present, but the beer is mainly roasted and dry.. simply delicious.