Bernard Cerne | Bernard Family Brewery
Brewed by:
Bernard Family Brewery
Czech Republic
bernard.cz
Style: Euro Dark Lager
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by Sammy on 01-11-2005
Ratings: 66 | Reviews: 31
Reviews by Quej:
More User Reviews:
3.71/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.7/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Discovered this in my garage - I bought it a while back and stashed it away...
A 500ml swing-top bottle with a BB of July 2011, so it's rather out of date. Hopefully hasn't deteriorated. ABV is stated as 5.1%, and the label mentions that it is unpasteurised.
Poured into a tulip pint glass. A very dark brown with ruby highlights. Produces a good head of light-brown foam that lasts for a few minutes before subsiding. Aroma of rich, dark malt with notes of burnt grain, coffee, cocoa, dried fruit and earthy yeast. Possesses a slightly vinous quality.
Tastes of dark malt with a dry, bitter finish. Notes of roasted grain and earthy, fruity yeast, accompanied by hints of coffee, cocoa, dried fruit and stewed hops. Mouthfeel is thick and smooth with tingly carbonation. Quite astringent - dries the palate. Aftertaste of bitter roasted malt.
Nice - a well-crafted dark lager. Rich and smooth. A blend of subtle flavours give it a rounded character. Czech quality at it's finest - definitely worth your time.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Discovered this in my garage - I bought it a while back and stashed it away...
A 500ml swing-top bottle with a BB of July 2011, so it's rather out of date. Hopefully hasn't deteriorated. ABV is stated as 5.1%, and the label mentions that it is unpasteurised.
Poured into a tulip pint glass. A very dark brown with ruby highlights. Produces a good head of light-brown foam that lasts for a few minutes before subsiding. Aroma of rich, dark malt with notes of burnt grain, coffee, cocoa, dried fruit and earthy yeast. Possesses a slightly vinous quality.
Tastes of dark malt with a dry, bitter finish. Notes of roasted grain and earthy, fruity yeast, accompanied by hints of coffee, cocoa, dried fruit and stewed hops. Mouthfeel is thick and smooth with tingly carbonation. Quite astringent - dries the palate. Aftertaste of bitter roasted malt.
Nice - a well-crafted dark lager. Rich and smooth. A blend of subtle flavours give it a rounded character. Czech quality at it's finest - definitely worth your time.
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3.8/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
500 ml swing top bottle purchased and consumed in Czech Republic. Bottle dated with both production date [7 Oct. 2011] and lot #. Unpasteurized.
Appearance: deep dark reddish mahogany, nearly black, with near creamy tan head that has good retention.
Aroma: plenty of dark roasted malt with notes of vanilla and caramel.
Taste: A rich dark malty flavor, with a clear coffee note and hints of chocolate and caramel. Sweet at the tart, and mildly bitter at the finish. Long-lasting aftertaste featuring roasted malt with traces of spicy hops.
Mouthfeel: medium bodied; good carbonation; some dryness in the finish.
O - One of the best, and tastiest Czech dark lagers.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
500 ml swing top bottle purchased and consumed in Czech Republic. Bottle dated with both production date [7 Oct. 2011] and lot #. Unpasteurized.
Appearance: deep dark reddish mahogany, nearly black, with near creamy tan head that has good retention.
Aroma: plenty of dark roasted malt with notes of vanilla and caramel.
Taste: A rich dark malty flavor, with a clear coffee note and hints of chocolate and caramel. Sweet at the tart, and mildly bitter at the finish. Long-lasting aftertaste featuring roasted malt with traces of spicy hops.
Mouthfeel: medium bodied; good carbonation; some dryness in the finish.
O - One of the best, and tastiest Czech dark lagers.
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4.08/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
An unusual masterpiece, thanks to Georgina for bringing from her hometown. From the re-sealable cap through the finish, this style turned me and my mates on my head. Why did I agree to share it? Starting as a tart and sweet stout with roastiness and coffee and some chocolate, it moved through as a dunkel and finished with a mildly sour but beautiful yeast at the end of the bottle. Appearance: Mocha head and retaining lace. Its unpasteurized, but drunk fresh. Been imitated, but had the real thing.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
An unusual masterpiece, thanks to Georgina for bringing from her hometown. From the re-sealable cap through the finish, this style turned me and my mates on my head. Why did I agree to share it? Starting as a tart and sweet stout with roastiness and coffee and some chocolate, it moved through as a dunkel and finished with a mildly sour but beautiful yeast at the end of the bottle. Appearance: Mocha head and retaining lace. Its unpasteurized, but drunk fresh. Been imitated, but had the real thing.
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4.68/5 rDev +24.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Pours with a nice light brown head and a great nose of caramel and coffee. Wow! This one is complex. Caramel, coffee, honey and wheat. Feels great in the mount and goes down a little to good. Half liter bottle with a flip style resealable cap. ABV is actually 5.1% not 13%.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Pours with a nice light brown head and a great nose of caramel and coffee. Wow! This one is complex. Caramel, coffee, honey and wheat. Feels great in the mount and goes down a little to good. Half liter bottle with a flip style resealable cap. ABV is actually 5.1% not 13%.
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3.83/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: The beer is very dark amber (near black) in color. It poured with a two finger high beige head that slowly faded down into a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: There are aromas of light roasted malts in the nose.
T: There are notes of roasted malts in the taste.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and very sweet and creamy on the palate. A light amount of carbonation is perceptible.
D: The beer is very easy to drink and is also quite sessionable.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: The beer is very dark amber (near black) in color. It poured with a two finger high beige head that slowly faded down into a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: There are aromas of light roasted malts in the nose.
T: There are notes of roasted malts in the taste.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and very sweet and creamy on the palate. A light amount of carbonation is perceptible.
D: The beer is very easy to drink and is also quite sessionable.
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3.74/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.75/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Flip-top 500ml brown bottle with an ABV of 5.1%, like others on here, not sure if this is the same beer, no Cerne on my bottle, but Dark is. A bit more expensive than other Czech beers, was it worth it?
The best before date is 31st Jan 2009, drank Nov 2008, with strong English Cheddar cheese and Celery salt (try it, its fantastic with any beer).
Poured into Gordon Thistle shapped glass twice so I could see the colour and head better.
The deepest ruby red you are ever going to see, looks coal black until you hold it up to a strong light. The large tan head soon turned into a weaker covering and then a wispy half covering and a collar.
The aroma was of richness, toasted or burnt malted barely, good for a lager, even a dark one. I often stuggle to pick up smells from lagers, this was a whole lot beter.
My portfolio of Dark lagers is growing and this one is towards the top of my list so far. It has some body and a presance many fail to reach. The burnt maltiness comes through in the taste, but there isn't a dry, burnt feel to the beer, it is well balanced and easy to drink.
Glad I had it, and yes, it was worth the extra wonga.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Flip-top 500ml brown bottle with an ABV of 5.1%, like others on here, not sure if this is the same beer, no Cerne on my bottle, but Dark is. A bit more expensive than other Czech beers, was it worth it?
The best before date is 31st Jan 2009, drank Nov 2008, with strong English Cheddar cheese and Celery salt (try it, its fantastic with any beer).
Poured into Gordon Thistle shapped glass twice so I could see the colour and head better.
The deepest ruby red you are ever going to see, looks coal black until you hold it up to a strong light. The large tan head soon turned into a weaker covering and then a wispy half covering and a collar.
The aroma was of richness, toasted or burnt malted barely, good for a lager, even a dark one. I often stuggle to pick up smells from lagers, this was a whole lot beter.
My portfolio of Dark lagers is growing and this one is towards the top of my list so far. It has some body and a presance many fail to reach. The burnt maltiness comes through in the taste, but there isn't a dry, burnt feel to the beer, it is well balanced and easy to drink.
Glad I had it, and yes, it was worth the extra wonga.
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3.08/5 rDev -18.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Found in a Moscow grocery store, this one comes in a brown 1/2 liter bottle with a stout bottle, swing-top and a white and gold label featuring a ribbon and a few medals under the name. Ingredients conform to the purity law. Best before 5/14/06, I opened it on 1/7/06.
Pours a very dark brown, with a light brown one finger head that fades a bit too quickly, leaving decent lace at first, then absolutely nothing. The nose is faintly of caramel. The mouth is light and mildly carbonated. There's a good smooth sweet caramel opening, but no hop backbone. Just a shadow of bitterness emerges in the aftertaste, but it quickly disappears. This one ends up being OK, but a bit too one dimensional.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Found in a Moscow grocery store, this one comes in a brown 1/2 liter bottle with a stout bottle, swing-top and a white and gold label featuring a ribbon and a few medals under the name. Ingredients conform to the purity law. Best before 5/14/06, I opened it on 1/7/06.
Pours a very dark brown, with a light brown one finger head that fades a bit too quickly, leaving decent lace at first, then absolutely nothing. The nose is faintly of caramel. The mouth is light and mildly carbonated. There's a good smooth sweet caramel opening, but no hop backbone. Just a shadow of bitterness emerges in the aftertaste, but it quickly disappears. This one ends up being OK, but a bit too one dimensional.
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4.1/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
500ml swingtop bottle bought from Tescos...
Poured a very deep dark mahogany brown. Dirty mocha head poured thick and meringue like then faded very slowly to light wispy covering... very light lacing...
Aroma - Strong toasted bread, lightly roasted milk chocolate maltiness, some smokiness, toffee, leathery and woody notes, treacle sweetness, burnt nuttiness, buttery, some dark fruit notes (dates and figs)..
Taste - Nice roasted caramel malts, peppery hop bitterness, light coffee, chocolate, liquorice, some rich sticky fig and date fruitiness, metallic notes, toasted malty bread, molasses sweetness, light spiciness...
Feel - Pretty rich and smooth with just a little sharpness underneath... medium bodied.. extremely quaffable - i could happily drink this all evening..
Overall - A superb example of what a lager can be... definitely recommended...
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
500ml swingtop bottle bought from Tescos...
Poured a very deep dark mahogany brown. Dirty mocha head poured thick and meringue like then faded very slowly to light wispy covering... very light lacing...
Aroma - Strong toasted bread, lightly roasted milk chocolate maltiness, some smokiness, toffee, leathery and woody notes, treacle sweetness, burnt nuttiness, buttery, some dark fruit notes (dates and figs)..
Taste - Nice roasted caramel malts, peppery hop bitterness, light coffee, chocolate, liquorice, some rich sticky fig and date fruitiness, metallic notes, toasted malty bread, molasses sweetness, light spiciness...
Feel - Pretty rich and smooth with just a little sharpness underneath... medium bodied.. extremely quaffable - i could happily drink this all evening..
Overall - A superb example of what a lager can be... definitely recommended...
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3.66/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Brought back from Prague a month ago, shared with rudzud.
Nice creamy 1/2 finger slight darker colored head fades slowly with nice lacing, good lacing, somehow clear but very dark burgundy molasses like color.
Nose is good but not great, light tin like lager and dark malt, grainy powdered coffee, syrupy molasses, typical Czech like syrupy root like earthy syrup, mild grassy hops.
Taste is syrupy fair sweetness, syrupy like molasses and earthy root like. Then light syrupy caramel. Little grassy slight earthy hop, fair to mild bitterness but not typical Czech beers, little lager soft feel, little mineral like hint chalk. Finish is dry with more bitter slight caramel and light mineral, decent grassy earthy bitterness.
Mouth is syrupy but not crazy syrupy, somehow a bit thin still, decent carb.
Overall not bad but not as good as the other Czech beers I had.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Brought back from Prague a month ago, shared with rudzud.
Nice creamy 1/2 finger slight darker colored head fades slowly with nice lacing, good lacing, somehow clear but very dark burgundy molasses like color.
Nose is good but not great, light tin like lager and dark malt, grainy powdered coffee, syrupy molasses, typical Czech like syrupy root like earthy syrup, mild grassy hops.
Taste is syrupy fair sweetness, syrupy like molasses and earthy root like. Then light syrupy caramel. Little grassy slight earthy hop, fair to mild bitterness but not typical Czech beers, little lager soft feel, little mineral like hint chalk. Finish is dry with more bitter slight caramel and light mineral, decent grassy earthy bitterness.
Mouth is syrupy but not crazy syrupy, somehow a bit thin still, decent carb.
Overall not bad but not as good as the other Czech beers I had.
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Bernard Cerne from Bernard Family Brewery
3.77
out of 5
based on 66 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A - Quite dark and almost opaque with some reddish highlights and lots of visible carbonation.
S - Smells burnt and black. Lots of roasty notes and sweet dark malty goodness.
T - Tastes very sweet, lots of fruitiness, with molasses, toffee and even a bit of anice. Strong flavour and a long aftertaste of bitter coffee.
M - Perhaps a bit over carbonated, and rather heavy bodied.
D - The heaviness and strength of flavour make it a bit hard to drink a lot of.
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