Cerne (Dark)
Bernard Family Brewery

January 2011: 500 ml swingtop bottle, as Bernard Specialni Černé pivo, unpasteurised. ABV is 5.1%. A gift from gunnar, thanks. BB date 01.07.10. Very dark reddish brown colour, nearly black. Big tan head. Aroma of brown bread, caramel and dust. The flavour is moderately malty but not very sweet, bready and dusty notes. Okay, but not impressive.

 

Deep, dark brown body, looks black in the glass; thin yet dense and creamy light khaki head, lasting. Beautiful soft cocoa and light chocolate aroma. The taste follows along the lines of the smell; richer cocoa sweetness; mild chocolate notes; quiet underlying bitterness, probably more charred grain related than hop. Medium-heavy body; smooth and silky; moderate residual sugar density; semi-sweet feel.

For a beer approaching five years of age and of unknown storage history, this is one smooth, tasty, and very easy drinking dark lager. Balanced and nuanced with rough points, no disappointments in the look, smell, taste or mouthfeel. In search of fresher edition.

Pouring temperature: 62.5 ℉; bottling data: 21.06.17-21.96.18-L: I24

Brownish black body with two fingers of tan foam. Roasted malt, slight nuttiness and earth aromas. Taste takes a turn toward licorice, dark bread, and a hint of leafy hops, with nuts and earth with the roast still grounding, but it clashes a bit and is thin in complexion. Feel is malty, light for style, thin, chewy and warm. Better examples of the style out there

On tap at Peas & Honey in Malmö.

Pours a dark reddish brow with thick, creamy head.

Smell is malty and slightly floral. Notes of brown bread, chocolate and leather.

Taste is soft and malty, with some floral hints. Notes of leather, chocolate malt, brown bread and a bit of honey. Soft bitterness, very balanced.

Mouthfeel is medium, creamy and well carbonated.

Overall, a very tasty dark lager, well balanced and drinkable.

Bought at a Supermarket in Olomouc. 0,5 l poured into a Pilsener glass.
-Thin foam head. Pitch black color. Opaque.
-Smell to fresh coffee. Dark beer smell like Guiness. Freshness. God smell.
-Not fully bodied but is a Good flavour.
-Doesn't leave a lot of after taste.

I don't like too much dark beer but this is fine.

 

 

I like the classy looking bottle label artwork, great use of color. The pour is black with some red ruby tinges. The taste is raisin, prune, roasted malts, caramel & pumpernickel bread. Cheers! B

 

 

330 mL bottle. Deep brown body. Smells of raisins, caramel, and dark bread. Tastes of dark bready malts, a bit of caramel, and a brighter, almost acidic flavor. Herbal a d slight bitter finish. Medium light, easy drinking. Not that flavorful, but it drinks fine.

 

 

11.2 oz stubby brown bottle consumed in November 2018. "Bernard 12" on the cap. BB date stamp of May 2019.
Pours with a slightly fizzy tan head that is semi-durable and leaves temporary sheets of lacing on the glass when tilted.
Plenty of dark roasted grain flavor that lingers on in the aftertaste. Light spicy hops and faint hints of smoke and dried fruits accompany the grains.

 

Ruby-black; doughy yeast, tin, raisin + hot-buttered rum; Challah, butterscotch, cola, plum + mild spice; round + low fizz.

4 4 4.25 4 4.25

Surprising - more fruit + less bread than expected. Diacetyl there. Finishes sharp + clean for all there - definitely a lager. Deep; need further exploration.

 

 

A decent schwarzbier.
But, it Looks only average in a not-so-good-looking style. Smells tell me the dark malts have been well-toasted; some chocolate or molasses is in there to make it interesting. Tastes are the same, but slightly better; creating a balanced dryness in the finish. I like the way this sits in my mouth. I found it in June and I hope it lasts until Autumn.

Reviewed in the "1001 Beers To Taste", the reviewer makes a good case for putting it on the list. This Dark comes from a small, regional family brewery and manages to get a good share of the Czech "special" market. It is unpasteurized and lagered for 40 days, creating a clean taste without the shortcut of the flash of heat. Call that old school and craft.

8/18/18 Had the 3rd of the 4-pack because Schwarbiers pair with seared food and it went well with something I burned. Lesson: don't burn your food.... and if you do, have a black lager in stock.