Černé Pivo
Notch Brewing

Černé PivoČerné Pivo
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From:
Notch Brewing
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Czech Dark Lager
Ranked #35
ABV:
4.5%
Score:
89
Ranked #10,980
Avg:
4 | pDev: 11%
Reviews:
26
Ratings:
98
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 13, 2023
Added:
Dec 09, 2011
Wants:
  18
Gots:
  11
Cerne is Czech for “black”. This cold weather cult classic has toasty and slightly roasted malt character. Notes of dark chocolate and coffee make this beer perfect for a chilly evening. Double decocted, open fermented, naturally carbonated, lagered forever.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by liquorpig:
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Rated by liquorpig from Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

Jun 16, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by Nichols33 from Massachusetts

Mar 13, 2023
Photo of LeRose
Reviewed by LeRose from Massachusetts

4.16/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours root beer color, clear but light blocking. Nice tight khaki head that lasts several minutes, then falls to a cap with a nice island in the middle. Lots of cling to the glass.

The smell is light chocolate, almost stout-like malts, a bit of char, caramel, earthy and spicy hops. Some nuttiness, a hint of dark fruit. This all combines into an enticing aroma.

The taste is extremely smooth, delivering flavor above that 4.5% weight class. The roast flavor is substantial, but the malt also brings some sweetness as well as chocolate, char, caramel. It has enough char that if emulates smokiness. There's a decent bitter hit on the finish and earthy hops with some spicy licorice and pepper in the aftertaste. Clean taste.

The feel is light to medium body, slightly drying, quite refreshing. The lingering hop notes pleasantly counteract the bitterness.

This beer is very good. I can see this beer pairing well with BBQ, most non-poultry meats, or even a robust cheese plate. This is a good one - well made, flavorful concoction that I need to keep an eye out for. I think I like this style, and Notch has set a pretty high bar here.
Feb 21, 2023
 
Rated: 4.32 by Sulty from Massachusetts

Dec 03, 2022
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Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.41/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Crowler filled 3/12/22

I finally made it out to Notch today for the first time. I went to the one in Salem and loved the vibe ib there, I had to pick up some crowlers to-go. I had this one on tap already and thought it was fantastic. Let’s get into it

Pours nearly pitch black with 2 fingers of creamy tan head that slowly fades to a thin cap and leaves minimal lacing

This gives such a nice toasty vibe in the nose, it’s great. I’m picking up on aromas of crusty bread, dark toast, toffee, light coffee, earthy hops, and light pear

Balance is the key for these Czech Darks, and this one achieves it wonderfully. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting dark toast, toffee, spicy hops, biscuity malt, abs a touch of general citrus. The swallow brings notes of dark toast, smooth coffee, doughy malt, light black pepper, earthy hops

A light medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a sharp yet smooth beer. Finishes mostly dry with a balanced roast

This is wonderfully done. Finally going to Notch was awesome, and I think I started a new obsession now
Mar 13, 2022
 
Rated: 4.28 by alexsergio from New York

Dec 12, 2021
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Reviewed by Amendm from Rhode Island

4.28/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A moderate pour from a 16-oz. can (Born On 01/05/21) released three fingers of creamy beige foam which slowly sunk then became hilly with kettle holes and arches of lacing. Semi-opaque and dark brown (almost black) with ruby highlights.

Roasted malt with baked multi grain bread greats the nose, a hint potential sweetness is roasted away. Mild hops and baked apples and pears in the background.

Semi-sweet with moderate bitterness, as in the smell roasted malt leads the way with dark bread and a hint of caramel.
Chocolate and coffee are faint with floral/herbal hop character, half of the bitterness comes from roasted malt. The finish is quick but not crisp as it becomes semi-dry, bitterness rises to above average. Roasted tastes linger briefly.

Medium-full bodied with soft and plentiful carbonation, big malt richness. Alcohol is well hidden, the feel is rich and smooth. An excellent example of a rare style. Another big flavor/relatively low ABV hit by Notch.
Mar 28, 2021
 
Rated: 4.31 by Abstractspirit from Rhode Island

Mar 07, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by brureview from Massachusetts

Jan 29, 2021
 
Rated: 4.28 by crobinso from Colorado

Jul 24, 2020
 
Rated: 3.89 by Phoodcritic from Michigan

Jun 16, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by heerboth from Pennsylvania

Mar 08, 2020
Photo of ScaryEd
Reviewed by ScaryEd from New Hampshire

4.56/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 32 oz crowler into a Stein glass.

Pours a deep, dark mahogany brown color with 3 solid fingers of light khaki head. The head leaves a beautiful crown of sticky lacing as it slowly settles into a thin sheet of foam.

The aroma is full of toasted almonds, caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, and coffee. There's some light baker's chocolate and dark fruits on the back end with just a hint of spicy hops.

The flavor brings a ton of milk chocolate, brown bread, and caramel up front, followed by a wave of sweet dough, roasted malts, almonds, and coffee. Finishes with some dark fruits; namely fig and raisin, and some subtle, spicy hops. Nicely complex.

The feel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Extremely smooth and creamy, yet surprisingly drinkable.

Overall, this is an absolutely fantastic dark lager. The flavor and body are more closely aligned with a nice porter, but I don't care. This is a wonderful beer and the fact it's 4.5% is just absurd.
Feb 16, 2020
 
Rated: 4.37 by Manfrombelmonty from Massachusetts

Dec 28, 2019
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Reviewed by Sheppard from Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a dark brown, one could call it black. Tan head. Coffee, oatmeal, and that common aroma that all good Czech lagers seem to have. Not a lot that needs to be said, it's dry and wonderful.
Dec 20, 2019
 
Rated: 4.24 by boston_beer_2017 from Massachusetts

Mar 12, 2019
Photo of Jaystar
Reviewed by Jaystar from Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Closest thing to a great bohemian dark I've had this side of Prague! So smooth, full-bodied but not heavy. Roasted but creamy; hint of bitterness and sooo smooth. Thanks Notch! Wicked!
Feb 16, 2019
 
Rated: 4.36 by Keene from Washington

Feb 09, 2019
 
Rated: 4.05 by PJCarnell from Massachusetts

Jan 04, 2019
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Reviewed by SABERG from Massachusetts

4.04/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Enjoyed this on draft at the brewery
A - Huge loose knit off white froth, caps a dark offering with steady carbonation.
S - A touch of smoke, caramel, roast malts.
T - Very much follows the nose, add a hint of peppery spice
M - Near perfect, soft water profile, excellent velvety feel, carbonation cleans up and leaves just a slightly bitter calling card
O - Oh my, what a delightful dark lager, every element is spot on.
Mar 19, 2018
Černé Pivo from Notch Brewing
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 98 ratings