Nightscape
Beer'd Brewing Co.

Picked it up in a can directly from the brewery in Groton. Pours a heavy, lacey head of straw color. Black in color to the naked eye, much darker than most dark lagers, but has a beautiful deep red when the glass is held to the light. Sold as a fall warmer, but honestly it has a light body and a mild hop finish that make it drinkable year round (although maybe not my go to around a campfire in the fall as the picture shows where I would probably reach for something a little maltier). At 5.5% it has a modest kick without turning the flavor like some imperials. Good mouthfeel with plenty of carb. Clean finish with a mild bitter aftertaste (which I think is more of a signature of Beer'd as nearly all of their beers are heavily hopped and they specialize in IPAs). Would buy again.

 

 

Canned on 12/23/20; consumed on 1/21/21

Pours a jet-mahogany body with deep auburn accents and capped with multiple fingers of taut, soapy, pale khaki foam; good head retention leaves a half-finger of creamy cap, a moderate, frothy collar, and a generous, spotty wall of lacing encompassing the entire side of the glass.

Aroma brings waves of coffee upfront as a mild roast begins to graze the bouquet; rounded lager yeast followed by fresh bread dough, soft minerality, and grassy tones develop over the middle, while white bread and charry malts mark the back end and touches of dry cocoa accent the close.

Taste opens with nutty coffee grounds into robust chocolate as an intermittent hop presence shows grassy characteristics interwoven though never intrusive; firm, airy roast over the mid-palate is followed by an almost decadent milk chocolate meeting crisp black bread toward the finish, with a more tempered roastiness lingering pleasantly.

Mouthfeel offers a silky body just shy of medium, and elevated by a fluffy, moderate carbonation dispersing to a slight grit over the mid-palate easing with an airy texture; a lingering prickle develops into the back end sporting a progressively drying character into an ultimately rounded, easy finish.

Showing the sweeter nuances of malt while embracing the light, textured character producing high drinkability in the style, this dark lager tempers richness and roast with an easygoing polish; highly accessible, though robust and deep when timely.