Temnota
Lost Nation Brewing

 

Pours quite dark, some ruby streak; light and brief 0.5" tan head with little retention and no lacing. Nose is cocoa powder, grassy hop; as it warms, some sweet cola notes. Taste has light malt notes, moderately sweet (moreso than I'd usually expect with the style), cocoa powder, chalky bittersweet chocolate, grassy hop. Feel has brief, prickly carbonation and medium weight. Alcohol warms on the finish. The high ABV introduces some sweetness that overtakes the dry, cocoa notes that I usually expect from the style.

 

This one was an extra in a trade with brentk56! How nice of him. This is absolutely the highest abv I’ve seen for a Czech Dark Lager, so I’m interested to see how the increase in alcohol will change the typical flavor profile. Let’s crack it open and find out

Pours a very dark brown with 2 fingers of creamy light tan head that fades to thin ring and leaves minimal lacing

It’s pretty much standard fare in the nose, maybe a bit more fruitiness from the booze that I dig. I’m picking up on aromas of pumpernickel toast, cocoa powder, raisin, brown sugar, herbal hops, black pepper, light vanilla, and black tea

The taste very closely follows the nose on this one, and it’s just as good. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting cocoa powder, dark bread, brown sugar, raisin, black tea, light roast coffee, and light black pepper. The swallow brings notes of milk chocolate, black cherry, brown sugar, raisin, light roast coffee, vanilla, herbal hops, and black tea

A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a silky beer. Finishes a tad sticky and sweet

This one is very interesting. It’s not too far off from your typical CDL, but the extra kick of booze really puts it into a sweater territory that’s quite welcome

 

On tap at The Reservoir in Waterbury, VT.

This one pours a fairly dark brownish black color, with a very small head, and no lacing.

This smells like chocolatey malt, a touch of earthy hops, and roast.

There's some decent flavor to this, but it just falls off very flat on the back end. I'm not sure if it's a keg problem, or it's just the beer itself, but whatever it is, it leaves the beer kind of feeling unfinished.

This is light bodied, somewhat creamy, but also pretty thin and flat. It's reasonably drinkable either way.

I wanted a lot more out of this one - Lost Nation is usually much more reliable than this one.

Appearance: Pours coffee colored with a two finger tan head; spotty lacing

Smell: Very earthy aromatics, featuring a rustic pumpernickel bread aspect

Taste: There is a layer of chocolatey sorghum sweetness that persists from start to finish but the dominant element here is the bready pumpernickel aspect; the finish is very earthy with a bit of lager twang

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: A really nice change of pace here - a well-brewed dark lager packed full of flavor

 

Poured from a 16 oz can dated 10/27/21 into the test mug.
A - A dark mahagony color, testing the black / brown color border. A solid pour yields a frothy mocha cap.
Said cap is quick to exit. During the rest of the experience, carbonation assembles as a ring clinging to the glass perimeter.
S - Dark malts, a hint of roast, some very delicate char, Earthy woodsy hop aspect.
T - Touches of brown bread, light brown sugar, again with an earthy element, There is a wonderful pumpernickle craker grain that bounces off the sweet brown bread component.
M - A bit slick to start, then the carbonation cleans that up. Semi sweet beginning quickly moves to center with help from beautifully balanced hops. Finish is just dry enough. Linger is dark and dry.
O - A very good lager, rich, medium weight, solid body. Cries out for a winter roast dinner to go with it.

 

 

 

 

16 oz. can.
Canned 01/12/21.

Moderate pour yields a two inch tan head over a very dark brown body with sticky lacing. Nose of dark malt, very bitter chocolate and a bit of spice. Taste of dark malt, bitter chocolate, caramel, a bit of fudge, and finishing with a slight sweetness which gives way to a real nice bitterness. This really is quite delicious! Nice feel and overall, what a treat from the boys up the road in Mo'Vegas.
Cheers to Jamie and crew!