Wernesgruner Dark
Wernesgrüner Brauerei AG

Wernesgruner Dark about 50F half liter can from Aldi early March 2026, poured into a glass. It was brewed by Carlsberg in Germany. Big healthy head over brown body that falls slowly giving some lacing. This reminds me of a passable dark AAL from the 70. It had a moderate body with a caramelly roasted malt accent. Hopping is moderate with just a little bitterness at the end. It might be on a par with Henry's Dark of about 1980. Not bad at $1.50 a can on sale, if price is a major factor.

Black in color with a significant amount of light seeping through the body. There’s a fingernail of khaki brown around the rim and covering two thirds of the top. The aroma is of caramel. I’m tasting plenty of caramel. The mouth is very light and easygoing.

Pours a deep amber. Thick foam. Sweet malt aroma. Malty maple body. Thin sweet finish. Not much of a black lager. Almost more of an Oktoberfest. Not bad but a little bland.

Nice dark lager with good mouthfeel; a lighter but satisfying roasty/malty flavor and a clean, quick-fading aftertaste. Very quaffable indeed, bordering on slammable.

 

 

Guiness Stout has nothing to worry about because those really seeking the darker corners of beer won't be wholly satisfied here. It has a real macro brew profile with some darker tones that get mitigated by a corny pilsner thing. Not bad, but certainly not great if you want the more mysterious dark type of brewed libation. No sharp angles on the palate, this one is super smooth which makes me think macro all day long over some kind of old-world recipe thankfully rediscovered. It's a darn quaffable dark so I'd call it a session dark if there is such a thing. In closing, not my first choice with so many craft beer porters out there, but, hey!, it's at Aldi and it's affordable. I can't give you all those intricacies about the cling to the glass cause there ain't no glass for this blue collar working man. I do think the mouth feel is more important than the head so I'll say it's good. Try it, no big commitment 'cause it's at Aldi and it's sold by the 4-pack. As you can tell I like it more robust, even darker tasting, and higher ABV. Such is life.

Usually not a fan of dark beers. Unexpectedly smooth and drinkable. Probably my favorite beer at ALDI.

500mL can stamped 08.28.2026 poured into a becher glass at fridge temp 4.9% ABV per can. The beer pours dark brown with chestnut highlights and khaki colored head. The head recedes to a thin ring and single layer of bubbles. Slight lacing. The aroma is mild with vague semisweet cocoa. The taste is bittersweet cocoa and malt with a used dishwater aftertaste. Mild bitterness. The feel is thin bodied, watery, with low to average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, ok, but actually gets better as it approaches room temperature.

Poured into a Stone Gargoyle flute. Pours a dark mahogany brown with a four finger light khaki head that dissipates to a large patch with light lacing. Aroma of dark malt, molasses, brown bread, light cocoa and a hint of rye. Flavor is dark malt, light molasses, brown breadcrust and a hint of rye and hops. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. I was debating getting 4 pack of the pilsner from this brewery, but not my favorite style, so not the best choice from a new brewery when I saw a lone pack of this dark ale. I think it was the right choice. Although a bit rough around the edges, this has the flavor points expected from a schwarzbier. I like the molasses character, but the malt needs some more breadiness and flavor depth. Still a respectable, inexpensive example of the style, fulfilling its destiny.

 

 

Got this stuff at ALDI, $6.99/4 Euro 16.9oz cans. It holds up. Nice cocoa flavor with sweetness, bitterness and richness. Carbonation is excellent - stiff and sturdy, followed by smoothness. Pleasant and pleasing. Very happy with this beer where others are going for twice the price and are by no means twice as good.

 

 

500 ml can pours a clear dark reddish brown with a moderate beige head that lasts. Aroma is mostly roasted malts, with some bread dough. Taste is initially on the sweet side but the hops leave the finish bitter. Body is light to medium. Very good, especially for the Aldi price of $6.99 per 4-pack.

500 ml can, 08.27.2026 stamped on the bottom of the can. Served in a dimpled mug, the beer pours a clear dark reddish/brown color with a couple inch frothy light tan head that stayed around for a long time. There's also a good amount of lacing. The brew smells like dark bread, coffee, nuts and a bit of chocolate. Taste is similar to the aroma, but with the addition of a bit of spicy hops. Mouthfeel/body is light, it's smooth and easy to drink with a moderate amount of carbonation. I liked this one overall, and priced at $6.99 a 4-pack at Aldi it's certainly worth picking up if you come across some!

Wernesgrüner Dark has a very thick, spongy, beige head and a clear, bubbly, brown appearance, with heavy lacing. The aroma is of bread crust. The flavor is of bitter brown bread crust and a touch of yeast. Wernesgrüner Dark has a medium body and a dry finish.

RJT

500ml can. Poured out an opaque, jet-black color with a small, off-white head of foam. It left sudsy lacing. It smelled of coffee, chocolate and toffee. It taste of chocolate, coffee and toffee with a mild bitterness.