Black Lager
Lupulin Brewing

16oz pounder

Black-brown. Dry leaves and cocoa powder scent. Hard water, dark chocolate, lots of tobacco and ash, but still sweet and not bitter... slight nut in the nose and mouf

Very flavorful for 5%

From a 16oz can:

Appearance: Clear brown, big rocky head.

Smell: Mineral, mild roast.

Taste: Moderate roasted bitterness, a bit of coffee, easy drinker with a light feel.

Overall: I've just started really getting into these dark lagers since they're not a very common style in these IPA-heavy times. This example from Lupulin is good, nice roasted flavor without being too heavy.

16oz can with a date of 11/18/21. Looking at previous reviews it seems they have changed the recipe of this beer. Mild roast and more dark chocolate than what was previous described. There is a mineral quality that at first is intriguing, but gets old quick.

 

16 0z can dated Dec 17, 2020 poured steadily into a tall lager glass.
Pours dark brown w/ medium thick tan head. Does not foam out like a science fair volcano.
Has a malty nose w/ caramel winds. Toast. Bright, crisp, earth-bound hop tag on tongue w/ gentle sweetness. Then again a firm little hop halo appears that the toasted malt/coffee/cocoa crispy base wears...and then it's gone.
The head is thin in 4 minutes but tanned, lacey legs randomly ride the glass.
A twinge of roasted coffee and cocoa linger then dance with the hops to become sweet and smooth w/ medium creaminess.
I believe this gorgeous dark lager would pair with red meat, scallops, lobster, crab, salty pork and yes...swiss cheese.

This is opaque black on the pour, light tan foaming head. Aroma has roast of coffee. Has the look and flavor of a stout with the mouthfeel and clean finish of a lager. Hop bitterness adds to the balance.

Wow is this roasty.....big roast aroma and flavor...strong coffee notes, a bit of dark chocolate and char/burnt malts as well.

Light side of medium bodied....

Not quite what I was expecting and more assertive flavor wise than I expected. A bit over the top with the roast and char notes.

16 fl oz can ($2.99 USD plus tax per single):

Roast, dark malt, a pinch of specialty chocolate malt, faint herbal hop character, baked brown bread, subdued Munich malt sweetness. Ashtray bitterness lingers unpleasantly into the finish.

More dark lager than schwarzbier, without any nuttiness and not too big on roasted barley. Balanced and true to style. Drinks easy, but it does drink a bit too bready and cola-redolent for my taste. And that ashtray flavour is off-putting (if that wasn't evident).

C+ (3.08) / ABOVE AVERAGE

16oz can. Can bottom is stamped 'CANNED 12/17/20'.
Looks clear (light passes through it), with a deep brown colored body. Skinny finger of light tan head, which sticks around. Leaves a good array of spots and strings of lacing.
Aroma of dark roasted malts, with a real coffee influence, and a hint of dark chocolate.
Taste is dark roasted malts, with the influences of coffee and dark chocolate. In the second half of the profile, there are the bright floral and earthy hops that briefly appear. The aftertaste goes back to the black roast, with a bit of char. Not real bitter but long lasting.
A little lighter than medium for the mouth feel, but a smooth and slightly creamy flow. Very good carbonation.
The beer lives up to the "dark" in its name, and this malty darkness lasts all the way to the subsequent sip. Brief appearance by the hops is a respite until the dark malts come back. Easy to drink but may be too close to a char for a session choice.