Kozel Černý (Dark)
Pivovar Velké Popovice a.s.

4.48/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
by jonphisher from New Jersey

Bias alert, I loved this beer, read on…

The aroma instantly hits me as toffee, and reminds me of things caramelize when they cook. Behind that there is some rustic very prominent fresh baked bread notes. It almost reminds me of when I would make sourdough minus the sour part. A delight to smell this beer. I’d even say there is some subtle nuttiness in the background as well.

There are some surprises in the taste, multiple. At first it was the bread notes from the nose but then out of nowhere there comes a perfectly subtle chocolate note that the finishes with the slightest touch of roast. It’s comes out right in the aftertaste and just lingers beautifully with the chocolate note.

And finally a literally perfect mouthfeel a very light body but in no way watery. It has a soft feel because of a creamy and gentle carbonation. I don’t perceive any bitter, this one finishes super clean and fast.

Oct 31, 2021

3.8/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by hman43 from North Carolina

Look: It pours dark brown with a tan head. Head retention is good.

Smell: There is a deep malty molasses like aroma. It is a bit sweet in the nose with some cola elements and a low level of coffee.

Taste: There is a sweetness in the flavor as well with some cola elements and low chocolate. There are very low coffee elements.

Feel: It has a medium body and is a bit sweet in the aftertaste.

Overall, it's a bit sweet, but not overly sweet with some decent flavors.

Sep 11, 2021

3.93/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by BlackBeerPirate from Illinois

Taste: malty, chocolate, nutty, bready, semi sweet, mellow smooth mouthfeel. Same with the nose. Dark brown, semi clear, tan head and ringed lace. Medium almost light body. Easy drinker. 14 IBUs

Jun 18, 2021

3.37/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
by Sigmund from Norway

(500 ml bottle). Moderate head, dark reddish brown colour. A very flavourful dunkel despite the low ABV - malty, rounded caramelly sweetness, low bitterness. Not bad - would like to try it on tap.

Rerate draught in Prague, compared to Krusovice Cerne: Sweeter than KC, smaller head, more carbonation, less hops, less roastiness, lighter body. Overall 13/20.

May 13, 2021

4.42/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by DarknTasty from California

I poured this from a tallboy can. It has nice dark color. The foam dissipates quickly. The body and feel is very light akin to a Guinness or Boddingtons in body. The flavor is nice and malty, slightly dark bready, lightly sweet with a very smooth finish. Very minimal effervescence. This is a great intro to dark beer that's light and easy to drink yet flavorful.

Dec 21, 2020

4.36/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by datstankadank from New Jersey

Tall boy can, poured into pilsner urquell .5L mug. Grand4 finger head. Smell of dark roasted malt, not burnt at all, very sweet. Taste follows with a very balanced, smooth roasty sweetness. Exceptional quality product. Faint chocolate notes, dry finish. Very good.

Nov 24, 2020

4.13/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by elNopalero from California

Another find from the local Russian market.
Poured from a can.
Looks amazing, with a cola-colored beverage topped by a creamy cap that shows incredible staying power.
The aroma is bready, like a slice of pumpernickel with barely a smidgen of orange marmalade. The sweetness is kept in check, with a light carbonation and smooth finish. I enjoyed this. Sessionable and flavorful at 3.8% ABV!

Aug 06, 2020

2.99/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75
by MrOH from Malta

Deep ruddy brown with clear edges, finger of khaki head that doesn't stick around, nice lace though.
Aromas of dark fruit and caramel, a little bit of bread crust
Sweet. Dark fruit and caramel. Not nearly enough breadiness.
Medium bodied, a little light on carbonation
A bit too sweet for me to enjoy

Jun 29, 2020

3.48/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
by jonmikel from Spain

Drunk at a restaurant in Olomouc (Moravia, Czech Republic). 0,5 l glass.
-Small foam head.
-Citric smell. Smoked meat
-Coffee taste.
-Some after taste but not huge. Fresh and chilly.

An average Dark beer.

Jun 10, 2020

4.35/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

Today is T, 12 Mai 2020 & I am in deep isolation during the COVID-19 crisis, giving me ample time to clear out my backlog. This one will CANtinue a few days of imports for The CANQuest (tm). This one came to me from local, in-person trader @tone77 following a trip to Italy!

From the CAN: "Kozel Velkopopovický Černý (Dark/Black)"; "Kozel Dark Lager Beer".

I Crack!ed open the vent & beCAN a slow, steady, gentle C-Line Glug into the awaiting glass. It returned the favor an CANoperated by first evincing a pseudo-cascade & then by settling into two-plus fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, deep-tan/light-brown head with excellent retention. Color was Dark Brown to Very Dark Brown (SRM = > 27, < 34) with cola highlights throughout. Nose had a pleasant roastiness with notes of caramel, licorice and semi-sweet chocolate. Mmm. Mouthfeel was medium-to-full, not quite creamy, but on the approach. The taste reminded me of caramel corn, or better, Cracker Jacks, since I also got a peanut-like flavor! Mmm. This was quite tasty & quite easy-drinking. I CAN envision a stein of this at a European restaurant with a nice central-European meal! I think that the BBT in Pittsburgh has closed, but the Red Plate & this would have been wonderful. Finish was semi-dry with a lingering smokiness. Mmm. YMMV.

May 12, 2020

3.84/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by tone77 from Pennsylvania

Poured from a 16.9 oz. can. Has a very dark brown color with a 1 inch head. Smell is full of bready malts. Taste is bready malts, nuts, a touch of chocolate, plenty of flavor for a beer under 4% abv. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a highly crushable beer.

Apr 18, 2020

3.73/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by shambeano from Australia

500 ml bottle. Best Before 03/11/20. Poured into a glass stein.
Look: A cola black, lets a little light through giving a reddish tinge where it does, About 2-3 cm of bubbly off white head that subsides to a thin film over the course of a minute.
Smell: A little grainy malt straight up, there is a little bit of roastiness in there too but I'm not getting much else.
Taste: A little roastiness, some yeastiness (soy/vegemite), some dark chocolate (like a fruity dark chocolate).
Feel: Lighter bodied, clean. Not too much bitterness, but a slight dryness at the end.
Overall: Tasty, I enjoyed it, could easily drink a 5-6 of these on a coolish night.

Mar 26, 2020

3.63/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by RichardLeahy from Australia

L. Dark brown with a red tinge, pours with a tight white foam head to about 1 cm. Head dissipates quickly to lacing. S. Pleasantly surprised here as there is a distinct yeasty/vegemite aroma and I rarely notice much smell to most beers. Fades to a grainy/malt hint. T. A little of the smell but a generally solid dark grain taste and dry finish. F. Smooth, moderate carbonation and easily drinkable. O. Solid dark beer, not heavy and easy drinking.

Mar 14, 2020

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Pmicdee from Canada (ON)

From a bottle purchased in Poland.
November 23 2019

Nov 23, 2019

3.74/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by JamFuel from Sweden

Pours a dark, reddish brown with soft, tan head.

Smell is malty and a bit roasty with notes of dried fruit and fruity, floral hints.

Taste is floral and malty with some nice roasty, almost smokey notes. Hints of sweetness and dried fruit, and a mild bitterness.

Mouthfeel is thin to medium, well carbonated.

Overall, a nice dark lager, easy to drink but with quite a bit of flavor.

Nov 12, 2019

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Nofoba

It pours a clear, dark, mahogany colored body. Thick beige head with little lacing.

It has an aroma of toasted malts, caramel, dried fruit, plum and rye with a little hint of alcohol.

The taste is mild, with toasted malts, rye, coffee and notes of dark chocolate. The finish is dry. The mouthfeel is light bodied, highly carbonated and with very little bitterness.

A mild, but very pleasant dark lager.

Nov 03, 2019

3.58/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.75
by mooseisloose from Florida

Had many of these throughout the day. Nice dark beer some caramel some chocolate not sweet but not bitter, right down the middle. Goes great with spicy Czech sausage or Prague Ham with horseradish sauce and bread. A nice selection. Great ice cold.

Sep 17, 2019

3/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
by elnachooo from Spain

Cerveza de color oscuro, de carbonatación baja y cuerpo medio. Aroma maltoso y a frutos secos. En boca es dulce pero no es empalagosa y tiene un buen final.

Aug 30, 2019

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by Beginner2 from Illinois

Little is unusual with the Look and Smell for this style. But I always appreciate having a dark malt balanced with just right hops. Bubbly. Kozel is listed on the "1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die" and given the interesting history the reviewer offered, it deserves to be on the list.

May 08, 2019

3.61/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by janubio from Spain

Tasted at The Situation. Dark colour, medium head and retention. Good lacing. Aroma of grains, bread, cereal, malts. Medium body, oily texture, good carbonation. Taste of malts, cereal, grains, bread. Classic Czech beer, good.

Apr 18, 2019