Kozel Černý (Dark)
Pivovar Velké Popovice a.s.
- From:
- Pivovar Velké Popovice a.s.
- Czechia
- Style:
- Czech Dark Lager
Ranked #90 - ABV:
- 3.8%
- Score:
- 84
Ranked #31,825 - Avg:
- 3.71 | pDev: 14.56%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 131
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 13, 2026
- Added:
- Aug 24, 2001
- Wants:
- 29
- Gots:
- 98
SCORE
84
Good
84
Good
Velkopopovický Kozel Dark beer is brewed to the original recipe using a special mix of dark malts, clean water from our own well close to the brewery, and a selection of the best hops. The caramelized malt gives this beer a unique ruby color and sweet flavor, thanks to which it is appreciated and respected all over the world.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Hopweiser:
Rated by Hopweiser from South Korea
3.75/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
May 12, 2025
3.75/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
May 12, 2025
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
3.15/5 rDev -15.1%
look: 2 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.15/5 rDev -15.1%
look: 2 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Ucice 12/8 2015. 50 cl bottle from local market Voli. A beer-drinking Goat enjoying a Kozel on the label.
Pours reddish brown with a small bubbly off-white head which quickly disappears. No lacing.
Aroma is of dark malts, caramel and a bit of syrup. Dark toasted malts, bread and sugar.
Medium strong carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, lightly tingling texture.
Flvor follows the nose. Lightly sweet with caramel and toffee without much bitterness.
Nice Dunkel - though a little too heavy on the sweet side.
Mar 25, 2026Pours reddish brown with a small bubbly off-white head which quickly disappears. No lacing.
Aroma is of dark malts, caramel and a bit of syrup. Dark toasted malts, bread and sugar.
Medium strong carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, lightly tingling texture.
Flvor follows the nose. Lightly sweet with caramel and toffee without much bitterness.
Nice Dunkel - though a little too heavy on the sweet side.
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin
3.83/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours a clear, dark brown color with a strong light tan head. SRM of 18. (4.00)
Aroma: Aromas of dark grains, bread, smooth cocoa with some adjuncts. (4.00)
Flavor: Flavor follows with dark grains, bread, smooth cocoa with some caramel and amber notes to linger. (3.75)
Feel: Medium body, appropriate carbonation. Finish is smooth and soft. (3.75)
Compared to Kostritzer Schwarzbier 2/26: Pours lighter, similar aromas. More caramel and cocoa, adjuncts. Less dark grains and roast. Smoother.
Compared to Half Acre Ridge Tree 2/26: Pours darker, less dark grains, roast. More smooth cocoa and lactose.
Overall: Kozel, a Czech Dark lager. My first try at this. Dark grains, smooth cocoa, almost a cocoa and lactose cream flavor you'd expect in a British oatmeal stout. Some adjuncts and caramel off the end. Smooth. (Rating: 3.83)
Feb 17, 2026Aroma: Aromas of dark grains, bread, smooth cocoa with some adjuncts. (4.00)
Flavor: Flavor follows with dark grains, bread, smooth cocoa with some caramel and amber notes to linger. (3.75)
Feel: Medium body, appropriate carbonation. Finish is smooth and soft. (3.75)
Compared to Kostritzer Schwarzbier 2/26: Pours lighter, similar aromas. More caramel and cocoa, adjuncts. Less dark grains and roast. Smoother.
Compared to Half Acre Ridge Tree 2/26: Pours darker, less dark grains, roast. More smooth cocoa and lactose.
Overall: Kozel, a Czech Dark lager. My first try at this. Dark grains, smooth cocoa, almost a cocoa and lactose cream flavor you'd expect in a British oatmeal stout. Some adjuncts and caramel off the end. Smooth. (Rating: 3.83)
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
3.86/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.86/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Had on tap. Unfiltered waves of black fill the glass with a big khaki head with sudsy portions of lacing. Aromas of slight roast with dark fruit, earth, and cocoa accents. Taste is fruit, big plum and fig especially, roasted malts and cocoa are put on the perimeter of the palate. Feel is light and smooth without loosing the earthy and roasty nuances completely, bright for the style
Oct 31, 2025
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri
3.78/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
500ml bottle. Poured out a dark brown color with a small, khaki-colored head of foam. It left thin lacing. It smelled of roasted malt, coffee and caramel. Nice malty taste with subtle coffee and chocolate notes.
Oct 18, 2025
Reviewed by barnzy78 from Illinois
3.54/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.54/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
500ml can, shared with my wife
L: chestnut colored body; thin khaki head
S/T: dark grain, bread crust, nut, cocoa, earthy hops
F: light-to-medium body, ample carbonation, balanced & semi-dry finish
O: pretty good dark lager to drink while in Europe
Sep 14, 2025L: chestnut colored body; thin khaki head
S/T: dark grain, bread crust, nut, cocoa, earthy hops
F: light-to-medium body, ample carbonation, balanced & semi-dry finish
O: pretty good dark lager to drink while in Europe
Reviewed by Sinfull from New York
3.53/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Very dark brown color, average beige head. Aroma of roasted malt, caramel, note of chocolate. Taste is sweet, roasted malt dominates. Smooth bitterness in finish and aftertaste.
May 09, 2025Reviewed by Parmesan from Colorado
3.22/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.22/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
L: Pours a dark brown color with lighter brown where the light hits it and thick lacing around the glass.
S: Some light earthy malt with some sweetness and caramel and maybe a very light hop.
T: Some sweet caramel, and general sweetness, a bit of earthy malt and very little hop.
F: Light to medium body, lower carbonation than expected.
O: A fairly average dark lager that isn't the most exciting.
Feb 25, 2025S: Some light earthy malt with some sweetness and caramel and maybe a very light hop.
T: Some sweet caramel, and general sweetness, a bit of earthy malt and very little hop.
F: Light to medium body, lower carbonation than expected.
O: A fairly average dark lager that isn't the most exciting.
Reviewed by Suds from Missouri
3.47/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.47/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
From a half-liter brown bottle, this beer is a deep brown color with an underlying reddish hue. The head is a creamy tan color, tall and thick. Wonderful lace. The aroma has a sweet, dark malt character...some light roastiness, some caramel...heavy on the Maillard flavors. Sweet in taste, with plenty of malt notes. Moderately low carbonation makes the body seem heavy. Low in alcohol. Interesting, and tasty, but it is more filling than it is refreshing.
Nov 16, 2024
Reviewed by MadMadMike from France
3.75/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
All over the place here in Prague, CZ. There’s no difference in rating between can, bottle or taps.
Pours with handsome foam, mild sweet on the nose, medium caramel malt forward, easy drinking.
Mouth is thin. Low end of medium carbonation.
Overall, nice super light lager to accompany conversation or schnitzel.,.
Jul 19, 2024Pours with handsome foam, mild sweet on the nose, medium caramel malt forward, easy drinking.
Mouth is thin. Low end of medium carbonation.
Overall, nice super light lager to accompany conversation or schnitzel.,.
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!