Fässla Zwergla
Brauerei Fässla

With minimal research, I'm going to stick my neck out and say that Fassla competes well in Bamberg which, IMHO, is the town with under 100,000 people that brews best in the Bavarian tradition. (It helps to have Schlerkerla as a neighbour.) Of course, this is one impression... but I'm impressed by Bamberg. I do like how Fassla uses gnomes to sell their beer; reminds me of beer's universal way of how D'Chouffe uses the Ardennes' gnomes. So for trying for so long, I give Fassla good Overall Hugs.

I bought my first from Fassla from 7 Seasons, a bottle shop in London. So if Fassla wants to sell more to the world's dominant language, why hasn't Fassla put an English translation button on their website? Oh, well. Bavarians are insular in ways I do not understand. But I actually like their traditions, just loosen up a little... will you?

Zwercla is close to a classic dunkel. It Looks classic when poured (but dissipates before the bottle ends.) Smells are mostly malt. Only mid-way in the Taste do the hops and the darker malts take over to give me a lingering semi-dry finish. Very soft. Medium-mouthed. Try tradition. .. and Bamberg Brewing Uber Alles (that is, other parts of Germany.) Prost !

 

 

 

June 2013: Shared 500 ml swingtop bottle, thanks to gunnar who brought it fresh from Bamberg. ABV is 6.0%. Amber / reddish brown colour, moderate white head. Unusual "wet wool" or "damp closet" aroma, weak caramel malts in the background. The flavour is moderately malty with a little caramel, but is not very sweet. The aroma blends in with the flavour in an unpleasant way.

Picked up a e0,5l bottle dated 15.09.23 from the REWE down the street from Mahrs in Bamberg. Beautiful color. Looks and taste just as it should for the style. Properly sweet and roasty, almost smoky, malt profile. Smooth and easy drinking, low carbonation, would drink again.

Brauerei Fässla "Zwergla"
3,80€ / ,5L on tap at the brewery on 16 Spetember 2017

Notes: Crystal clear dark amber body with golden-amber highlights beneath a short head of creamy white foam. Very good head retention and lacing. The aroma is simply of grainy and bready malt. The flavor offers dark caramel with spicy and lightly leafy and herbal hops. A median bitterness balances it but it remains sweetish and malty, and only semi-dry in the finish. Some herbal notes linger gently. In the mouth it's medium bodied and gently crisp. Nice beer! It's kind of on the way to becoming a darker beer but it pulls the brakes at dark caramel and never goes any further.

 

Bought in Bamberg. Pours clear, light brown in color with one half inch head. Taste is cocoa, leather and toasted malt. Light bodied, moderate carbonation and sweet. Really interesting and tasty. Different from others I have had in the style. Could have a couple.

 

L:
-pours a clear amber-copper with a medium,foamy,offwhite head
-medium to high carbonation visible
S:
raisins,plums,dates,nutty,bready,herbs
T:
-raisins,plums,spicy,brown sugar with a clean finish
F:
-low to medium carbonation visible (typical to Franconia)
-light to medium body
-no alcohol detectable
O:
Just a great,incredibly drinkable Lager

 

Bitter taste on top of a pleasant malt background. Dark amber clear brew. Rather flat in the glass but with some decent carbonation on the tongue.

The roasted malt and caramel flavors are good but the hops have a back-of-the-throat tannic taste like pomegranate seeks that overpowers the mild malt. From the bottle purchased in Bamberg, Ger. [review from May 2010 tasting notes]

Really nice drinkability, with a tasty malt combination. Had this as last beer of the day and though it is rather light and delicate in style it stood up to it and gave me refreshing nightcap

Dunkel is not my favorite brewing style, but it's hard not to love a strong, moderately potent, and extremely drinkable beer with no offensive flavors, good scent, and plain old fashioned, welcoming and well rounded taste. I don't like this one quite as much as Faessla's Pils, which I personally think is great, but I have continued and will continue to buy it. Honestly, I'm surprised Faessla's beeres are rated so low. They are well-made, consistently high quality, and very inexpensive at that. Will keep supporting this brewery until I find some crazy reason not to! :D

Very easy to drink Bamberg Dark Lager. Malty and flavorful. Enjoyable but this beer can be a dangerous beer to the unwary. Note that it is 6.0 % by volume vice 5.2%.

 

 

500ml bottle with best before date 25/11/14, drunk on 29/11/14. Served cool into straight pilsner mug.

A) Deep copper colour, clear, very little carbonation, thin white head.

S) Rubbery light malt; disappointing for a dunkel, but I suppose it is over the drink by date.

T ) Quite sweet at first, followed by slightly metallic roasty malt. Sweetness is there all the time.

M) Medium mouthfeel and the lightish carbonation works well.

O) Not the best dunkel I have had but I have to acknowledge it is past the best by date.