Black Lager
East Rock Brewing Company

Solid

 

 

 

 

Lacey head. Faint chocolate smell. Smooth mouth feel. Hints of root beer. Coa coa brown color. I like it!

Pours clear and very very dar brown. Initial head settles pretty quickly, leaving a light brown carpet with some thicker pockets here and there. Minor lacing.

Aroma is dark chocolate, slightly burnt bread, toasted grains, a whiff of something fruity, dried cherries or raisin, a touch of smoke.

Taste is chocolate forward, but not the dark chocolate I expected from the nose. Followed by roast that finishes with the hint of smoke noticed in the aroma. The highlight for me is the lingering roast flavor that presents itself in the after taste. As this beer warms up there is something reminiscent of black licorice present as well.

This beer has a light-medium body, if has a nice heft to it but it in no way impedes it’s drinkability. It has a soft and creamy carbonation that makes it very smooth. No bitterness, or maybe just a touch. Roast and bitter always play tricks on my tastebuds

No bottling date (released for the season in late-10/2020, so bottled around that date at the earliest); consumed on 1/4/21

Pours a dingy, jet-brown body with slight mahogany accents and topped with barely a ginger of creamy, dark tan foam; solid head retention leaves a thin veil of cap, thin, frothy collar, and a limited array of splotchy, webby lacing holding tentatively to the walls of the glass.

Aroma offers a moderate, beautifully attenuated roast flowing seamlessly through the bouquet, detailing touch of ashen smoke and crisp cocoa at the forefront, with light coffee in the background; a clean minerality slices through the malty edges to an integrated burst of floral, grassy hops accenting the close.

Taste opens with bittersweet cacao sweetened delicately with a slight, nutty coffee tone and hints of caramel interspersed throughout; a level minerality cuts through the mid-palate as roasty bakers chocolate develops on the back end and culminating with burnt bread and building, malty char through the finish.

Mouthfeel brings a medium-light body as a base for a spritzy, moderate-high carbonation, dispersing with a lightly creamy texture peaking through the mid-palate and an easy prickle bringing a subtle grit to the back end; a a mostly taut, dry swallow fades with ease.

With an initial expression practically gloating with a nuanced harmony of character and cleanliness, this dark lager provides steady, expressive satisfaction as roasty malts are allowed to shine atop a sharply refined minerality and covert hop depth.

Pours a very nice dark brown with tan head. Pretty tall head.

Very light smell.

Taste is good. Nothing too strong, but unlike other beers, no "empty" taste as well.

A lot of carbonation.

Very good beer.

 

 

 

Poured from a 12 oz bottle purchased at the brewery, into the test glass
A - Beautiful Ebony wood color, a solid off white froth caps the offering
S - Dark malts, some cocoa, a kiss of smoke,hint of coffee, and earthy hops.
T - Follows the nose well, added are flavors of pumpernickel, a light touch of molasses,
M - Beautiful feel, a bit creamy, with a quick move toward a dry finish. Semi sweet start with the perfect sweep of bitterness to change the mood.
O - A delightful offering from East Rock, Well constructed and executed. Carbonation, flavors, and aromatics dance in unison. A welcome addition to the lager world

A: appears very dark brown and opaque, but if held to the light, is crystal clear with ruby highlights; 1+ finger finely pored light brown head that receded to a wispy cap; thick rings of lace;

S: milk chocolate and coffee with cream;

T: follows the nose from start to finish with a bit of black coffee bitterness from the middle through the end; moderate bitterness on the finish;

M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;

O: very drinkable;