Krombacher Dark
Krombacher Brauerei

Krombacher DarkKrombacher Dark
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Krombacher Brauerei
 
Germany
Style:
Schwarzbier
Ranked #135
ABV:
4.7%
Score:
80
Ranked #26,354
Avg:
3.49 | pDev: 13.47%
Reviews:
63
Ratings:
288
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 16, 2023
Added:
Mar 22, 2009
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  53
No description / notes.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by biboergosum:
Photo of biboergosum
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)

3.53/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
16oz glass, on-tap at Terroni, an Old World pizzeria in downtown Toronto, before my flight back home.

This beer appears a clear, very dark reddish cola hue, with two fingers of puffy, foamy, and lightly bubbly beige head, which leaves a splattering of lightning strike lace around the glass as it gently retreats.

It smells of lightly roasted pale and caramel malts (hard to shake a certain lager association), some very mild mocha, dank wet earth, a touch of wispy smoke, and weedy, leafy hops. The taste is more roasted caramel malt, burnt whole wheat toast, dry pithy chocolate, nutty coffee, softly sour black fruit notes, and meek floral, earthy hops.

The carbonation is quite moderate, bordering on innocuous, the body medium-light in weight, a tad slick in its plain smoothness, and somewhat clammy. It finishes off-dry, the weakly sweet and toasted malt offset by the soft green bitterness evolving out of the hops.

A generically flavoured, yet suitably agreeable black lager, a kind of macro-Euro essence seeping out of the edges. Not all that complex, but it of course went well with the spicy Neapolitan pizza and expense account.
Mar 25, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.74 by Iggy88 from Ohio

Nov 16, 2023
 
Rated: 3.92 by Blogjackets from Ohio

Aug 09, 2023
 
Rated: 3.72 by SpaethJam from New York

May 31, 2023
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

3.81/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
The back label fell off of this one unfortunately, so I’m not sure about when this was bottled. I got this one a while back too so I’m not expecting the best. Anyhow, it’s always nice to see a Schwarzbier, even if it doesn’t have the best ratings on here. Let’s check out this example

Pours a very dark brown with 2 fingers of tan head that slowly fades to a cap and leaves decent lacing

The nose here is pretty balanced, but leans slightly towards sweetness. I’m picking up on aromas of dark bread, brown sugar, raisin, herbal hops, toffee, light coffee, and cocoa powder

If this is on the older side, it’s held up pretty well. It’s obviously not super fresh but it’s still fine. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting brown sugar, molasses, black cherry, cocoa powder, medium roast coffee, and rye toast. The swallow brings notes of medium roast coffee, black cherry, cocoa powder, raisin, herbal hops, dark bread, and light molasses

A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a creamy beer. Finishes slightly sticky but not overly sweet

This isn’t incredible or anything, but it’s serviceable for the style
Feb 17, 2023
Photo of Luscious_Malfoy
Reviewed by Luscious_Malfoy from Illinois

3.94/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
poured from a 330mL bottle into a tall new glarus pilsner glass. pours a cola brown but settles in the glass dark brown with a big fluffy sandy brown foam head. dark bread, rye bread, faint cocoa and coffee in the nose and taste. fairly clean but i never find this style to be super easy drinking as it always seems heavier than what it really it is. medium-full mouthfeel. definitely lower end of carbonation for a lager. this was solid but i would prefer a dunkel lager over this style but that’s just me.
Jan 08, 2023
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

3.55/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Bottled 3/19/22; drank 9/27/22 @ the Yarchives.

Opaque dark brown appearance.

A rough pour yielded a HUGE tan head; frothy lace.

Cream, raw oats & syrup-y caramel notes in the nose.

Creamy medium thick mouthfeel.

Creamy oats & mild, syrup-y caramel flavors.

Good mouthfeel, but a bit off otherwise. Not one I'll seek out again.
Sep 29, 2022
Photo of LanceBiggums
Reviewed by LanceBiggums from Canada (AB)

3.4/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Pours quite dark, even for a Dunkel, with a two finger tan head. On the nose, some toffee, a hint of coffee and chocolate, but all rather muted. The taste is fairly typical for a Dunkel, with toffee, chocolate, coffee, and perhaps a hint of dark bread. It leans towards the sweet side, but there is a subtle bitterness on the finish, though I can't tell if it's actually from hops or just from roasted malt. Overall, a decent Dunkel, but nothing special.
Aug 05, 2022
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.27/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
500 ml can, from REMA 1000, Tau. ABV is 4.7%. Very dark brow colour, nearly black. Large and lasting tan head. Malty aroma, some mild roasty notes. Smooth mouthfeel and flavour. Moderate roasty notes of coffee in the medium dry flavour, moderate hops. Easy drinking, a crowd pleaser.
Jun 05, 2022
Photo of EmperorBevis
Reviewed by EmperorBevis from England

4.04/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
500ml dark brown bottle that was part of an Ocado online supermarket delivery
Pours a jet black body with big thick tan head
aroma is creamy molasses
flavour is treacle and silver coins with a deft slight bitter finish
Jun 05, 2022
Photo of Peach63
Reviewed by Peach63 from New York

4.17/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Mahogany with a 1" tan head, which lasts. Heavy lacing.

Aroma of roast malt, coffee, caramel.

Taste follows nose, roast malt, coffee, caramel. A bit of astringency.

Light to medium body, light carbonation. Dry finish.

A fine dark German beer.
Mar 27, 2022
Photo of MikeWard
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania

3.76/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
330ml bottle into a pint glass. Bottled 2/23/21, best by 2/23/22. 6 months old.

Looking very good in the glass. Almost like a pint of Guinness. Black body, clear reddish brown when held up to the light. Big tan head maintains in good form throughout leaving a sheen of lacing.

Decent strong malty aroma.

On tasting, has some muscle, strong malt not heavily roasted. A touch smoky, light sweetness.

Mouth medium, finish a little meaty and slightly dry.

Overall, decent enough Schwarzbier. Quite a strong taste, but not overdone.
Sep 11, 2021
 
Rated: 4.18 by allenson21 from New York

Jul 04, 2021
 
Rated: 4.28 by rxmk from New York

Jun 15, 2021
 
Rated: 4.04 by Machus from Montana

Jan 09, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by redfox405 from Virginia

Dec 05, 2020
Photo of chitoryu12
Reviewed by chitoryu12 from Florida

3.89/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: So dark it's virtually black. 1 finger of khaki head with decent retention.

Smell: Fresh bread, a little yeast.

Taste: Crisp and bready, with a mild sweetness and slightly coppery finish. Very limited hop flavor or bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Chewy, with very high and tingly carbonation.

Overall: An excellent schwarzbier with a hefty and stimulating flavor.
Nov 29, 2020
 
Rated: 3.52 by shelby415 from Oregon

Nov 27, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by Surf_rock from Ukraine

Sep 28, 2020
Photo of ATL6245
Reviewed by ATL6245 from Georgia

4.38/5  rDev +25.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Very dark brown, frothy kaki head with great retention. No visible carbonation after initial pour.

Aroma: Roasted malt and grainy aromas, slightly sweet smell.

Flavor & Aftertaste: Sweet with a mild bitterness. Roasted malt flavor, but no burnt flavors.

Mouth-feel: Surprisingly light to medium bodied for a dark beer. Soft with some creaminess. Medium length finish with a touch of bitterness lingering that is barely noticeable.

Overall: Dark Lager or Schwarzbier is surprising dark beer. It's actually pretty light on the palate. It may look like a Porter or Stout; but it is much lighter and has no harsh burnt flavors. You get smooth, well rounded dark malt flavors with a clean fermentation profile . Very underrated beer style.
Jun 22, 2020
Krombacher Dark from Krombacher Brauerei
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 288 ratings