Calvinus Noire
Brauerei Locher AG

Pitch black pour with a large brown head, modest spotted lacing. Smells of roasted malts, dark chocolate and minor wet earth. Taste adds an underlying caramel note to the proceedings, but the roast is not as defined. Feel is light and dry with a roasty finish, simpler but solid. Had to try it while in Geneva, guess you could say it was.... predestined!

 

 

 

330ml capped bottle served in an ordinary glass.

A: Pours a dark brown color forming a one to two fingers bubbled tan head. Good retention and few spotty lacings left in the glass

S: Rich roasted malts in the nose, giving a strong sensation of chocolate. Notes of dark fruits. A bit biscuity and earthy

T: Slightly sweet upfront. Notes of dark chocolate, roasted malts, chocolate biscuits and black fruits

M: Light body and medium carbonation. Slightly sweet and roasted aftertaste

O: Good drinkability. Easy drinking

A - Pours with a finger of richly tan head that didn't stick around too long; dense black color that had hints of brown around the edges

S - Dark sweet fruits; lightly roasted malts; hint of chocolate

T - Lightly roasted qualities, but would have hoped for more; bittersweet chocolate and hints of prunes/raisins at the end

M - Medium MF; nice carbonation that was a little more lively

D - Nice drinking, quaffable and tasty enough...not quite in the session range, but easy going

Overall, the best out of the Calvinus range, and surprisingly good.

33cl bottle served into a Kronenberg pils glass, Calvinus Noire is a dark chocolate brown with a small dark tan collar and little islands of foam fed by a steady spritz. Looks thick.

Smell is loas of caramel, with some cocoa as well.

Taste is also heavy on the caramel and chocolate, but balanced and not overbearing. Smooth, with a long finish. Good porter.

Mouthfeel is fairly thick and somewhat dry.

Drinkability is pretty good, a fine example of the style, and a pleasant change of pace from the other regional beer styles.