Hopleaf House Dark
Art History Brewing
- From:
- Art History Brewing
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- Czech Dark Lager
- ABV:
- 4.8%
- Score:
- +2 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 4.29 | pDev: 3.96%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 5
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 26, 2025
- Added:
- Feb 23, 2022
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
-
-
Traditional Czech Dark Lager
inspired by a classic from the
500-year-old U Fleků brewery in Prague. Rich & complex, black as coal; starts off like a Porter
but finishes crisp, clean, & dry.
Specially brewed for Hopleaf in Chicago, IL.
inspired by a classic from the
500-year-old U Fleků brewery in Prague. Rich & complex, black as coal; starts off like a Porter
but finishes crisp, clean, & dry.
Specially brewed for Hopleaf in Chicago, IL.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by FBarber from Illinois
4/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours dark cola brown with a nice mocha colored head. Aroma is roasted malts, spicy hops. Taste is more like a robust porter or schwarzbier, but very tasty. Feel is easy drinking, roasty, moderate carbonation. Delicious beer.
May 20, 2023
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois
4.23/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.23/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
What a pairing !
One of the youngest, bestest lager makers is contracted to make the House Dark of one of Chicago's iconic gastro-pubs.
The result has to be good and it is. Maybe I've psyched myself out, but I can taste how this lager was designed for food.
Hopleaf's Dark Looks lively and tight-bubble smooth with lace. Smells are toasty, nutty. Tastes are totally balanced, even though there are lingering hops in the finish. Cleansing in my mouth and chewy. Good pairing tonight with spinach and honey mustard sauce. I will give a fuller review when I have the second can bought from Hopleaf's bar. I'd like to drink it side-by-side with Wenceslas, which I loved 18 months ago.
Apr 27, 2023One of the youngest, bestest lager makers is contracted to make the House Dark of one of Chicago's iconic gastro-pubs.
The result has to be good and it is. Maybe I've psyched myself out, but I can taste how this lager was designed for food.
Hopleaf's Dark Looks lively and tight-bubble smooth with lace. Smells are toasty, nutty. Tastes are totally balanced, even though there are lingering hops in the finish. Cleansing in my mouth and chewy. Good pairing tonight with spinach and honey mustard sauce. I will give a fuller review when I have the second can bought from Hopleaf's bar. I'd like to drink it side-by-side with Wenceslas, which I loved 18 months ago.
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York
4.25/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Hopleaf in Chicago, IL.
This one pours a very dark brown, almost black color, with a small head, and lots of lacing.
This smells like toasty and nutty malt, with a small white head, and lots of lacing.
This is the house dark lager for Hopleaf, and it’s quite, quite good. It’s got a wonderful nutty and toasty malt character, almost like toasted sesame seeds and pumpernickel, with dark chocolate, and clean refreshing roast character. There’s just a hint of hop bitterness.
This is medium bodied, more full than the ABV would suggest, with a great drinkability.
I like the idea of an old school beer bar that has a house dark beer and a house pale beer. It’s a throwback to a bygone era, and I wish there were more cool beer bars like that still.
Jul 29, 2022This one pours a very dark brown, almost black color, with a small head, and lots of lacing.
This smells like toasty and nutty malt, with a small white head, and lots of lacing.
This is the house dark lager for Hopleaf, and it’s quite, quite good. It’s got a wonderful nutty and toasty malt character, almost like toasted sesame seeds and pumpernickel, with dark chocolate, and clean refreshing roast character. There’s just a hint of hop bitterness.
This is medium bodied, more full than the ABV would suggest, with a great drinkability.
I like the idea of an old school beer bar that has a house dark beer and a house pale beer. It’s a throwback to a bygone era, and I wish there were more cool beer bars like that still.
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.5/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Growler filled 6/13/22; drank 6/14/22 @ the Yarchives.
Black/brown appearance.
A rough pour yielded a small khaki head; decent lace.
Rye bread, autumn leaves, mild chocolate & faint hop bite notes in the nose.
Creamy, medium mouthfeel.
Autumn leaves, mild chocolate & faint rye bread flavors; a faint hop bite settled on my lips over the course of the session.
Endlessly drinkable, endlessly flavorful. A fantastic beer.
Jun 15, 2022Black/brown appearance.
A rough pour yielded a small khaki head; decent lace.
Rye bread, autumn leaves, mild chocolate & faint hop bite notes in the nose.
Creamy, medium mouthfeel.
Autumn leaves, mild chocolate & faint rye bread flavors; a faint hop bite settled on my lips over the course of the session.
Endlessly drinkable, endlessly flavorful. A fantastic beer.
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
4.46/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Had on tap. Charcoal black body with a tan head and lacing. Getting aromas of all things dark variety: earth, dark chocolate, subtle smoke and dark yeast. Full taste without overwhelming: roasted malt, earth, dark chocolate, dark grains and yeast, a whisper of woodsy tones. Dry, refreshing, chewy and crushable yet not too light, silky smooth.
Feb 23, 2022
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