King Dark Lager
King Brewery

King Dark LagerKing Dark Lager
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From:
King Brewery
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
Munich Dunkel
ABV:
4.8%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.69 | pDev: 11.92%
Reviews:
27
Ratings:
43
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 12, 2015
Added:
Apr 27, 2004
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  1
Our authentic brewing technique, using only the finest imported Dark Munich Malt and Noble German Hops, gives this beer King’s trademark “true to style” aroma and flavour. This deliciously dark lager is red-brown in colour, with a thick tan coloured head and a rich, full palate. It delivers a complex yet clean bready taste with a hint of toasted chocolate, and leaves elegant lace lines to the bottom of the glass.

Extremely flavourful, balanced and refreshing, our Dark Lager can be truly appreciated from the very first taste.
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Ratings by Viggo:
Photo of Viggo
Reviewed by Viggo from Canada (ON)

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had the cask conditioned style version of this at Volo, was quite nice. Slightly cloudy brown with red edges, small off white head, retention and some spotty lace. Smell is roasty coffee/chocolate, vanilla, and molasses. Taste is roasty chocolate and coffee as well, quite rich, some yeast, nice clean finish. Mouthfeel is medium to light bodied, with low carb, worth a shot.
Jan 22, 2006
More User Ratings:
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

3.84/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
King Dark sounds intimidating but in fact the beer looks very approachable and has a lovely mahogany colour with fetching, fiery highlights. Not only that it's even transparent (provided, that is, you've got a strong source of light and good eyes). All indications are there's nothing to be afraid of here...

That's always the misconception - that dark beers are strong and overwhelming. Not true. Point in case: the Munich Dunkel. While it may have a dark complexion it has light, easy-going drinkability; a flavour that's rich but not roasty; a maltiness that is dense but not heavy. And, while we're at it, an aroma that's somewhat sweet but definitely not sugary.

Indeed, high-quality and high-proportions of Munich malt can create rich nuances that resemble toasted pecans and raisins, but it also provides the smoky and chocolatey subtleties so that there's no mistaking it for something sweet. And unlike in a stout, for instance, those latter flavours have no burnt or bitter tastes. They are accents at most.

What we end up with is a firm, full beer that's not "filling" per se. It's designed to satisfy thirst - not hunger. It is a lager after all, meaning it's got more of a 'clean' and refreshing edge, the darker and more substantial flavours notwithstanding. All that extra flavour (relative to a pale lager) means you're guaranteed to want to reach for another.

It seems like King was one of the initial members of the Ontario craft beer scene and, for a time, their offerings were among the best out there. I still enjoy their Dark Lager as much as I always have. The fact that recipes haven't changed and the brands have been so consistent over the years is great. But the fact it's still the same three brands and the brewery's failed to evolve while the whole industry around them has is unfortunate. They make good beers, I'd love to see more of them...
Mar 12, 2015
Photo of Pmicdee
Rated by Pmicdee from Canada (ON)

4.5/5  rDev +22%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A unique taste makes this beer delicious
Dec 08, 2014
 
Photo of leaddog
Reviewed by leaddog from Canada (AB)

4/5  rDev +8.4%
Appearance - Pours a dark chestnut brown with a finger of bubbly white head.

Smell - bready caramel malts, hint of chocolate, nuttiness, hint of earthy hops.

Taste - Nice punch right away from the bready caramel malts followed by the hint of chocolate nuttiness and hint of earthy hops to finish.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium bodied with light carbonation. Finishes with a pleasant malty sweetness.

Overall - A pleasant Munich dunkel lager. The richness of the malt sweetness was spot on for the style. The chocolate, nuttiness, and earthy hops are nice supporting casts to this well executed brew.
Aug 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by WillAndSarah from Canada (ON)

Aug 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by patre_tim from Thailand

Aug 10, 2014
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

3.73/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
this is not a style a drink a whole lot of, european dark lagers, but this one is fantastic, loosely in the german tradition, at least on the malt front, and a pretty sessionable brew as well. deep caramel to mahogany in color, clear and radiant, and heady, holding onto a good inch of buttery looking foam. the nose is a bit sweet from the dark grain, smells like unfermented wort just coming out of the mash tun, fresh and new and full of sugar. the flavor is a bit sweet, but the grain takes on more of a fresh baked dessert flavor, like a cobbler or muffin or something, rich but still real drinkable with all the tickling carbonation and round medium body with very soft edges on the palate. i get an almost blackberry or some other dark berry flavor in the middle of this beer among the caramel and toffee malt flavors. a nice complexion that i have only ever got from the same style made by moa in new zealand. i think this is just as good, but i dont get much lager yeast character, not a quick enough finish i dont think, but a very tasty first beer from king brewery for me.
May 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by RyanPollock from Canada (ON)

May 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by randallpink from Canada (ON)

Jan 23, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by RevCraig from Canada (ON)

Jan 21, 2014
Photo of TheHammer
Reviewed by TheHammer from Canada (ON)

4.05/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Appearance: A rich dark red and brown body that shows ample carbonation earns the points on this one. The downside, even after a somewhat aggressive pour, only a finger of head that did not lace or retain very well.

Smell: Rich, and I mean rich. Chocolatly malt, toffee and with a raisin bread hint and a touch of floral hops. It also did not take a lot of warming for it to come out.

Taste: It starts with an excellent does of perfectly roasted chocolate malt with a slight woodsy taste to it, as it continues the sweet toffee flavour comes out with a slight raisin sweetness and ends with a touch of smokiness, a more toast-like malt and a light dusting of floral hops with the slightest of acidic twangs that help to cleanse the palate.

Mouthfeel: Point do get deducted for the lack of head, but the transistioning of this beer is well done, the carbonation is very even handed and the aftertaste of mixed malt is very well reigned in by the acidic note at the end of the. beer, as to not cling.

Drinkability: Slightly on the light end of medium bodied, it's certain not an all night drinker but is excellent with a meal or a end of the day pint. The carbonation stays where it should be and the all in all it's very easy to drink and has a very nice smoothness to it, that you'd expect to be harsher from a darker beer.

Final Thoughts: I received this as a gift from my boss as part of their "Three Kings" pack which has their Vienna Lager, Pilsner and this beer. The Vienna Lager was great, this is exceptional and I'm eagerly looking forward to the Pilsner. Thumbs up, best Dunkel in Ontario.
Jan 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by MJ63 from Canada (ON)

Oct 26, 2013
Photo of mick303
Reviewed by mick303 from Canada (ON)

3.55/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured a darkish brown colour with some initial head and lace that faded away.

S - some of the roasty chocolate malt comes through, bitterness and a bit of honey sweetness, grainy character, coffee cake. Earthy notes, cardomen, corriander, full.

T - a mild floral in front of the heavier chocolate malt, bready, oily lemon, dark chocolate and some grassy character. Doesn't seem that well integrated and the flavour compete more than blend together, a bit messy, especially on the finish, drying.

M - light, a coffee espresso oiliness but a lot of grassy floral crispness, moderate carbonation, with a decent amount of malty body and a bit of a spice on the end.

Probably a bit better than I expected it to be, still not a headturner tho. An enjoyable lager with a strong chocolate malt component and some more bitterness. Easy to drink but flavours a bit out of sorts and unbalanced.
Jul 10, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by timiskin from Canada (ON)

Apr 23, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by BigGruntyThirst from Canada (ON)

Feb 16, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by DaPan from Canada (ON)

Feb 13, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by kelvarnsen from Canada (ON)

Jan 18, 2013
Photo of SebD
Reviewed by SebD from Canada (ON)

3.59/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: It has a nice amber/brown color to it. It has a nice beige head that dies down somewhat fast and leaves next to no acing.

Smell: The aromas definitely give out hints of sweet roasted malts, chocolate, caramel and some nuttiness.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has some roasted malts, nuts, some caramel, faint chocolate and some light hops.

Mouthfeel: It has a medium carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with decent flavors and aromas.
Dec 12, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by Picaroon from Canada (NB)

Dec 05, 2012
King Dark Lager from King Brewery
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 43 ratings