Dark Lager Tasting (May 13-15)

This is a group of styles I don't pay much attention to. I appreciate them, I just don't CRAVE them the way I do other styles. I wasn't sure I'd be able to participate, but I found something at the brewery right up the road that I don't patronize enough.



I don't have enough experience to say how on style this is, though I suspect it is an outlier. The roasted, nutty coffee malt character is stout like in robustness and doesn't leave room for much else.
Maybe a hint of toffee as it warms. Extremely flavorful for a 4.8% ABV lager. I like this a bunch as is, but should it be this roasty I wonder? Four pack will not survive the weekend. Cheers and thanks for organizing!

 

No date on the can (scratched off?), but likely fairly fresh. Poured from a tall-boy into my Moonlight shaped pint glass.

Burnt umber body (clear, I think) with a lasting finger of bone cream. Fine, sticky lacing; excellent retention.

Rich yet gentle malt aroma with hints of chocolate, toast, brown bread, and cheap tobacco. Faint dark fruit notes as well.

Clean, deep malty palate entry - chocolate/cocoa, assam tea, light melanoidins, and a hint of bark/earth, pencil shavings, and cinnamon in the finish. Rich yet refreshing - fantastic malt character, with gentle noble hop presence, low bitterness, neutral yeast, and a fairly dry, crisp finish.

Smooth, creamy, medium-light bodied with just a touch of astringency.

A superior dark lager - will be seeking out more of this style in the future.

(4.42)

 

I saw your review, I'll definitely add one too.

 

Staying local with this tasting and starting with Black Horizon's Vienna lager, Horizonte Azul.

From the Untapped entry:
"Horizonte Azul "Blue Horizon"- (Mexican Style Lager)
ABV: 4.8% IBU: 10
Inspired by ultra clean lagers south of the border we always strive to challenge ourselves to create different styles from around the world. Horizonte Azul uses yeast from one of the world's most traditional Cervecerias. We use only traditional pilsner malt, a touch of vienna malt with a huge backbone of flaked corn to give us an authentic Mexican lager feel. Immensely drinkable this is a beer everyone can enjoy year round.
Notes: Light, easy drinking, mild bread, touch of honey, clean."
Pretty close to my thoughts,and now added to the database.

 

Dark lagers are especially hard to procure locally, but I had a few of these left over from a 12 pack


12oz bottle BB SEP 2002 poured into a shaker pint at fridge temp 5.4% ABV per label. The beer pours mostly bright light brown with dark khaki head. The head recedes to a thin ring and single layer of bubbles and lasts. The aroma is very slight with notes of cocoa and grain. The taste is bittersweet with more cocoa, pale malt and a hint of corn. Minimal bitterness. The mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, good beer, but not fair to score it as a Dunkel.

 

I had this one left over from the virtual Lagerfest last fall. Schilling's Landbier Dunkel has an abv of 4.2%, but has plenty of flavor to overcome the lack of muscle, although it became a little bit noticeable when it warmed at the finish. The date on the can says it's almost 11 months old, but I didn't taste anything that hinted of age. A very light hint of roastiness in the taste, which is all I think it should be in a Dunkel. Very well done!

 

the only beer I had for this is Goller Rauchbier. Heading out for 10 days so didn’t stock any more lagers or IPAs. But this one was really good. I ranked it considerably higher than average but I think I enjoyed it more than most. Curious barbecue aroma and flavor that is nicely balanced with very subtle hops and carbonation. Definitely want to try a few more smoked beers. They are very interesting.
Cheers all, and thanks @FBarber for getting this started!

 

This one is courtesy of @FBarber via BIF 15, save it for the tasting.

Dovetail - Czech Dark Lager



Deep rich dark brown, relatively cloudy; subtle off white head. No lacing, ok retention.

Interestingly enough the first thing I notice in the aroma is a sourdough like twang. Followed up with lightly browned bread; light chocolate syrup and maybe even a root beer like smell.

Taste mostly shows the lightly browned bread; that root beer likeness and the chocolate note in the aftertaste.

Light body; a very nice carbonation, soft and creamy feel to it. Very drinkable, finish is noticeably clean. Notice the same sourdough like acidity in the feel, it is very minimal but there and noticeable.

A tasty beer to sip on while outside listening to the birds out back…

 

Friday night, so why not break out my 1 liter stein for a couple cans of Human Robot Tmavy 13°... this is my favorite beer I've had from HR (their Polotmavy would be 2nd). Wonderful mild roasty and toasted malt flavors, dry finish, fuller bodied, smooth mouthfeel, drinks so nice.

 

Unfortunately the 13 has been sold out at both locations for a while. Been waiting for it’s return.

Enjoy

 

I brought home two 4-packs when I was down at the Philly location at the end of March, so still had a couple cans in the fridge.

 

Thats right around when the keg kicked and cans were gone. I was buying a four pack and a pack of the smoked lager too after having one at the bar. The Keller was very good and the Polotmavy 10.

Need to head over and see what they have. Seems like beers are brewed and then don’t come back with any regularity, I have only been going since they opened the second location in late Feb early March.

Enjoy

 

Picked this up in TN last month. It’s a bit old, canned 20 January 2022. Quite nice. Not much smell but it’s bready and some chocolate in there. Not too sweet and overall very enjoyable.

I tried to get the Ambler beer Black Forest that was very enjoyable and only $10 a pack. I was not able to secure any as they have closed. A new place is opening and I’m not sure if it’s the same people , new name or what is going on.

Just one tonight as work is early and long tomorrow.


Enjoy

 

I drank this a few nights ago , Oak Stand. One of my favorite beers in the last year. If you see it grab it. Very woody Smokey dry bitter and a bit of chocolate. Grabbing a few cases next time at Fonta. Not a traditional Schwartz but oh so good.

Enjoy

 

first time having this one Czech dark lager is becoming one of my favorite styles.

 

Well, if I have a choice . . .

 

Just dropped some kids off to see Friday the 13th and went next door to get a 4-pack. Foamy, tan head. Slightly bready aroma. Nice kiss of sweetness in the taste. Bitter aftertaste. Not too shabby.