Hazy, reddish-brown pour with a small one finger head and very little lace or retention. Nose and tastes are simple and slightly nutty. In that respect the first impression of this beer are much more in the brown ale area of things rather than as a dark lager. As things progress (warm), the beer does take on some cleaner and more bitter edges and the malt sweetness fades somewhat. There is no doubt that there is a degree of bakers chocolate in the tastes in addition to a touch of cocoa. A...
Notes on beers in the style
Euro Dark Lager
Beerlao Dark
Single from Camp Creek Beverage, Atlanta, GA, USA. Pour gives a mid-brown body with a good degree of clarity and an impressive, high, white head. Not a great deal of lace but decent to look at. Nose and tastes give that typical, sweet, malty slightly watery feel that also has a note of cocoa powder about it. Alcohol is well-hidden. Maybe some light apples amongst the malts and light flavors? Some acid like bitterness in the finish. Aftertaste lingers a touch and is a wee bit astringent to...
San Miguel Dark Lager
Single from Total Wine @ Perimeter, Atlanta, GA, USA. I wouldn't go as far as to say that I "like" this beer, but what I will say is that it pretty much nails the style. Now, whether or not you consider that to be a good thing is a different question, but I suppose we should offer some credit! Black pour with some significant orangy/red highlights. The color is fine bu the beer is quite badly let down by the lack of persistent head - it dies in the glass very quickly. Obviously a sweetish,...
McSorley’s Irish Black Lager
12 oz single, Total Wine, Atlanta, GA, USA. Much like its brother, this beer owes more to the marketers than it does the brewers. I liked this about the same as the "Pale" Ale, but again it seemed very mediocre and a beer that is searching for a style home. Pour gives a balck body with some dull, red highlights. Head is short-live, lace is minimal. Nose gives away some sweet malts and a touch of roastiness but to be honest it's pretty light. Bidy seems a touch on the light side too. A touch of...
Leinenkugel’s Fireside Nut Brown
12oz single from Mac's Midtown, Atlanta, GA, USA. Winter Warmer?? No it isn't. Frankly this drinks like a maple nut or honey infused brown ale. There were words on the label that said something like "infused with natural flavors" - a bit of a worry to me. Fairly astringent caramel flavor which seems artificial. Good clarity on the pour, nice head and really it looks nice. Has a sweet taste that seems like honey to me, but it is pretty sweet whatever it is. Won't be to everyones taste. A little...
Bernard Cerne
It's a little difficult work out if this is the correct beer, but I am pretty sure that it is. The label and bottle look identical except for the word "Dark" rather than "Cerne", but ABV etc. matches. $2.99 from Arbor Place Beverage, Douglasville, GA, USA for the 500 mL flip top offering. Pretty much a standard mediocre Czech dark beer. Probably doesn't travel very well and I'd imagine that closer to the source this would be a much better bet. Standard dark, but thinnish pour and a small,...
Efes Dark
12oz clear bottle with raised lettering - attractive. $1.50 as a single from Green's on Buford, Atlanta, GA, USA. Pour is cola like - in fact almost EXACTLY like a Coke, including the lack of head, color and body! Nose revela strong malts and a litte alcohol. Tastes have the malty character, but also a sweet, liquor-like taste. A bit like sherry. Finishes with a dry bitterness which is odd rather than tasty. The dry character lingers a while. Not really very nice, and the 12oz bottle is a bit...
Afanasy Tyemnoye
Well, interesting one this. 11.2 fl oz bottle that is a very attractive sight with its pyramid shape and some interesting raised lettering a the base of the bottle - I'm gonna keep this one, its decorative. ABC-3513 on the cap. $1.19 from Michael's in Marietta, GA, USA as a single. I was pretty sure this was a very old bottle when I bought it, so I took a chance - why not? A closer inspection of the bottle at home shows that it has the (odd) numbers 1-31, I-XII and 02-04 on the label that...
Podkovan Dark
$2.19, 500 mL bottle, Arbor Place Beverage, Douglasville, GA, USA. Like its lighter brother, this bottle has a higher expectation than the actual beer ultimately delivers. To be fair the body and look is decent enough with good clarity and a decent head (a little lace) - nose delivers some half-decent malts too and it drinks easily, but it's light on taste and depth. OK for a summer beer, but lacks any kind character.
Saranac Chocolate Amber Lager
Not bad, pretty decent chocolate color with some lacing and a a thin, small head. Good malt base, some roasted and dark fruit with a hint of smoke and a hint of chocolate. Easy drinking with a very light bitterness. Nothing to write home about, but nonetheless a decent crack at the stle that I would not avoid. Part of the winter mixed 12 pack.
Baltika #4 Original (Dark)
$2.19 Arbor Place Beverage, Douglasville, GA. I must admit I was getting ready to be disappointed by this, thinking that it would be simply a poor quality import designed to con the locals by making them think it was something exotic. In the end I was very happily surprised. Poured a beautiful deep red/brown color with some decent head and retention and some good lacing. Delightfully malty aroma that is replicated in the taste. The sweet malts really come through strong with no hint of...