Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

Lagers

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Dark Lager/Dunkel

Dunkel is the original style of lager, serving as the forerunner to the pale lagers of today. They originated in and around Bavaria, and are widely brewed both there and around the world. This is often what the average consumer is referring to when they think of dark beer. At their best, these beers combine the dryish chocolate or licorice notes associated with the use of dark roasted malts and the roundness and crisp character of a lager. Examples brewed in and around Munich tend to be a little fuller-bodied and sometimes have a hint of bready sweetness to the palate, a characteristic of the typical Bavarian malts used.

Interpreting the 100-point Scale

Consumers can translate the point score to the following quality bands:

Point Range Quality Band
96-100 points Platinum
90-95 points Gold
85-90 points Silver
80-84 points Bronze
Less than 80 Not Recommended
Legend
  • = Brewpub
  • ABV = Alcohol by volume
  • Date denotes the date on which the beer was tasted

96 Hirter Morchl, Brauerei Hirt (Austria). 5% ABV (10/08)

Dark reddish copper color with a frothy tan head. Aromas of chocolate pudding, delicate baking spices and roasted nuts follow through on a soft, satiny entry to a dryish medium body with accents of toffee, roasted root vegetable and cream. Finishes mildly with a cocoa-dusted nut and grain fade. Fantastic.

93 Palone, Okocim Brewery (Poland). 5.5% ABV (11/06)

Dark mahogany color. Smoky dark roasted nuts and dark caramel aromas. A round frothy entry leads to an off-dry medium-full body of bittersweet chocolate, caramel apple and pear and delicate spices. Finishes with a long sweet toffee, date and raisin fade. Very tasty.

93 Hofbräu Dunkel, Hofbräuhaus München (Germany). 5.5% ABV (10/08)

Deep copper brown color. Caramelized grain and nut aromas follow through seamlessly on a silky entry to a dryish medium body with milk chocolate-covered citrus peel accents. Finishes with a long, nut bread dough and mossy stone fade. An elegant and beautifully poised dark lager that drinks effortlessly. Pair with sausages.

93 Dark Czech Lager, Bernard (Czech Republic). 5.1% ABV (10/07)

Deep brown-black teak color. Very even aromas of dark chocolate, roasted nuts and wet earth. A round, velvety entry leads to a rich, medium-to-full body of roasted espresso, cocoa and nut flavors. Finishes with a round even fade and lingering nutty earthiness. Very nicely balanced, harmonious and elegant with a great soft mouthfeel.

92 Altbairisch Dunkel, Privatbrauerei Aying (Germany). 5% ABV (10/07)

Rich mahogany color. Baker’s chocolate, soy sauce and roasted nut aromas. A round, supple entry leads to a dryish medium-full body of rich chocolate, dark toasted raisin nut bread and honeyed lemon zest with evolving layers of spice, grain and wood notes. Finishes with a long, cocoa, nut and spice fade with delicate lemon custard and coffee notes. Delightfully flavorful and balanced.

91 Munich Dark Lager, Capital Brewery (WI). 5.2% ABV (11/06)

Rich reddish brown color. Spicy, caramelized nut, malted chocolate and delicate earth aromas. A rich entry leads to a snappy medium body of tangy chocolate-covered citrus, butter roasted nut and spice flavors. Finishes with a sweet dark chocolate, earthy hop and fig fade. Very flavorful and easy-drinking.

91 Jubilate Special Reserve Dark Lager, Brauerei Pinkus Müller (Germany). 5.1% ABV (10/08)

Dark reddish copper color. Aromas of mocha and caramelized nuts follow through on a soft, supple entry to a creamy, dryish medium body with wet cereal and tangy orange and nectarine skin accents. Finishes with a smooth, gentle chocolate-covered fruit and nut fade with grassy hops in support. A finely balanced and refreshing dark lager to pair with sausages and ribs.

91 Dark Lager, Krusovice (Czech Republic). (11/06)

Dark reddish brown color. Roasted nut, burnt sugar and clay aromas. A round frothy entry leads to a dry-yet-fruity medium body of grainy roasted malt, sweet cocoa, caramelized dark roasted nuts and loamy mineral flavors. Finishes with a tangy cocoa-dusted citrus and clay-like hop fade. Classic Czech style dark lager with a wonderfully earthy edge.

90 Munich Dunkel Lager, Bastone Brewery (MI). 5.5% ABV (10/08)

Dark reddish copper color. Milk chocolate and caramel drizzled dried apricot and apple aromas have a fragrant mocha edge and follow through on a round, supple entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body with pepper, straw, dried grapefruit on the mellow finish. Nice balance of rich flavors and drinkability

90 Beerlao Dark, Lao Brewery (Laos). 6.5% ABV (10/07)

Brilliant copper color. Chocolate-covered espresso bean aromas follow through to a chewy dryish medium body with toffee and dried fruit accents and a crisp cocoa and jam fade. Pleasant. Pair with bacon wrapped shrimp or ham sandwiches.

89 Penn Dark Lager, Penn Brewery (PA). 5.1% ABV (11/08)

Reddish mahogany color. Toasted raisin nut bread and forest floor hop aromas follow through on a soft, mild entry to a dryish medium body with great balance and a delicately crisp, baked apple and mossy, hop-accented fade. Very drinkable and pure in style.

88 Winter Brew, Sprecher Brewing Co. (WI). 5.75% ABV (11/06)

Deep mahogany color. Sweet toffee, dark roasted nuts and candied dried apricot aromas. A vibrant frothy entry leads to a sweetish medium-full body of toffee, brown sugar, dried citrus fruit, spice bag and roasted nuts flavors. Finishes with tangy, sweet chocolate-covered yams and lemon peels and delicate, earthy and spicy hops. Very refreshing.

88 Berghoff Genuine Dark Lager, Joseph Huber Brewing Co. (WI). (10/07)

Deep copper chestnut color. Sweet mocha nut fudge aromas. A soft, smooth entry leads to a zesty dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body of chocolate-covered citrus peels and delicate spice flavors. Finishes with a clean, chocolate phosphate and marmalade fade. Tasty and refreshing.

88 Beck’s Dark Lager, Brauerei Beck & Co. (Germany). 5% ABV (11/07)

Deep reddish brown color. Cocoa powder and oily nut aromas. A crisp, frothy entry leads to a dryish medium body of carob dusted citrus and raisin nut toast flavors with a crisp, tangy bittersweet chocolate, citrus peel and earthy, herbal hop fade. Very nice.

87 Dark Lager, San Miguel Brewery (Philippines). 5% ABV (10/07)

Dark reddish mahogany brown color. Chocolate-covered strawberry, nut and peach aromas. A round, supple entry leads to a dryish light-to-medium body of faint nut toast and roasted corn flavors. Finishes with a quick fade.

86 Troitskoye Dark Lager, Alivaria (Belarus). 5.25% ABV (10/07)

Brilliant deep copper color. Sweet caramelized roasted nuts and treacle aromas. A round, plush entry leads to a frothy, dryish medium body of buttered toasted dark rye bread, roasted chestnut and fig flavors. Finishes with a zesty, buttered nut and earth hop fade.

86 St. Pauli Girl Special Dark, St. Pauli Brauerei (Germany). 4.8% ABV (10/08)

Deep copper brown color. Faint dark caramelized nuts, melted chocolate and raisin toast aromas follow through on a smooth, supple entry to dryish, even light-to-medium body with good balance. Finishes with a dash of nut, straw and earthy hops on the finish. A pleasant, easy drinking dark lager.

86 Hermann’s Dark Lager, Vancouver Island Brewery (Canada). 5.5% ABV (10/07)

Dark brown color. Mild dark roasted nuts and cocoa aromas follow through to lively frothy, dry medium body with hints of cider vinegar, coffee oil, cocoa and spice flavors with a zesty citrus and nut fade.

86 Dunkel Fester, River Horse Brewery (NJ). 4.7% ABV (10/08)

Dark reddish mahogany color. Roasted coffee, herb crusted cheese and cocoa aromas follow through on a round, vibrant entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body with date and roasted vegetable notes. Finishes with a chocolate-covered nut, citrus and coffee bean fade.

84 Eastside Dark Lager, Lakefront Brewery (WI). 5.5% ABV (11/06)

Deep copper color. Sour dough bread, burnt sugar and mild soap aromas. A round entry leads to a sweetish medium body of bittersweet chocolate, grainy sour dough and burnt sugar flavors. Finishes with a chocolate-covered cherry, lemon and roasted nut fade.

82 Bohemian Garnet Lager, Hideji Beer (Japan). 4.5% ABV (2/07)

Deep copper color. Dark roasted nut and treacle aromas follow through to a smooth, frothy and dry medium body with dried citrus, pecans and a mellow earthy hops fade.

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