Brouczech Dark

Nova Paka Brewery
Nova Paka, Czech Republic
Imported by Eurolink, Ltd.
Woodland Hills, CA

Alcohol (wt.): n/a
Alcohol (vol.): n/a
Color: n/a
Bitterness: n/a
Gravity: n/a

Beautiful, with a sturdy, long-holding head structure and great color: “genuine dark” a la my misspent youth AND there are irresistible aromatics here, leading to a rich and enticing palate. This is a fine example of one of my all-time favorite beer styles. Dark, yes, but with few or no roast malts to ruin the smooth mellowness on the palate.
- Fred Eckhardt

This beer has a nice russet-brown color and raises a rock tan head. The nose is malty with plenty of toffee and a pleasant whiff of hops. On the palate, it’s surprisingly dry and sharp, with a mouth-coating hop attack. The malt struggles through the center before being sacked at the finish, which is bitter and slightly astringent. Not really a dunkel, but a snappy Czech “cerne pivo.” A little tough for me, but try it up against blackened Cajun dishes.
- Garrett Oliver

This has a big, frothy, latte-colored head. The beer itself has the garnet color favored by many Czech dark lagers. The licorice character, deriving from the malt, is also typical, and very evident in this example. It starts in the aroma, develops in a rooty mid-palate, and surges in a spicy (but rather quick) finish.
- Michael Jackson

Fred Eckhardt
Fred Eckhardt lives, writes about and drinks beer in Portland, OR. He is the author of The Essentials of Beer and Sake (USA).

Garrett Oliver
Internationally recognized brewer and expert on traditional beer, Garrett Oliver is the brewmaster of the Brooklyn Brewery and the author of The Brewmaster's Table.

Michael Jackson
Author of Ultimate Beer, the Simon & Schuster Guide to Beer and numerous other works on drinks, Jackson has created legions of converts to fine beer.