Dark Lager

Wernesgrüner Dark is a Schwarzbier. The interesting thing about this style is that many people assume the dark (nearly black) beer is an ale based solely on color. But a schwarzbier is actually a black lager. So you can tell those people that not all dark beers are ales. When looking at a schwarziber, according the BJCP guidelines style 8B, we are looking for a dark German lager that balances roasted yet smooth malt flavors with moderate hop bitterness. The lighter body, dryness, and lack of…

Best Lager Beer: Our Pick of the Tastiest Pilsners, Helles, and More Lager beers are often underestimated in the world of beer enthusiasts, with many overlooking the vast array of styles, flavors, and brewing techniques that contribute to their unique characteristics. From crisp, refreshing pale lagers to rich, dark lagers with hints of chocolate and coffee, there’s a lager for every palate and occasion.

Let’s chat about dark European lagers! I always enjoy the depth of flavor these beers offer. While still crisp and easy-drinking thanks to the lager yeast, they have a rich, roasted maltiness that gives them complex flavors. The color ranges from deep amber to black. You’ll often taste chocolate, coffee, or toasted notes, sometimes with a hint of caramel or molasses sweetness too.

Let me tell you about Munich Dunkels. As the name suggests, these dark lagers originated in Munich, Germany. They have a deep reddish-brown color from the use of roasted Munich malts. This gives them a distinctive bready, doughy, almost nutty malt flavor. There’s often some chocolate and coffee notes as well. But Munich Dunkels are smoother, sweeter, and lighter-bodied than other dark beers.

Let me tell you about Schwarzbiers. As the name implies, these are very dark German lagers. Schwarzbier translates to "black beer." They are midnight black in color with a light brown head. The flavor has pronounced roasted malt character - like coffee or dark chocolate - but the mouthfeel is medium-bodied and smooth. There's enough hop bitterness to balance the malt sweetness. Hops also provide herbal, woody, or floral notes.

International Dark Lager is the dark version of the International Pale Lagers often brewed by large, industrial breweries. These dark lagers were brewed to appeal to a broad audience. It is a sweeter version of

This beer style brings together the easy-drinking lager you know and love with deeper, richer malt flavors from around the world. These lagers often have a reddish-brown or nearly black color that comes from using roasted malts or specialty grains. But don’t worry, they won’t be too heavy or filling. International Dark Lagers are smooth and crisp with moderate alcohol around 4-6% ABV. Flavors you might detect include subtle notes of chocolate, coffee, caramel, toast, biscuit or nuts.

Dark American lager can be deceiving style to the eye. Ranging up to the mid-20 SRM, these beers may look as if they should be exploding with roast and coffee notes akin to stouts and porters, but can taste and smell more like a lighter-colored American lager. Using de-husked dark specialty malts, like Carafa Special II, allows for a darker color without instilling the bitter and acrid notes typical of in-husk dark roasted barleys. This clean style should have very little malt in the aroma…

Czech Dark Lager poses a little dark secret. They are the second most popular beer style in the region. pFriem Czech Dark Lager is one of these beers that are ordered several times in pubs

Czech Dark Lagers are rich, malty, dark-colored lagers that originated in the Czech Republic. The malts used tend to lend notes of bread crust, toasted nuts, coffee, and chocolate. Noble hops like Saaz are often used sparingly, allowing the malt character to take center stage. The end result is a smooth, easy-drinking lager with a deep amber to black color. Czech Dark Lagers are medium to full-bodied with moderate alcohol content, usually around 4-5% ABV.