Dale Bros. California Black Beer

Brewed by Dale Bros. Brewery
Style: American Dark Lager
Upland, California USA

On tap at Papago - Pours a deep reddish-brown color with a nice size of white head. Light lacing. Aroma is toasted malt. Flavor is light roasted malt. Light to medium body. Kinda boring. Just not alot happening with this beer. Decent enough.

Drinkable, but was looking for more substance, and did not find it. I was looking for some roasting or smokiness and couldn’t really find it. Also tasted very close to their Pomona Queen.

Bottled August 2008; Sampled September 2008
A vigorous pour into my 25cl tulip glass produces an almost three-finger thick, lightly browned tan colored head. The beer is a dark amber / brown color that shows a brilliantly clear, bright red hue when held up to the light. The aroma has an interesting toasted nut not, perhaps a touch of cocoa, a light berry note, a hint of butterscotch and a toasted, lightly burnt grain note towards the finish. The appearance, especially, but even the aroma too, seem to fall short of the black, roast influenced beer that I was expecting.

Well carbonated as it has quite the fizzy texture and a fairly light body. My first sip had a noticeable, berry-influenced sweetness to it that becomes much reduced upon subsequent sips. This actually is fairly dry with a toasted, nutty finish and a bit too much of a carbonic bite. As the beer warms up a bit and loses the carbonation, some definite, buttery diacetyl notes start to intrude in the flavor profile. The diacetyl is fairly subtle, but definitely noticeable to someone who is sensitive to it (namely me).

This has a bit of potential, especially as an American Dark Lager, but the flaws and execution are a bit distracting at this point. Dales seems to be going after the craft beer newbie market, which they might be able to do well at.

Purchased: Papago Brewing, Scottsdale AZ

Kind of a brown pour, with a nice off white head. Malt aroma with some fruit, citrus? Some roast malt, little caramel/mocha, metallic, but mostly bitter. Finished pretty dry and clean. Reminded me of some of the dark bier I had in Germany. Straight forward, not all that complex. Didn’t really care for them or this one.

Date: 06/21/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: clear brown with amber edges, creamy beige head,
Aroma: dry malt aroma with a touch of chocolate and dark caramel and a light fruity tartness,
Flavor: dry chocolate and caramel malt flavor, light sweetness balanced by a light tartness, touch of earthyness,

Aroma: 4/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 4/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 7/20
Rating: 2.1/5.0
Drinkability: 5/10
Score: *+/4

Bomber courtesy of hellbilly. Multibple aromas of coco, coffee and some wheat. Black body held to light red body with good beige head. Sweet cola soda carbinated flavor with a mix of roast and dry coffee blended in. Sweetness lingers on the palate along with some dryness. Decent beer alot going on in this one.

Appearance: Pours a clear, reddish-brown body with almost no head. Smell: Destroyed dark maltiness with a faroff, worrisome note of tart, sour fruits. Oh boy. Taste: Some nutty dark malts, but a huge taste of tart, sour, even spoiled fruits. Bleh-inducing from start (tart) to finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Mild carbonation. Drinkability: Simply awful. That sourness squelches the whole deal here.

7 day old bottle... clear medium dark woody brown cola color and a little tan head. grainy, house yeasty aroma with notes of chocolate, metal, wood, fruit/banana? and coffee. flavor is similar... quite bland mix of nuttiness, coffee, chocolate malt and light spiciness on the finish. light to medium body with a soft texture and prickly carbonation. it’s not great but i could easily drink a bunch of this. 6/3/6/3/13/3.1

been drinking a lot of this lately as it is so well priced and suited for the heat... when consumed from the bottle the flavors are enhanced. nut, chocolate and coffee really stand out in almost porter quantities. clean finish keeps me coming back...