Herold Cerny Lezák (Bohemian Black Lager) 13°

Brewed by Pivovar Herold
Style: Schwarzbier
Breznice, Czech Republic

500 ml bottle. Pours nearly black with a hint of red and a beige head. Aroma is roasted malts, coffee and liquorice. Roasted malts and coffee dominate the flavour, aftertaste is lightly burned. Very pleasant mouthfeel.

pours black with reddish hue big tan head smells of coffee and heavy on roasted malts, taste of malts coffee and dark chocolates little dry and slightly bitter finish

Bottle. Mild roasted malt aroma. Almost black with quickly dissolving beige head. Soft flavor of roasted malt, similar finish. Light body. Sure it’s kinda balanced but seems one-dimensional after the hype. Compares badly to some of the better German dunkels.

Found this gem at a shop in Asheville, NC. Black lager caught my eye and it was black. Smells of coffee and dark toast. Taste similar to a German Schwarzbier. Very well balanced and not sweet all. Taste of slight coffee, chocolate and pleasant dark malt taste. Palate was over so slightly too bitter. Overall good beer.

Bottle. Pours and almost black colour with an tan head. Molasses, burnt caramel, some tar and liquorice on the nose. Nice! Flavour is a bit sweet with soy sauce, burnt bread and caramel, meat stock and some tar. Nice one!

Bottle from Tesco. Near black with reddish undertones and a tight, tan head. Aroma of roasted malt, bitter chocolate and prunes. Flavour was complex with some caramel, tobacco, and more chocolate. Slightly savoury mouthfeel with a trace of salt. Excellent.

A voluminous mocha head crowns a deeply sanguine coloured body. Lush chocolate swirls with toffee, sweetened coffee and cream; only the faintest of flowery hops. Balance is found, combining supple malts and moderate bitterness ending dry with a hint of roast. Creamy, yet slender, motivated by quick carbonation.

Absurdly drinkable with gobs of flavour. Entrancing.

50cl bottle, best before 19 February 2009.

Dark brown hue with rusty highlights and a frothy, mocha head. Beautifully straightforward aroma of dark cocoa powder and oily, black coffee. Underneath, dates and heavily caramelized, almost burnt, sugar. Light note of grass is faintly detectable. Flavour starts with elements of roasted coffee and dark, dry chocolate. Resting in the mouth, a smoky sliver emerges. The finish is bitter on three fronts, presenting a dark roast, tingling grass and softly fruity white pepper. A thin stream of heavily caramelized sugar runs through the middle of it all. Vanilla, ever so delicate in presence, accents the other elements. Roughly medium-bodied with a very silky texture and plentiful yet gentle carbonation. Nothing flashy here -- only simple, incredibly clean, delicious fun. 50cl bottle, bbe 01.11.08.

500ml bottle at Microbar, 14th Jan 08. Pours a rich ruby colour with a little tan head. Aroma of vanilla and roast malt. Strong dark chocolate and coffee flavours with hops coming through at the end. Smooth but frustratingly short finish. Good roasted notes in the flavour too.