Louny Tmavý Ležák (Premium Black Label) 12°

Brewed by Pivovar Louny (Heineken)
Style: Schwarzbier
Louny, Czech Republic

(Bottled, "Louny Schwarzbier", 5.4% ABV) Clear, very dark red color with a medium, tanned and foamy, lacy head. Mild, caramely, slightly sweet aroma. Slightly smoky, sweetish-caramely flavor with ashy hints. Light to medium-bodied, a bit foamy-carbonated palate. Not really a schwarzbier, as it’s not very burned, yet very sweet.

Bottled. Bottled. 5.4%. Brown with dark reddish notes. Small beige head. Light sweet aroma with burnt notes. Sweet malty flavor with reoastiness. Nice beer, but did not rock my world. Why do these czech brewers have to use so many different names on the same beer, and what is the point off all the different alc-percentages? It’s just confusing. (051210)

Labeled as Louny Schwarzbier. Light sweetness in the nose with notes of molasses. Dark brown body with a ruby tint, small off-white head. Sweetness in the flavor with a very light roastyness.

Bottled. Black appearance. No head in particular. Bery sweet flavor. Finish is dominated by raisins. A pleasant warming beer.

Bottle. 5.4%. Malty, liquorice aroma. Dark brown colour, hint of red. Unstable head. Sweet flavour, some liquorice.

500 ml bottle, bought in Germany, named "Fürst von Louny", must be the same beer, but ABV is 5.4% - Papsoe has had one at 4.8% and brewery website says 5.1%, seems to vary quite a bit. Very dark brown to ruby colour, large to moderate light tan head that doesn’t last very long. Aroma is malty sweet with notes of caramel, chocolate, schwarzbrot and leather. Flavour is strangely sweet for a "Reinheitsgebot" schwarzbier: malts, syrup, molasses and caramel, just a faint hint of roastiness. Too sweet for me, very little hops to balance the sweetness. I could swear some kind of syrup had been added to the brew, but they say no. Despite the sweetness and the ABV, mouthfeel is a bit thin. Not my favourite schwarzbier this one.

Bottle. A little disappointed for this schwarz beer. A bit overly sweet with caramel notes. Smooth, but a bit too malty and sweet in the finish.

(Bottle 50 cl) My version - bought in Berlin - is called "Fürst von Louny" at 4,8% ABV, but according to the label it is the "Tmavý lezák". Very dark with a rather small head. Sweeter (some roasted caramel-notes) than what is normal for the type (no additives though). Some hops to balance out the sweetness. But pleasant in both nose and flavours.