Judge's Review: 92 Rating - Wernesgrüner Dark by Wernesgrüner Brauerei

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 a harsh, burnt, or heavy aftertaste helps make this beer quite drinkable.

The aroma is light, yet full of character. I really like the low roast levels, which give the beer an almost dark chocolate-like aroma. It’s exceptionally clean, meaning that there are no real detectable fermentation characteristics such as esters or phenols. You pretty much just smell the malt, hops, and a little bit of the yeast. The hop aroma is low and lightly floral. When I look at the beer in the glass it’s a dark mahogany color, with very good clarity. There is just a slight bit of haze in the glass, but it’s acceptable. There was really not much in terms of head on the pour, which was a bit of a bummer.

When it comes to the flavor, there were thankfully no surprises. The flavor was decidedly malty, with that low coffee bitterness from the roast, a little hint of dark chocolate, and what I think is a Munich malt-like grainy flavor. The hop bitterness is fairly low and the hop flavor matches. While low, you can still pick up a slight floral/earthy note. The rest of the beer is crisp, clean, and medium in body. It is very well balanced and easily drinkable, even for those who claim to not like dark beer, schwarzbier is a good place to start and this beer in particular is easy on the palate. I thoroughly enjoyed this beer and every drop in my glass. I was very satisfied.