Brewed by Erdinger Weissbräu, this Gernan dunkel [dark beer] is described as "A wheat beer from the good old days". If the good old days were as good as this beer, then they were indeed good.
It looks absolutely beautiful in the glass, a rich, murky dark brown with contrasting off-white head. The head remains all the way to the end, without much lacing.
My nose was quite busy with this beer, picking out the predominant chocolate, subtle fruit, light alcohol, raisin, roasted hops, and caramel. Flavor is heady, with malt, hops, and toasted wheat dominating. Carbonation is mild, and it finishes with a medium bitterness.
The Bottom Line: This complex dark beer has an interesting aroma and flavor profile which makes it highly enjoyable.
The Rating: Good Stuff.
Showing posts with label Dark ale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dark ale. Show all posts
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Sunday, 1 May 2011
Fort Garry Dark Ale
Ahh, Fort Garry Dark. I have a soft place for this one [it was my first Canadian brew], despite the fact that it's certainly not the best beer you've ever had. It's not the worst, either, and it's decidedly better than drinking the smelly yellow aberrations of nature and wholesomeness that are Miller, Bud, Coors, and Molson.
Fort Garry Dark Ale pours a murky black, and what light that penetrates reveals reddish hues. The tan head is hardly worth mentioning, as it fades quickly and, beyond the occasional ring and streak, leaves no lacing. The aroma is faint, but what whiffs you can get are mostly of burnt caramel.
Mouthfeel is a little prickly due to the mild carbonation. It's considerably less noticeable in this brew than in Fort Garry Pale. The taste is of malt, roasted coffee, and a touch of chocolate, but everything is rather understated except for the malt, and even that isn't overbearing or obnoxious. It goes down smoothly (although, thanks to the carbonation, not as smoothly as Guinness or my new favorite, O'Hara's) and pairs well with food.
The Bottom Line: This drinkable brew is dark enough to be my preferred go-to beer when nothing more interesting is available, but I would gladly give it up if I found something with little more zip.
The Rating: Not Bad.
Fort Garry Dark Ale pours a murky black, and what light that penetrates reveals reddish hues. The tan head is hardly worth mentioning, as it fades quickly and, beyond the occasional ring and streak, leaves no lacing. The aroma is faint, but what whiffs you can get are mostly of burnt caramel.
Mouthfeel is a little prickly due to the mild carbonation. It's considerably less noticeable in this brew than in Fort Garry Pale. The taste is of malt, roasted coffee, and a touch of chocolate, but everything is rather understated except for the malt, and even that isn't overbearing or obnoxious. It goes down smoothly (although, thanks to the carbonation, not as smoothly as Guinness or my new favorite, O'Hara's) and pairs well with food.
The Bottom Line: This drinkable brew is dark enough to be my preferred go-to beer when nothing more interesting is available, but I would gladly give it up if I found something with little more zip.
The Rating: Not Bad.
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