When most people think of lagers, they think of pale, clear lagers with snow-white heads and a crisp, light flavor. But that wasn’t always the case. For centuries, dark lager dominated the scene in Central Europe until methods for kilning paler malts came along, and we saw the introduction of amber lagers such as Vienna lager and Märzen. Eventually, in 1842, Joseph Groll brewed a golden beer in Plzen, Czech Republic, with thick snow-white foam. Pilsner Urquell was born, and the world hasn’t looked back. Today, Peaks & Pints takes a step back into pre-pilsner history to enjoy a beer flight of classic dark lager styles we call Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Dark Lagers.
Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Dark Lagers
Structures Czech Dark Lager
5.3% ABV
Structures Brewing’s Czech Dark Lager house dark lager has notes of toffee and chocolate from the dark roasted malts and the roundness and crispness of a lager.
Köstritzer Schwarzbier
4.8% ABV
In April 1991, the Köstritzer Brauerei, a subsidiary of the Bitburger brewery, shed its 1543 wardrobe and emerged as one of the most modern breweries in Thuringia, Germany. In September 1993, it re-introduced the “original Köstritzer black beer,” a traditional bottom-fermented lager with a distinctive delicate malty flavor due to refined barley malt. It’s a delicious blend of light freshness with a smooth, sweet finish.
Wayfinder Agent of Chaos
5.3% ABV
Wayfinder Beer’s Agent of Chaos Dunkel is velvety and smooth, a testament to its carefully selected blend of Munich and Vienna malts. Pouring a deep mahogany hue with garnet highlights, this dark lager releases decadent aromas of roasted malts, toasted bread, and a hint of cocoa.
Gold Dot Blue Label Dark Lager
5.4% ABV
Brewed four times as long as other beers, Gold Dot Beer’s Dunkel is decocted to enhance the Munich malt profile while keeping the beer dry and repeatable. It hits the nose with biscuit malt, raisins, nuts, and mild chocolate. This beer has a vibrant flavor from slow and cold ferments. Expect notes of bready biscuit malt, brown bread, walnuts, and dry caramel.
Paulaner Salvator
7.9% ABV
A smiling monk and an English gentleman are on the Salvator’s label. What’s not to like? Answer: nothing. This is delicious. The Paulaner Friars invented the doppelbock 400 years ago, and it is the founding beer of Paulaner. Beautiful bready aromas, with tinges of alcohol spiciness, waft enticingly from the rocky, cream-color head. German malts flow sweetly across the tongue, brightened by green grape and cherry fruitiness.
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