SGF Brewmaster Ben Stange
By Ben Stange
Every fan of craft beer who has tried to educate his friends about his passion for ales and lagers has heard it once or twice when offering a sample to a friend. It always makes us cringe a little, because most of us said it at one time, as well:
“No, thanks. I don’t like dark beers.”
“Whoa.”
It gives me chills every time. Fortunately, I know that the idea that dark beers have an unpleasant flavor – or even that they all share any kind of flavor at all – is a myth.
To prove it, here is a list of five dark beers that will surprise anyone that believes dark beers all taste the same, or that they all taste bad:
- New Belgium 1554 – “Enlightened Black Ale” – 5.6% ABV – The style given to this beer by its brewer is “Enlightened Black Ale.” It’s an appropriate description, considering how well it can teach the lesson about appreciating dark beers. It pours dark with a slightly reddish hue, and has a decent white head. It has a great roasted grain and caramel aroma with just a little bit of fruit. It tastes very smooth and slightly sweet but finishes with a little bit of dark chocolate. It has a medium body and is everything you expect a dark beer not to be. This one is great for sitting on the deck with a fire going.
- Ayinger Celebrator – Dopplebock – 6.7% ABV – One of Germany’s finest beers, this dark brown brew has a thick white head that leaves only traces after a minute. The aroma is raisins, bread, toffee, and caramel. The flavor is malty and chocolate, but not overwhelming. There are a few raisin and fig notes, and the beer is slightly sweet, but it finishes dry, leaving the drinker thirsty for more.
- Unibroue Trois Pistoles – Belgian Strong Ale – 9% ABV – While this beer pours as dark as they come, the head is white and lacy. The aroma of the beer is full of raisins, apple, and spices, and the flavor is dark sugar with dried fruits, clove, and coriander. It has a thicker mouthfeel, but lots of carbonation lightens it up on your tongue. Overall, this beer is an amazing experience.
- Schneider Aventinus – Weizen Bock – 8.2% ABV – Recently rated the best wheat beer in the world (2010) by ratebeer.com, this beer is the perfect example of how a dark beer can surprise you. It pours hazy brown with an ivory head, and has an amazing aroma of banana, clove, and a little bit of dark fruit. The flavor has chocolate and caramel mixed with notes of fig, raisin, and banana. The full body leads to a dry finish which only makes you want more.
- Spaten Optimator – Dopplebock – 7.2% ABV – This is the beer that taught me that not all dark beers are created equal. This beer pours very dark brown with a little ruby coloring. It has a thin off-white head and a biscuity caramel aroma with toffee and molasses notes. The taste is very dark caramel and molasses with a smooth feel and a roasted finish.
(Any ideas for a beer column name? Ben’s Beer Column would be a lame name. We weren’t clicking on all cylinders.)
