10 Best producers of dark beer: flavor characteristics, which one to buy, reviews

Dark beers are highly respected and respected by connoisseurs of foam. The color of the drink is influenced by the degree of roasting of malt and the drying temperature, flavor characteristics - from varieties of hops to methods of its processing.

There are different types of dark beers, the most famous of which are ruby ​​ale, porter and stout. All these varieties share a pronounced malt flavor and characteristic hop bitterness, but there are more differences between them. In this article, we will analyze in detail the characteristics of the ten most popular dark beer brands among Russian consumers. Based on the data received, we will choose the top three and tell you what to look for when buying in a store.

Rating of TOP 10 brands of dark beer

Velkopopovicky Kozel Cerny

Dark beer with a deep brown color with a ruby ​​tint. It has a lush, creamy, bubbly foam. It has a soft, bready taste with hints of roasted malt and caramel, and there is an unobtrusive sweetness. The aroma is characterized by hints of coffee, cherry and nuts. Finishing aftertaste with a slight hoppy bitterness. Gastronomically combined with smoked meat, German sausages, as well as chocolate muffins and gingerbread.

Manufactured at the Kaluga plant "SABMiller RUS" under license. The drink received a certificate from Czech brewers Plzensky Prazdroj, confirming compliance with the original recipe. Energy value: 38 kcal. Serving temperature: 6-8 ° C.

Delicious, very profitable to buy for the promotion, one of the most worthy dark beer options in the store. Alcohol is almost not felt, the degree is small, after drinking there is no discomfort in the stomach, unlike others.

Krusovice Cerne

Popular dark brown Czech lager made from spring water, toasted atec hops and several varieties of barley malt. Has a pronounced caramel flavor with hints of dark chocolate and nutmeg with a balanced bitterness in the aftertaste. The aroma contains notes of burnt malt, herbs and prunes. It goes well with cheeses, grilled meats and herring.

Production is concentrated in the Czech Republic at the Krusovice brewery, the rights of which were acquired by Heineken International in 2007. Energy value: 34 kcal. Serving temperature: 8-12 ° С.

High-quality Czech beer with excellent taste and persistent foam head, practically without bitterness. It is very easy and pleasant to drink. In its price segment, it is a very worthy option.

Belhaven McCallum's Stout

Top-fermented Scottish stout with a noble ruby ​​hue. A sweet drink with notes of caramel, hops and spices with a subtle smoky finish in the aftertaste. The aroma traces the nuances of toasted bread crust and prunes. It will be a great addition to cheeses, grilled poultry and stews.

The beer is brewed according to an old recipe of the 18th century in Scotland at the Belhaven brewery. Energy value: 53 kcal. Recommended to be consumed chilled to 12-14 ° С.

A quality stout from Scottish brewers with a sweet head and a beautiful ruby ​​hue, like a strong brewed tea. Sweetness, of course, is not for everybody, personally I prefer the drier ones, but sometimes I want something like that.

Double chocolate stout

A dry, top-fermented British stout, dark brown in color with a lush and dense head. A thick beer drink with the addition of dark chocolate and vanilla extract. The taste and aroma contain notes of dried fruit, coffee and burnt caramel. Prolonged aftertaste, viscous with bitterness. It goes well with steaks, roast duck, chocolate desserts and fruits.

Stout is produced at Wells and Young's Brewery, founded in 1986 in Bedford, UK. Caloric content of the drink: 47.1 kcal per 100 g. Contains a nitrogen capsule. It is recommended to cool it down to 6-8 ° C before use.

Noble English stout with amazing aroma and taste. Thanks to the nitrogen capsule, the foam turns out to be effective and creamy when poured. The beer is not sweet at all, with a pronounced bitterness. The main thing is not to overcool, otherwise the taste of chocolate will be lost.

Leffe brune

A deep, dark brown top-fermented Belgian ale. An abbey drink with a creamy caramel sweetish taste with hints of roasted malt. When inhaling the aroma, you can feel the hints of spices, chocolate and plum. It has proven itself well as a digestif, it also goes well with cheeses, sweet and sour and spicy dishes.

The original recipe for the drink was created in 1240 in the Belgian Abbey of Leffe. Energy value per 100 g: 61 kcal. Serving temperature: 5-6 ° C.

Very high quality full-bodied beer with a special Belgian flavor. Despite the increased strength, it is very pleasant to drink, alcohol is not felt. Bitterness and sweetness are well balanced. The price is quite high for a volume of 0.33, if not for this — would buy more often.

Ballantine Scottish stout

Russian filtered dark brown stout with a nitrogen capsule. The drink has a soft creamy taste and coffee-chocolate aroma. There is a slight sourness and pleasant bitterness in the aftertaste. The beer cap is dense and lush. Recommended to be served with chocolate desserts and vanilla ice cream, good as a standalone drink.

Brewed according to Scottish brewing traditions at ZAO MPK in Mytishchi. Energy value: 40 kcal. Serving temperature: 12-14 ° С

A pretty decent stout, especially for the money. For Guinness lovers it will be a good budget alternative. The taste has a pleasant coffee-malt bitterness. Despite the capsule, it does not hold the foam well.

Wychwood hobgoblin

Traditional ruby ​​English ale made from three varieties of malt and hops, pure water and yeast. The taste has hints of toasted hops and ripe fruit. The finish is rich, with a balanced bitterness. The aroma is rich, sweetish-fruity. It goes well with beer snacks, grilled vegetables, burgers and meat dishes.

Beer has been produced at the old Wychwood Brewery in the UK since 1841. Calorie content of the drink: 36 kcal per 100 g. The taste is fully revealed at a temperature of 12-14 ° C.

The taste is rich and the aroma is very pleasant, there is caramel and a slight bitterness. When you pour it into a glass, the drink takes on a dark red hue, very effective. A good product in terms of form and content!

Volkovskaya Brewery Port Arthur

Russian craft coffee-colored porter with high density and coarse-grained foam.A rich beer drink with tones of roasted nuts, coffee and cocoa on the palate. There is a balanced hop bitterness inherent in classic porters. The aroma is sweet-caramel with chocolate notes. It goes well with barbecue, as well as with creamy ice cream, dark chocolate and muffins.

Brewed at the Volkovskaya Brewery in Mytyschi. Energy value: 62 kcal. Serving temperature: 7-10 ° C.

Cool domestic porter, dry and dense enough. The aroma, as they say, with "smoke", the taste is deep and rich. For the perfect end of the day on a winter evening, this is an excellent option.

Murphy's Irish Stout

A classic Irish dry stout with a nitrogen nitro widget, one of the main competitors of Guinness Draft. Has a bitter-creamy taste, creamy texture and hints of dark chocolate in the finish. The bright aroma of roasted malt is in harmony with the nuances of coffee, hazelnuts and cocoa. Gastronomically combined with grilled meats, barbecues, smoked sausages, chips and dark chocolate.

Production is concentrated in the Irish city of Cork at the old Murphy Brewery Ireland. Energy value: 44 kcal per 100 g. Recommended to be consumed chilled to 5–10 ° С.

A powerful stout, a true classic for dark beer lovers. Slightly watery, but persistent creamy foam thanks to the nitrogen capsule. The taste is not boring, very drinkable.

Guinness draft

The world's best-known dry stout has a deep, dark ruby ​​color with a dense, creamy head. Thick in texture and viscous drink, the taste traces the nuances of coffee, black bread, toasted barley, cream and dark chocolate. In the aroma, you can hear notes of nuts and cocoa beans with subtle hints of smoke from burnt dry wood. It goes well with smoked meats, barbecues, burritos, oysters and chocolate desserts.

Produced at the Guinness Brewery in Ireland following an old recipe from 1759. Energy value per 100 g: 35 kcal. It is recommended to cool to 11-13 ° C before serving.

A true classic, more than just beer - a legend! The taste is delicate and soft with a slight bitterness at the end, the texture is dense and thick. Worth the money, I recommend it to anyone who hasn't tried it yet.

Features of dark beer and the main differences from light varieties.

1. The degree of roasting and drying of the malt directly affects the final shade of the finished beverage. Depending on the processing of the raw material, the color can vary from deep black to ruby ​​red.
2. A lot of hops are used to make lager or pilsner. In the dark, roasted grain will prevail, in the light one - a characteristic hoppy flavor.
3. To make dark beers, barley needs to be roasted and dried for a long time. The grain type and germination requirements will be different from that used to produce the light grain.
4. The ethanol level of light varieties is often higher than that of dark varieties.
5. Stouts and porters are characterized by sweetness at the finish, lagers and pilsners are bitter and have practically no pronounced aftertaste.
6. Light beer is enriched with silicon, iron is in the lead in dark varieties.
7. Dark beer is considered denser and richer, it is not recommended to use it in the heat, but it is ideal for winter evenings, especially its strong varieties - porters, imperial stouts. In summer, it makes sense to enjoy light varieties, they are good for refreshing and quenching thirst.

What to look for when shopping for dark beer

If you want to choose a high-quality dark beer, but practically do not understand it, these recommendations will help you make a decision faster and not be disappointed in the purchase.

• If you are not ready for adventurous tasting experiments and want to enjoy a tasty dark beer without pronounced bitterness and sweetness, you should pay attention to dark Czech lagers, as well as English red ales (red ale). They are the most drinkable and refreshing. This transition from light to dark will be the most gradual and optimal.
• If you love wine and do not drink beer in everyday life, you can try porter or barleywine. Both varieties are distinguished by their rich taste and pronounced "wine". Barleywine is a barley beer, a type of strong ale that is aged in spirits barrels. It is customary to serve it in a dessert glass and drink it in small sips, enjoying the complexity of the bouquet.
• It is recommended that you choose the freshest beer possible: therefore, pay attention to the expiration dates. The longer it is stored, the weaker its tasting characteristics will be. In addition, it is not known in what conditions it was stored all this time.
• The percentages indicated on the label often indicate the density of the beer, and not at all by the strength. If the density is more than 10%, the alcohol level will be about 2.5 times less.