Bernard Specialni Cerne Pivo

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

500 ml swingtop bottle, as Bernard Specialni Černé pivo, unpasteurised. ABV is 5.1%. A gift from gunnar, thanks. BB date 01.07.10. Very dark reddish brown colour, nearly black. Big tan head. Aroma of brown bread, caramel and dust. The flavour is moderately malty but not very sweet, bready and dusty notes. Okay, but not impressive.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Nice aroma here with figs, brown sugar, molasses, sweet malt, and figs coming through on the nose. The appearance is a deep reddish-burgundy in color when held to the light with a small head on top that is light-tan in color and leaves decent lacing on the glass that is well carbonated. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied with a huge malty backbone with no hops coming through at all with a palate that is coating and wet-like and not too bad considering the style. The flavor is of raisin, figs, dark fruits, sweet malt as well as bready overtones with an aftertaste that is smooth, salty, and a bit cloying with a finish that warranted considering the style. Overall, not a bad beer here but I am just not a fan of these massive maltster brews and I need more balance; nonetheless, if it was oktoberfest in Bavaria, or if it was the right time of year this would be a great brew to indulge in...

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Dark amber colour, small beige head. Aroma is fruits, slight dark fruits, malts and hops. Flavour is the same, and overall quite sweetish. Aftertaste has some hoppy bitterness in it.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 9

Really good czech dark beer. Could be a little softer (incl 5,1% alc. other czech dark beers includes from 3,7 up to 4,4%) but it's not a big problem.