18-01-19 // on tap at Brauhaus Spandau Sehr starkes Dunkel. Unclear brown. Beige head. Roasted malts. Malt sweetness and malt bitterness. Some coffee. Great.

This was the seasonal beer on offer in the Brauhaus during my visit on a freezing 19th Jan 2014. I enjoyed the Helles and Dunkel, so thought this would be good too: it was. Dark body, almost black, on top a near white foam. The nose came across as roasted malts with a caramel and coffee lead, semi-sweet in nature. Taste wise it followed the aromas, malty and semi-sweet with those caramel and coffee flavours pushing whatever hops they’ve used underground. I liked it, my wife not so. Body depth seemed fine and the carbonation was about right, lively without being ’fizzy’. A very pleasant end to a couple of hours in the warmth of the brauhaus before tackling the weather outside again.

Draught. Cloudy brown with a hint of red. Short lived offwhite head. Aroma of malt syrup. Flavour is quite sweet with somecaramel and soft fruit. Soft texture and finishes a bit like a strong ale, without the kick

Draft. A hazy brown beer. The aroma has notes of malt as well as lighter notes of caramel and spices - is that from the yeast? The flavor is sweet with notes of malt and caramel as well as lighter notes of vegetables, leading to a dry caramel finish. The body is light. Boring and made with a weird hop - and it is not really very hoppy as it claims.

On tap. Cloudy and opaque dark brown with a dense and stable beige head. Roasted malt aroma. Medium body, very soft mouthfeel, roasted malts and perhaps a whiff of chocolate before a lightly bitter finish. Fresh and highly drinkable. 110109