Dark lager in Czech style brewed according to the old double decoction method to achieve more authenticity, in itself already a praiseworthy effort by this accomplished Dutch craft brewery, in this case collaborating with 'my hometown brewery' Dok. Can from De Hopduvel in Ghent. Thick and frothy, moussey, pale greyish beige, very silently crackling, membrane-lacing, firm head on a clear, dark mahogany brown robe with copper-red glow. Aroma of dried out brown bread, wood ashes, charred toast, haemoglobin, dried fig, touch unripe pear, old walnut, hints of earth and autumn leaves. Spritzy onset, minerally and lively carbonation but fine-bubbled, swirling through restrained dried-fruity touches (dried fig or pear) with a haemoglobin-like edge moving into a rounded, smooth, somewhat 'fluffy' body of toasty, brown-bread-crusty and roasted bitter (chicory) maltiness, ending a tad ashy and coffee grounds-like with an additional leafy hop bitter note. Minerally, 'blood-like' and ashy side effects linger around. Černé (black) rather than tmavé (brown), perhaps, with all that roastiness and almost black hue, feeling 'fuller' and more layered than the average Czech černé, which in itself only illustrates how skilled, experienced and talented De Kromme Haring is. Their name is always one of the first to pop up in my head when asked about the most accomplished contemporary Dutch breweries and this 'bath tub carp-černé' only confirms this - though knowing Dok's dedication to covering all styles, techniques and ingredients in existence, I bet they were the ones insisting on using double decoction for this one...

Can from Beerdome. Deeply malty with caramel and smoked malt, hint of roast and tobacco. Mild to medium sweet with a light bitterness. Medium plus body. I could handle a little more smoke but this is very good.

20th August 2025
Keg at If It Ain't Dutch. Hazy orange gold beer, small bubbly pale cream colour head. Airy palate, a little dry, decent fine minerally carbonation. Fairly light bodied pale malts, a light creamy sweetness. Hops bring good citrus and a little red berries. Fair serving of hop spice. Tangy bitterness on the semi dry finish. Long hop spicy linger. Muscular.

Can. Very dark briwn with tan head. Roasted nalts, chocolate, pils malts, grassy hops, light earthy, plums. Just medium sweet and bitter. Crisp medium bodied. More like a lager-stout or something, not bad!

Hapu, puuviljane, tsitrus, nats kuiv, nisune. Ok.

Can from Beerdome. Fruity hop with orange, tropical fruits, mandarin, mango, soft pale malt. Moderate to medium bitter, light sweetish. Hint of hopburn that remains within bounds.

Dorada nebulosa de espuma normal. Intenso aroma cítrico, notas funky y de pino. Punzante de gas, muy seca y de amargor pronunciado. Sabor que combina notas ácidas, asidradas, con pomelo. Final de amargor cítrico intenso.