Master Tmavý 18° - Plzensky Prazdroj, a. s.

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I have no idea who brought this to me, but I do recognize the picture. I might as well crack it open and see what's what.

From the bottle (loosely translated): "The premium materials and a special furnace Experienced Sladku Pilsner Urquell Master VAM brings a unique taste experience."; "Special dark beer."; "Drinking and driving don't mix."; "Pilsner Urquell beer specialties."; "The delicate flavor."; "Dark [beer]".

Any Baltic Porter, in my eyes, is going to have to measure up to Baltika # 6. We'll see ... I got two dense fingers of deep-tan head with decent retention off of my pour. Color was a deep-brown with ruby/garnet highlights. Nose had a chocolaty aspect along with dark, dried fruits (raisin, prune). Mouthfeel was medium-to-full, not quite creamy, but approaching it and the taste was like a liquid Cadbury Fruit & Nut bar, sans the nut, although a student recently described me as "a nutty teacher". Man, I thought that nothing could ever match my beloved Baltika # 6, but this is really making me sit up and take notice! Heavy lacing began to appear as I worked my way through it. Finish was semi-dry, with an appearance of a smokiness to go along with the fruit and chocolate. I have been watching the commercials for Viking River Cruises recently and I would love to take a trip into the Baltic States and hit up the Czech Republic while in the area. Hell, I might even look for a bride while I'm at it! To my old drinking buddy and owner of the Bloomfield Bridge Tavern, Stosh, this one's for you.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 23:45:18 | More by woodychandler

sfprint

Germany

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Beautiful creamy head and a near black soda body.
S: Toasted wheat crackers, perhaps also oat-y, but overall not a very strong smell
T: Kind of sweet. Hmm, I feel ambivalent about this one. It has a nice toasted and well rounded flavor, but I find it too sweet, like when you put too much sugar in coffee.
M: Smooth and implied creamy.
O: So many great qualities, but the fact that it's overly sweet really bring it down for me. Otherwise a very very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 23:32:45 | More by sfprint

skypup

Germany

4.13/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

.4 L on tap in tulip glass at Na Parkene Beer Pub; Plzen, Czech Republic

A - Deep brown with a thick tan head

S - Distinct roasted malt.

T - Caramelized malt with a hint of coffee and toasted nuts

M – creamy on the tongue, heavy body and light carbonation

D – Decent beer, but a little heavy at a sitting for more then one.

Serving type: on-tap

09-25-2011 19:20:44 | More by skypup

MTNboy

Missouri

3.93/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This beer is very dark with a great tan head. There is lots of head and lots of sticky thick lace. It has a burnt coffee taste with some chocolate tones. It is a very bitter sweet flavored beer. There is a burnt sugar aroma. The body is medium and there is not much for carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2011 18:12:13 | More by MTNboy

chinchill

South Carolina

3.95/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

.4 L draft in snifter at brewery's restaraunt in Pilsen

A - near black and opaque with reddish mahogany at edges/ Generous creamy tan head that leaves patchy lacing. Remnants of head lasted until the end during an entire meal!

Aroma - rather faint and not enticing aromas of medium and dark roasted malt.

T – markedly more flavorful than aroma suggests: a somewhat spicy rich malt flavor that leads to a fine and lasting finish featuring dark roasted malts. Excellent balance of sweet and bitter, perhaps leaning towards bitter.

M – Exceptionally creamy feel with perfect (med) carbonation

O – not great in every respect, but the wonderful mouthfeel alone makes this worth seeking out.
Paired ok with brocolli in cheese sauce; excellent with pork in gravy.

Serving type: on-tap

07-04-2011 05:45:50 | More by chinchill

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

4.65/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Tasted on Dec 2010.Served in 33cl bottle. Pitch black in your Snifter. Thick & creamy crown. Small Bubbles & extended foam, beige in color. In nose toasted malty notes & a gentle hop aroma. Your mouth will receive a caramel & licorice flavor. Dry & smooth bitterness in your palate. Good carbonation. At the aftertaste will return caramel & tosted malts. Easy to drink, medium body, refreshing & kind flavor. You´d better remember it´s 7.0 ABV

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2011 22:40:41 | More by GONZALOYANNA