Rogue Farms Dirtoir Black Lager - Rogue Ales

FLima

Brazil

3.99/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep black color with a thick and abundant brown head with good retention.
Strong aroma of dark chocolate, waffles, mocha, and grainy malts.
Bold flavor, very malty, mostly roasted. Some notes of earth, dark chocolate, charcoal and espresso. A bit smoked or even with ash notes.
Dry and malty aftertaste, lingering roasted malts.
Full body with good carbonation with tiny bubbles.
Interesting that roasted malts won the battle against hops, well, otherwise it would be an imperial stout. This is much heavier than a Schwarzbier, still pleasant to drink. Nice that they could get all that flavor out of a lager. Recommendable.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 16:01:40 | More by FLima

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.06/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Black beer with a nice mount of mocha brown head. A ring lingers. Some of it lacing.

Black coffee and dark chocolate leads the way. Nice burnt grain aroma with a hint of smoke. A ridiculous nose for a black lager.

Super-roasty and robust. More of the coffee with bitter chocolate, chicory root, and earthy hops. You can barely tell it's a lager. Malts are rather dry, which is nice. Very good.

Beefed up with carbonation. Medium-to-light in body. Really, a great feel for the style. So approachable and so flavorful.

Kickass schwarzbier. Best I've had.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2013 01:23:03 | More by thecheapies

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.34/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Served on tap in a pint glass

Appearance – Served a black colored brew with a tiny tan head. The head fades almost instantly leaving a light level of lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell- The aroma is strongest of a roasted coffee aroma. Mixed with this is a nice dark chocolate/cocoa smell. A light sweet vanilla and caramel smell are mixed with these roasted and dark aromas balancing them nicely and creating a great smell.

Taste – The taste begins with some slightly sweeter chocolate and roasted malt notes up front. As the flavors advance further a bit of caramel and some smoky and coffee flavors come to the tongue. These flavors last to the end of the taste where the coffee flavors get stronger and espresso like with the brew also bittering more in nature. These are accompanied by an emergence of some earthy hop flavors. When mixed with the bitter coffee, and roasted malts it creates a very pleasing slightly bitter flavor to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the thicker and chewier side with a carbonation level that is on the average side. The chewier body is fantastic for the roasted and darker flavors of the beer giving is a big and thick feel on the tongue; well matching the coffee and chocolate flavors of the brew.

Overall- This was one tasty brew. It had the right level of bitter hop and sweetness to complement the darker and roastier chocolate and coffee/espresso flavors of the brew. Well done.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2013 01:09:31 | More by Darkmagus82

FlatRabbitRed

Arizona

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Dark and rich, what you would expect from Rogue a tad bit more, a little over the top. Very pleasent beer great hop flavor, you just feel the freshness comeing out of this one. All of the brews in this series are wonderfull hope John comes up with more!

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 01:19:44 | More by FlatRabbitRed

hreb

Washington

3.88/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Cold 22oz bomber pours jet black with a healthy dark brown head in pint glass. This is seriously dark stuff. Surprising rich malty aroma, even for a schwarzbier. Flavor is fairly hoppy. Hops seems a little muddled...I'm not really familar with Independent and Revelolution. Flavor through the middle is roasty, with more of a burnt aftertaste. Carbonation is relatively light, barely cutting through the (compartively) heavy grain bill. Seriously, I feel like I can taste little particles of nearly ashen roasted barley on my tongue. Of course the beer is too opaque to see if there's actual grain or any other sediment suspended in it. Compared to this, other schwarzbiers are lagers with food coloring added. This is an enjoyable expression of the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 22:35:58 | More by hreb

harrymel

Washington

3.88/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Manito Tap

Black with little transparancy and an etched dark mirror surface accented by slightly mocha foam. Some soapy bubbles around the perimeter and center. Smells of dry toasted malts, some coffee, some dark cocoa, some soil and a little bit of almond. Nice nose. Taste is dry and toasted with a slight sweetness and a ton of coffee ground and soil character. Medium light bodied with lower carb and an appropriately dry finish. Nice beer, I hate Rogue, but this is a good Schwarzbier.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2012 02:30:09 | More by harrymel

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.18/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

this is one of the best beers ive had in awhile. it took me totally by surprise how much i got off on this stuff. it pours jet black, dense looking for a lager, with a tall and lasting coffee colored head of tiny bubbles. the nose is really dark roasted barley, nearly burnt, with notes of coffee and raw black chocolate. its earthy and organic smelling, dank in a way, and more hoppy than i expected, but not quite in the cascadian dark ale range yet (at least as far as the nose goes). the flavor is amazing, it starts off really bitter, like espresso but not acidic, its got a touch of smoke to it, black soil, and then comes the hops, slightly citric, but more bitter than anything, adding a nice compliment to the already dry bitter malt profile. the beer then smoothly but swiftly transitions in a crisp black lager, lighter than its been until now, suddenly being at one refreshing and warming. the heavy cloud has lifted, and the beer finishes like any lager should. what a journey. mouthfeel follows suit, starting heavy as hell, like a massive stout, but it then relaxes to a lager feel, crisp and clean. there is so much flavor brilliantly packed into this beer, which starts sturdy and ends delicately. this may be the best rogue beer ive ever had, and it has inspired me to buy some of the other grow your own series beers from them, as this is simply exquisite. the first beer to blow my mind in a long time. it went expertly with spicy blackbeans and escargots over angel hair. what a gem this is!

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 19:23:16 | More by StonedTrippin

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.65/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a mug glass.

A: The beer is a very deep dark brown color, with a large brown head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains lager yeast, roasted malts, coffee, some chocolate and a touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out with a strong breadiness from lager yeast and a hearty roasted malt character. Then strong flavors of dark chocolate and black coffee come in. The hops presence is mild but complementary and brings some balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and a little smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is dry and slightly sticky.

O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, it’s a solid beer worth drinking for while if you’re in the mood for the style but there are other similar beers that I would choose first.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 04:05:32 | More by TheManiacalOne

vette2006c5r

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Black Lager pours a black color, with a very small tan head. There is a nice strong malty and coffee aroma. The taste has a nice coffee bite, very full bodied, good malty backbone. Good full flavor, very easy to drink, and would want more. Overall a fantastic example of this style, a must try.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 04:30:13 | More by vette2006c5r

Gus_13

Mississippi

4.15/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber into a pint glass.

Appearance: Poured jet black, can't see a thing through it. It had a solid two fingers of a dark mocha head. I was really surprised by the head on there. Tight bubbles and pretty good head lacing. As I drank it it had lacing all the way down. Very good looking schwarzbier.

Aroma: Really a big mocha aroma right at the front of the nose. Some of the chocolate from the malts comes out too. Little hints of smokiness in there as well. Not too much bitterness but there is a bit in there. Coffee in there but much like the smell of used coffee grains after the coffee has been brewed.

Taste: Roastiness right off the bat. Followed by the mocha and chocolate right behind it. Little mixes of oatmeal and coffee grains. Very smooth mouthfeel but not really heavy at all. Super easy drinker. Being a big fan of stouts I like having something easy to drink like this in between to have. Great job.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 01:38:37 | More by Gus_13

Maltmaiden

Alabama

4.03/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Wow, this beer looks like a stout! Huge creamy brown head with great retention. It leaves a film and a fair amount of lacing. Absolutely black and cant see through it. no carbonation.

I smell some roasted caramel malt sweetness with hop bitterness. A little lager yeast. Some chocolate notes (I hope that’s not just my imagination). Vanilla. Something metallic?

The chocolate was definitely not my imagination. It does have that crisp bitter lagery hoppiness.
Touch of licorice. Molasses. Not as burnt/hoppy as a porter or stout. Bit of an aftertaste. Still something metallic.

Mouthfeel is like a porter. Sticky upfront and a little dry in the end. Thin to medium body.

Very easy to drink and I would enjoy it as a session beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 05:48:58 | More by Maltmaiden

vfgccp

New York

3.95/5  rDev -2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Almost pure black. Fine bubbled mocha grey head, solid lace with decent retention.

S - Toffee, dry roast, coffee, potato, pumpernickel rye bread.

T - Deep dry roast, charcoal, oatmeal, potato bread, coffee grinds.

M - Light frame, but creamy.

O - Great roast character with excellent drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 02:26:26 | More by vfgccp

pkalix

California

4.35/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

another rogue, another decent brew. i had no idea these are so good.
pours a BLACK, BLACK, no-ruby-around-the-edges BLACK with the burnt brown, guinness foreign extra stout kind of head.
the smells i got when i put my nose in there were cigarette ash tray, then charcoal-grill remains, then a deep malty smell. i have never smelled that in any of the other schwarzbiers ive tried.
the taste is a deep espresso-meets-bitter-chocolate stout type of flavor rather than the (again) schwarzbeirs i've tasted from germany. someone else compared it to a chocolate stout and i feel it's more of a stout than a "black lager", but i'm a novice.
mouthfeel is heavy. i'm feeling full already. at least it's a 6%'er so i got a little extra abv notched in there before i get too full.
overall, i like it. it's heavy, and i was expecting a MUCH LIGHTER brew (it says LAGER, for dog's sake...) , but there really hasnt been a LOT of beers i dont like, so maybe beer tasting really isnt my thing. but i WONT drink BUD, so i do have some class.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 23:57:56 | More by pkalix

GMB

Japan

3.7/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A standard pour of Rogue Ales' Chatoe Rogue First Growth Dirtoir Black Lager produces a sticky, dark-mocha foam held up by jet-black body. Even when held up to lamps and mid-day sunlight, this beer refuses to let any light shine through.

The beer's nose follows the its appearance at first. Roasted coffee and grains are at the fore. This beer's ABV, which is high relative to most beers in the style, is palpable but subdued. The alcohol adds a bit of complexity to the nose by introducing notes of dark raisins. The nose is appealing, but recalls a moderately strong stout more than a Schwarzbier.

Other reviewers have found notes of dark chocolate in Dirtoir Black Lager. I didn't. The primary flavor of this beer is of roasted malts, and suggests roasted flavors such as dark coffee and blackened figs. The hops show themselves only after the palate grows accustomed to the roasted malt. Their contribution to the beer's overall flavor is subdued to say the least, but palpable, especially in the beer's lingering aftertaste. In it, they contribute a hint of earthy spice, though it is not clear what this spiciness is supposed to complement. Surely their bitterness is palpable, but the roasted malt itself provides a bit of bitterness, and it is not clear how much of the slightly bitter aftertaste is due to the hops. Still, despite this somewhat muddled mixture, the taste of the roasted malt is enough to justify a high score.

As the beer's appearance suggested, the mouthfeel of this beer is full-bodied. Supple and rich malt coats the palate. Carbonation is a bit too aggressive to my taste, and fails to produce the kind of creamy foam that I expect from a superior Schwarzbier.

Rogue's Ditroir Black Lager disappointed me. It is a very nice beer, but fails to compare with others in both the Schwarzbier style and beers with similarly dark, roasted flavors in Rogue's line. Give Dirtoir Black Lager a try. Then treat yourself to a bottle of Rogue's Chocolate Stout. You'll see what I mean, and I doubt you'll pick up another bottle of the former. I know I won't.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 20:16:45 | More by GMB

jtierney89

New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pitch black color with a giant deep mocha colored head. Pungent nose right from the get go. Great lacing. Smell is of typical Schwarzbier scents but amplified times 10. Chocolate, fresh coffee, asphalt, and anisette. Touch of musty earthiness most likely from the hops.

Light brisk body, thin mouthfeel, even a bit watery. Immediately different mouthfeel from other rogue beers probably because of the lack of pacman yeast. Roasted malt on the tip of the tongue with touches of chocolate caramel and coffee. Smoke touches of the back of the tongue followed by a drying yet balancing hop bitterness. While the malt flavors themselves which are usually sweet actually are percieved as bitter, the gentle hop oil balances this effect. Sets the bar for the style, drinkability with massive flavor. Could have a touch more carbonation to break up the thinness a bit but overall pretty good.

slight astringency on the back end with lingering roasted malt and smoke flavor.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 02:06:36 | More by jtierney89

Blackwolf

4.23/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber into a tulip.

A- My boss popped this one at work when I wasn't looking so I didn't catch the head on it unfortunately. There was a saturn ring of mocha hugging the side of the glass though, and some carbonation surfacing the top of the beer from what I can only assume was uniformed since I couldn't see through the charred brown body. Looked very nice in the tulip though.

S- Roasty toasty malts! Some dark chocolate, and a hint of coffee. Smelled very "stouty." It was an inviting aroma indeed!

T- Yummy!!! Lightly roasted malt, chocolate and some coffee. Nice dry hop finish. The nose and palate is not overwhelmed with complexity, however this is a very solid taste that follows a solid nose. I loved it!

MF- Smooth. Medium body and carbonation, and a nice dry finish. Interesting for a lager! Flavor really sticks too!!!

O- Great beer! Rogue has never disappointed me, not once. I would definitely recommend trying this out, and I know I am looking forward to the other two beers in their Chateau series! Worth the buy, hands down.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 11:38:24 | More by Blackwolf

Onenote81

North Carolina

2.95/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

22oz bottle, split and shared with my wife, poured my allotment into a mug. This is crazy thick! Slowly glugs out of the bottle. This is like used motor oil. Not what I would expect from a lager, albeit dark. No light penetrates at all. Frothy mocha head on top. I would swear this is big stout. Notes of chocolate, dirty greens, baker’s yeast.

The mouth is creamy smooth and heavier than I’d like. This is really odd for a Schwarzbier. Not as easy-drinking as expected. Really big flavors of chocolate, roasted malts. These flavors are usually nice and mellow with this style, but this is just way too ‘big.’ Imperial Schwarz? Glad I tried this, but this isn’t what I’d reach for when in the mood for this, one of my favorite styles. A miss for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 15:21:54 | More by Onenote81

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.08/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Review from 1/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours black with a dark brown head with good retention, leaving lacing. Light roasted and sweet malt chocolate aroma. Flavor dominated by very roasted malts. Burnt chocolate, coffee and a bitter middle taste with lingering non-hop bitterness. Medium bodied. Interesting, but could use some balance. A good schwarzbier.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 22:57:40 | More by LiquidAmber

Zorro

California

3.25/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thought I had mistakenly popped the top on a RIS at first.

Deep black colored beer with with a small chocolate colored head. Looks like a strong stout or imperial porter in the glass. Darkest colored example of the beer style I have seen.

Smell is strong patent malt and sweet malt syrup. Strong coffee, chocolate and smoke scents. Toasted bread aroma except in this case the toast got burnt! Again smells more like a stout.

Starts out thick and burnt. Fair amount of chocolate and abundant patent malt. Quite thick in the mouth, again more like a stout than a lager. Toasted bread flavors with molasses sugars. The Taste is OK but it sure isn't lighter and refreshing like a lager I was expecting.

Mouthfeel is thick like an Oatmeal Stout, again entirely un-lager like.

Overall it tastes OK but in my opinion is FAR from anything that in the Lager style of beer. Seems the brewer went all EXTREME on this beer and made an Oatmeal Stout out of a Schwartzbier.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 01:34:52 | More by Zorro

Duff27

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Deep mocha head on a black body. Collar.

Charred chocolate on the nose. Diggin the smell.

Follows the smell. Add a touch of licorice. Big overpowering taste which would lead you to believe its bigger than its stated ABV.

Smooth. Medium carbonation.

Pretty nice Schwartz here. Don't think I could drink it all myself. Thanks for the try TATURBo.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 01:15:47 | More by Duff27

david18

New York

3.9/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had a bottle of this at the Five Napkin Burger restaurant in Manhattan's upper west side.

Color was a dark black with a surprisingly dark head. Not a lot of carbonation but enough for the style.

Aroma was pretty roast. Not as strong as I would have liked but definitely enough to make it interesting.

Flavor as well combined the highlights of a lager with the roastiness of a dark malt. Some astringance on the back of the tongue.

Very good beer although a little expensive for what it was. I'd definitely recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 19:29:51 | More by david18

BigBry

Alberta (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

We stopped at Beer Revolution for a pretzel, and to see which Rogue beers they were bringing in for thes weekend's BeerFest. This was the first time I have seen Dirtoir (bottle or draft).
Good looking beer, dark black liquid with a thick, mocha colored head peeking over the edge of the glass. Bubbles were not as tight as a Guinness, but lasted longer anyways.
I have had other black lagers that were just dark in color, but otherwise were indistinguishable from any other lager. Boy was I suprised, roasted malt, coffee, and chocolate smells, as good as many porters/stouts.
Flavor was just as full as the aroma, dark chocolate, coffee bitterness, slightly nutty.
Some dark fruit-like sweetness, balanced by some bitterness (reminded me of cold coffee grounds).
Slightest hint of smokiness at the end (I might have prefered a bit more smoke).
Smooth and creamy, moderate carbonation gives it a medium body (heavier than other schwarzbier/black lagers), easy to drink.
That's a winner!

Note to self: Ranked #2 Top Beers - Schwarzbier when I tried it.

Serving type: on-tap

05-01-2012 21:10:14 | More by BigBry

Mebuzzard

Colorado

4.08/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Very nice 'heavy' schwarzbier in my opinion. Not heavy as far as feel or taste, but it looks like it's gonna smack you in the mouth with a malt sack.

Black pour alright. Nice frothy thick rich-brown head. Fantabulous.

Aroma is surprising in that it's not like a scotch ale where the sweetness is nose prickling. I get some earth and grilled soy patties. Chocolate and coffee beans.

The taste is just good, but not great. Where the earthiness and soy come in, they replace some sweetness, like Jolly Rancher candy, that some/most German schwarzbiers give me. Not that this is bad. Just different. And it's good. Quite good

Serving type: on-tap

04-25-2012 21:51:40 | More by Mebuzzard

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

4.53/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22fl oz bottle. Mahou Pokal glass. Enjoyed on dec´11. Pours dark mahogany, dark copper to the light. Beige .medium size bubbled,creamy foam. Thick layer crown.Lasting with copious rings. Toasted,not burnt,malts, hints of black chocolate to the nose. Dry malts at first sip.Slightly smoked in the middle. Gentle dry & malty palate.Very soft bitterness.Medium body, flavorful. Medium carbonation. Refreshing & pleasant drinkability.An incredible malty beer with an outstanding malty balance.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 17:59:08 | More by GONZALOYANNA

BeardedRiker

Texas

4.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I put off getting this beer because of the price. It's not really expensive but I didn't think paying ~$8 would be worth it for a black lager. And oh...oh, was I wrong. I'll get straight into this review.

I've poured many black lagers before. They're usually black at first sight but a ruby-ish color up to a light, with an off-white or tan head. This black lager...looks like a stout. It's like pouring out a less viscous oil. No light makes its way through this. The head forms a bit slowly, about one and half fingers high, and a dark tan, like milk cocoa powder in color. Retention is moderate and it fizzes out fairly quickly until a thin layer of frothy head stays on top. There was barely any lacing on my first pour but a good amount in my later pours into my glass. It's very surprising but I found it welcoming. It made me want to know more about the beer.

I'm used to black lagers having roasted, coffee, and chocolate notes, but this brings them out like none I've ever inhaled before. Roasted coffee, chocolate, the dark fruits of figs and black cherry. There's also a graininess that can be picked up through a full inhale. A hint of hops tingles the nose while there's some woodiness in there too.

You might have guessed that this beer doesn't really taste like a black lager. It tastes like a delicious stout. Dark chocolate and intensely roasted coffee bring lengthy taste and a good bitterness that's not overpowering. Then come the dark fruits that and a bit of tartness and sweetness. Later in the finish is a nuttiness that has its own slight bitterness. As I said previously, the chocolate and roasted coffee linger for a long time, making you enjoy the flavors long after you've put the beer down. After I let it warm up there's more sweetness that comes out, like milk chocolate and caramel. There is a sort of milkiness to it as well. I could probably go on more but I'll just say this is divine.

Oh my, this is a smooth and exceptionally creamy. Medium-low carbonation keeps it smooth. It's medium body is heavier than all other black lagers I've had. It has good drinkability but not great, but really the taste is so damn good that you shouldn't care in the least.

I keep thinking I'm rating this too high but damnit, this was a surprising beer to me and one that blew my socks off. I'm a sucker for intense roasty goodness in beers and this one brings that more than most. I am oh so grateful that I decided to buy this beer. Great job, Rogue!

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 04:27:05 | More by BeardedRiker