Guinness Black Lager - Guinness Ltd.

DrJay

Massachusetts

2.83/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Black with reddish highlights and a fluffy tan cap. Decent head retention and lots of clingy lacing. Mild aroma with just a hint of roast, green grapes and dry maltiness. Mostly the same in the flavour, with low bitterness faint chocolate. I'm just not a fan of how the roast and malt character clashes with the grapey fruitiness. Light bodied with plenty of carbonation. This is pretty middle of the road for me. I won't look for it again though due to the odd combination of flavours.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 23:34:12 | More by DrJay

plaid75

New York

3.6/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured a deep brown hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured light roasted malts and a soft sweetness.

The flavor was likewise round and moderately roasty with a grassy hop at the finish.

The mouthfeel was typical of the style.

Overall a tasty easy drinking beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 02:32:21 | More by plaid75

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +24.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

My local, in-person trader, tone77, brought this for me to try. It has been an interesting day of beer.

From the bottle: "Cold brewed with roasted barley"; "Guinness Black Lager is cold-brewed with roasted barley to deliver the refreshing taste of lager with the unique character of Guinness. Enjoy ice cold straight from the bottle. [undersigned] Arthur Guinness".

First of all, as a founding subscriber to this website's magazine, I try to read and pay attention to it each time it shows up in my mailbox. The Bros were on about glassware this month and while I may not lay my opinions on others, when I am anywhere that I can decant my beer from its medium of storage into a glass, you can bet your sweet bippy that I will do so. Directions be damned, such as the ones on this bottle or on a CAN of Heady Topper. What, if they told you to drink while jumping from a bridge, would you do that, also? Fine, if you want to be mindless sheep, herded along without hue or cry. I will do my own thing, thank you very much!

This Euro Dark Lager must be a relatively new designation as there are no guidelines listed as yet, but I am already a fan. My pour created two dense fingers of light-tan head with good retention. Color was a deep, dark brown with garnet highlights and good clarity despite its low light penetration. Nose had the characteristic lager honey-like sweetness, but in this case, married with a light roastiness. Chocolate malt, perhaps? I wonder about what, exactly, constitutes "roasted barley" for them. Mouthfeel was on the thin side, even for a lager, but the taste was a pleasant mix of chocolate and smokiness along with a mild sweetness. I do not like Cascadian/Dark/Black IPAs because I feel as though such flavors get in the way of my beloved hops, but in this case, they meld nicely. Finish was semi-dry and the mild smokiness seemed to linger well past the swallow. As usual, I would not want a steady diet of this as a self-avowed hophead, but it beats a lot of other lagers. Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 23:21:39 | More by woodychandler

kojevergas

California

3.1/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I acquired a few bottles of this from "The Vineyard" off-license in Belfast. I poured it into a Whitewater brewery pint glass, though notably (and strangely) Guinness says it should be consumed straight out of the bottle. This seems very misguided. I was informed that this rule is taken to such excess that bartenders in the UK refuse to give customers a pint glass with the beer even if specifically requested. With all due respect, what the fuck?

A: Pours a dark black with a four finger creamy head of slight tan colour. Nice retention. Guinness show-offs, them.

Sm: Musty hops and barley.

T: Roasted barley; toned down compared to Guinness. Balanced body, but simple.

Mf: Nicely coarse and dry.

Dr: It's worth the price, but it's so damn unambitious. It has sparked my interest in the dark lager style, which I've hitherto neglected.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2011 01:17:17 | More by kojevergas

Brad007

Vermont

3.43/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

First thing that catches my eye is the "Cold-Brewed" on the label. Did MolsonCoors buy them out?

Dark black (yadda yadda) color with a thin head in my glass. Looks like a dark something something.

Not much of the roasted barley. Hmm. It's there but it mingles too much with a sweet malt signature.

Ahh, now we're talking. There's that roasted barley, which is subdued and is much like a mild roast. Other than that, it's sweet and oddly like ordinary Guinness.

Thin body? Check. What am I drinking again? *checks bottle*

I was hoping FES would be on the shelf but it's oddly not. Too bad because for every FES and Anniversary Ale, there's a dud like this.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2011 01:39:42 | More by Brad007

stakem

Pennsylvania

2.95/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to Eric for gifting me with one of these. Poured into a matching Guinness pint glass, this brew appears a dark brown color with less than a finger of tan head that quickly fades to a thin lacing atop. Some rising bubbles of carbonation hardly help to maintain a cap. A light swirl revives more bubbles out of solution and forms some thin finger-like patterns of lacing on the glass. When held to the light, some mahogany clarity is seen.

The smell of this brew is lightly roasty with a faint scent of chocolate grains, coffee and some notes of licorice. As it warms up, it picks up an increasingly more sweet note of chocolate. A light swirl emits a touch of sulfur character. Overall the nose doesn't display much depth, it is straight forward and modest in character.

The taste is lightly fruity somewhat like raisins, maybe a touch of molasses but I am stretching here. Fighting to try and find more character in this brew's taste, I faintly pick up on chocolate/coffee but overall the flavor is a bit watered down, even for a Guinness product. It finishes fairly crisp with a minor amount of hop bitterness. Once the brew gets beyond ideal temperature, it has a bit of lingering aftertaste of fresh grains.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. Perhaps it's best attributes are the aroma and crispness to it's finish. The taste really left me expecting/wanting more character. It is easy drinking and overall quite a forgettable experience.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 01:47:43 | More by stakem

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

2.63/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a light tan head. Color is a dark caramel brown.

Aroma: Roasted malts, coffee, caramel, and chocolate.

Taste: Very bland with coffee roast and chocolate. Definitely has the Guinness house flavor, but not much here.

Mouthfeel: Dry and roasted. Light bodied with a higher amount of carbonation. Ends dry.

Overall, this was okay, but nothing special. Not very flavor. My brother described as the equivalent of an American amber. I agreed.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 07:56:37 | More by mothman

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Malty aroma has a smoky undertone and a firm yeasty note. It pours an opaque dark-chocolate brown with a thick, frothy, light tan head. Malty, smoky flavor has hints of molasses, licorice and coffee. Texture, unfortunately, seems to be on the thin side, though it has a good fizz. OK, but their classic stout is still the best. On tap.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 18:47:46 | More by Cyberkedi

RoyalT

Ohio

3.05/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance – This is a nice, very dark brown in color, OK almost black, with a big, fluffy, tight, dark white head.

Smell – I like the roasted aroma but there’s just not enough of it. This bouquet is very faint and consists of dark roasty notes along with a light raw sugar sweetness.

Taste – It’s equally light in the ass at the taste. Again, all the flavors are here it’s just a little empty and lacking in depth. I’d say it’s almost watery.

Mouthfeel – There’s no bitterness to this ale which is better than light-bodied but far from medium. The carbs are a bit too perky for the style as well.

Drinkability – This is an easy-going beer that won’t impress anyone but will stay out of the sink.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 22:36:53 | More by RoyalT

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Guinness Black Lager

Dark brown colored brew, with an aroma of roasted malts, still very much like Guinness. In the taste, clean lager yeast with a touch of roasted malt. Reminds me of a dunkel. Light char and hop notes. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation. Overall, a lager with roasted malts, somewhere between a dunkel, schwarzbier and regular Guinness.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 14:31:20 | More by Stinkypuss

avalon07

South Carolina

3.08/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a dark brown color and a thick consistency. There was an inch of rocky head that quickly dissipated. Pretty good lacing.

S: A very thin aroma of roasted malt, but not much else.

T: Like the smell, this beer tasted of roasted malt with very little other components. This is simply a thin, one-dimensional, not that interesting flavor.

M: A fair amount of carbonation with a mostly dry finish. Medium-bodied.

O: This is just another one of those skippable beers.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2011 12:08:19 | More by avalon07

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

2.38/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Pours a deep amber to black color with a light tan head.. In the aroma, caramel, note of chocolate, and still lager like. In the taste, light chocolate, note of caramel, both very mellow. A small bite and medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a small roast to a clean aftertaste. Lack of flavor, but a lager form of Guinness for sure.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 17:01:31 | More by OWSLEY069

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The color is a nice black with a brown and ruby middle. Nice tan head that recedes to a thick film after a couple of sips, and remains for the rest of the beer.

The aroma is has roasted malts malts cut in half by some gypsum. Theres also a little nutty aroma as well. but this beer overall has a general dry smell that seems to snuff some of the otherwise good odors out.

The taste starts with a light roasted flavor and lots of dry gypsum, almost giving the front and middle mouthfeel a little pucker feel. The finish is malty, heavy toast and a little metallic as it lingers.

Not a bad session ale. Simple flavors and palate make this beer a worthwhile try for any Guinness Stout fan. Overall this beer tastes and feels pretty close to the stout, but a little bubbly on the tongue.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2011 18:49:05 | More by scruffwhor

ZAP

Minnesota

2.53/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

I was encouraged by the aroma of this.. coffee...hints of caramel and vanilla...

But the mouthfeel is so bad it really wrecks the whole beer. Fizzy, and watery...

The taste is ok...not munich dunkel good but ok....someroasty notes...a bit of cocoa....

Slightly astringent on the finish...dry....

Overall...eh

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 21:27:29 | More by ZAP

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I picked this up at the Wine Source, enjoyed from a willybecker chilled.

The color is as described-black with cocoa brown highlights at the base w/ a thin tan cap that is comprised of tight beads, the lace sticks well. Ther is a mild earthy note at first in the smell which becomes more roasty with dark toast and subtle hints of coffee as it warms, very mild dark brown sugar accents these odors. The feel is light bodied with a subtle dry mineral element, very mild with the roasted notes just enough to indicate there is roasted barley used. The feel is slightly sweet in the background with a mostly dry finish.

The taste is good, but not really impressive...I mean it is clean and slightly mineral in character with light lager yeast flavor and subtle toasted malt verging on roast notes with a light hop bitterness to accent the malt, the finish is dry and has only the slightest amount of sweetness. This is a pretty decent lager, but doesn't really do anything to differentiate itself from the rest other than to be well brewed without many flaws that are noticeable. I would drink this again since it is a good value for the price and I am a fan of the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 15:03:30 | More by Slatetank

Bitterbill

Wyoming

3.1/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

11.2oz bottle.

It pours a very dark brown and has some reddish hues. A good 2 finger head of foam leaves some lacing.

The smell is of roasted malt, not much else but is decent.

The taste is roasted malt, has a bit of a sweet/bitter thing going on. Not very complex but I wasn't expecting that given the style.

It's close to medium bodied and has moderate carbonation. A relatively good mouthfeel and is pretty easy to drink. It's not bad.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2011 19:09:43 | More by Bitterbill

Tone

Missouri

3.23/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a black color. 1/3 inch head of a off-tan color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of slight roasted malt, sweet malt, slight pale malt, and a hint of sulfur. Fits the style of an Euro Dark Lager. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of slight roasted malt, hint of sweet malt, slight pale malt, hint of hop, and slight sulfur. Overall, great appearance, good blend, but only average mouth feel, and the aroma and body are lacking.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 01:40:09 | More by Tone

beertunes

Washington

3.9/5  rDev +25.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into 9oz pilsener glass. Poured a clean, clear, translucent black with over an inch of medium tan head that had good retention and lacing.

The aroma had good, solid grains, a lightly pleasant amount of soft roast, some very gentle hops and, surprisingly, a bit of yeastiness. The flavors were pretty similar, good malts and the hops had a bit sharper presence. The flavors were nicely balanced and complemented each other well.

The body was very good, clean and crisp with a dry finish. Drinkability was very good, you could easily drink several of these low ABV brews with wiping out your taste buds. Overall, a very nice little brew that easy on your palate and on your wallet. Worth trying for most people, and a must try if you like the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 18:40:20 | More by beertunes

kylehay2004

Florida

3.43/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Typical Guiness foamy head and deep brown black body.excellent lacing. Roasted malts, hint of vanilla, cream and milk aroma. Flavor is also very similar to typical Irish stout Guiness with light roasted malt, lager yeast and cream. Medium
To thick body and moderate carbonation. Not that much different from the Irish stout.

Serving type: nitro-bottle

09-15-2012 04:40:46 | More by kylehay2004

twiggamortis420

Texas

1.85/5  rDev -40.5%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

12 oz bottle pours black and does not let much light in. Moderate retention and lacing from a light tan head.

Nose is surprisingly metallic and mineraly. Charred malt is about all else I get...really not a whole lot going on. Disappointing.

Taste is some black patent malt and tangy minerals. Not really very pleasant, to be honest. Not sure why, but I was expecting a little more from this new brew. Its watery, metallic and lacks any sort of character. I would like to see at least a little sweetness and would a hint of hop character be too much to ask? Im not even going to comment on the 'Cold Brewed' nonsense on the label. This beer is a total farce, avoid at all costs. Guinness should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves for creating this monstrosity.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2011 00:26:39 | More by twiggamortis420

smakawhat

Maryland

2.6/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass. HEy?! Where did my .8 oz go in this bottle? Cold brewed, that means, uh what?! Anyway let's check this out.

A very large off tan foamy and styrofoamy looking head, that has some very large bubbles in it. Really falls and looks like swiss cheese but manages to keep a good colar while drinking. Cola like sticking bubbles on the edges of the glass and a good dark black walnut body color.

Nose is wet. Not much going on here perhaps some light grains but that's it, it's really faint. There's next to nothing for a nose on this beer.

Palate taste is kind of surprising. At first it feels like a standard Euro lager, with hardly any sense of dark malts at all. There is some faint roast character on the finish, with a little lingering hop bitter but not much. Mouthfeel is a bit watery and sort of tries to hint at coffee roast, but is just far too wet to pull it off with some tight fizzy carbonation.

Overall, this is really unexciting and just not cutting it for me. Really boring with nothing much to offer, I don't get the angle on this brew as to what Guinness was trying to do here, I don't see the appeal. I'd rather have a good Schwarzbier.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 01:38:45 | More by smakawhat

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

11.2 ounce bottle. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours black with about an inch tan head that went away quickly. There's a decent amount of lacing left on the glass. Aroma is roasted malt, coffee, and some bittersweet chocolate. Taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also a slight nutty flavor. Mouthfeel/body is light/medium, it's pretty easy to drink and is well carbonated. Overall it's not bad, it's probably not going to impress you but I think it's a nice sessionable brew. I'd buy it again, it's a decent choice for a lower alcohol brew to end the night with.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 22:48:17 | More by bluejacket74

drpimento

Wisconsin

2.85/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

When I first saw it at the store, I thought Huh! Could be; why not? Although Guinness is in trouble and desperation can lead to weird things. Then I saw the ratings here and was kind of deflated. Then, I poured a huge, tan, foamy, frothy, sudsy head that lasts a while and lots of lace. The color is an opaque black brown. Aroma was very nice with toasty, malt, and toffee. Flavor it falls down: like the nose but much lighter. Body is very light and the force carbonation doesn't help. Finish is like flavor and short. Schwartzbier with all the calories and a touch of the flavor.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 23:39:26 | More by drpimento

tdm168

North Carolina

3.48/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep black with 1/2" of off white, foamy head that has decent retention. The nose is faint roasted malts and a heavy euro lager yeast. The taste is roasted malt with a faint chocolate finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, well carbonated, rich, and smooth.

Overall, this beer drinks easy and tastes alright, but it's simple so if you're expecting a lot you won't find it here.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 00:36:49 | More by tdm168

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

3.35/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

11.2oz bottle served in a glass beer mug.

L - black with a beige head that left a few trails of lacing.

S - roasted malt aroma.

T - light grains and mellow roasted malt flavor, it's got enough taste to make me want to drink more.

F - light/medium bodied with mild carbonation.

O - I could enjoy a few of these in a sitting.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 00:16:52 | More by JoeyBeerBelly