Staropramen Dark - Pivovary Staropramen

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.63/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a one finger cream head that fades quickly, leaving some lace. Clear deep mahogany color. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Coffee bean nose. Flavor is roasted coffee some sweetness. 330ml bottle €5.80 Schönes Fräulein Restaurant Helsinki, Finland. From my notes - 7/8/2008.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2008 11:05:29 | More by jdhilt

tavernjef

Minnesota

3.98/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Super rich, dark amber with a huge, frothy, foamy head thats 2 inches and sticks around. Settles, leaving patchy, tight, webby lace. Smell is very deeply roasted malt with a bit of liquorish and some floral hop notes, somewhat soft. Taste is about the same as the smell, very soft, subtle, and smooth with good deeply flavored maltiness, slightly earthy. Theres some very subtle hints of liquorish, dry hops, and maybe even some rye. Its a bit on the light side in the flavor and feel though. All in all, this is a pretty decent dark lager. When drinking it, it took me back into what it must of been like drinking beer back in the good Ol' days of Czech, Poland, Hungary, Austria, before the turn of the century.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2003 15:42:18 | More by tavernjef

bark

Sweden

3.43/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

The colour is dark wine-red with a tint of brown. The finger thick head is beige. Some lacing.

The smell is roasted with malt and nuts with some sweetness and bitter notes.

The taste is lightly roasted with notes of nuts, dried apricots. The aftertaste is dry and creamy with some dried fruits.

The carbonation is quite low with medium sized bubbles. It is creamy.

A quite nice dark lager.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2006 19:55:18 | More by bark

drpimento

Wisconsin

3.43/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer really reminds me of dark toffee candy. Loaded! Anyway, poured at a good temperature wiht nice, medium sized, light tan head that soon settled and no lace. Color is a clear, tho almost opaque, dark ruby red. Aroma is super mild, only suggestions of roast and toffee. Flavor’s like nose. carbonic tang is in front followed by some toffee sweet with a little regular malt, caramel, hint of roast; bit shallow. Body and carbonation are ok. Finish is like flavor, good length, and good enough for a couple.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 19:47:54 | More by drpimento

Mebuzzard

Colorado

4.35/5  rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A good medium dark body (like a lighter Guinness) with an off-white, two-finger head.
Some citrus and biscuit in the nose, but mostly malt and some roast.
Taste was more of sweet malt, some coffee and hints of chocolate. A good change of pace from all the light pilsners in Prague.
This one was served cold, but others were cellar temp and a bit better in the flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2006 18:52:32 | More by Mebuzzard

Globetrotter

Virginia

2.98/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Comes in a 33cl green bottle with a dark label featuring only words. "Beer" appears in eight languages on the front label, none of which is Czech. The rest of the front is in English, while the back label has the basic info in most former Soviet languages. Ingredients conform to the purity law. Best before 11/26/03, I opened it on 10/22/03.

Pours a healthy clear reddish amber, much like a cola, but with almost no head whatsoever (also like a cola). The nose was mildly caramel (kind of like a cola...), while the mouth was prickly sweet, well, um, kind of like a cola. Doesn't taste like a cola, however. There's a touch of sour (too close to the best before date?) to go with the caramel sweetness. There's not much hop follow through at all, leaving a - ahem - cola-like sweet aftertaste. Nope, there are much better dark Czech lagers...

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2003 03:16:53 | More by Globetrotter

Sunnanek

Sweden

4.03/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Green long-necked 33 cl bottle. Beige label with a dark frame. A silhouette of a city skyline in the Middle ages.

A: Deep burgundy pour with a thick off-white creamy head that slowly dissipates into some nice lacings.

S: Dry roasted malt, dark dried fruits. Floral and bitter hops. Some red apples.

T: Rich sweetness from the roasted malt. Both floral and bitter hops. Chocolate and faint vanilla. Some dark dried fruits.

M: Body is medium as well as the carbonation. Aftertaste is sweet and dry and stays for some time.

A nice dark lager that has a little of lot of things.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2010 11:18:47 | More by Sunnanek

bruachan

Rhode Island

3.8/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

purdy; porter-looking. big head that leaves lacing and sports the wee white circles on top. nose of dark munich malts with some toffee/caramel. not much hop presence, lager smooth with little lingering flavor (though some hop/grain bitterness does stick around)

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2005 19:32:20 | More by bruachan

Sigmund

Norway

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(330 ml bottle). This beer has a beautiful ruby colour, and pours with a moderate head. Aroma is malty sweet with hints of oak. Flavour is mellow, just a tad too sweet in my book. Low bitterness. This is not a bad beer, but it lacks "bite".

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2003 13:28:00 | More by Sigmund

cypressbob

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle

Pours with a dark body, some hint of brown coming through. Fluffy tan head, fairly good retention

Smell, chalky, some dark malt coming through

Taste, bready and full of roasted malty flavour, quite full bodied for a dark lager

A great example of the style, does exactly what its supposed to

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2005 17:38:31 | More by cypressbob

atis

Finland

3.9/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

500 ml bottle from Budapest

Pours dark amber brown with yellowish head that dissipates to thin, but dense layer and produces patchy lacing. Quite rich aroma - light roasted malty, some caramel, raisins, apricots. Taste is similar - light roasted coffee, quite malty with slight fruity hops, nuts and roasted bittery aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is rather light with less than medium carbonation.

Overall, good dark beer, as it could be expected from Staropramen.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2008 13:50:50 | More by atis

rvdoorn

Netherlands

4.05/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

After a mistake of ordering a pilsner-type beer, I continued my beer-tasting crusade in Slovakia with my fifth Euro Dark Lager beer this holiday. The beer pours a very dark-brown color, with a long lasting beige head.

Smell: Surprisingly strong for such a low alcohol beer. Sweet caramel, butter, maple- syrup and some malts.

Taste: even more surprising than the smell; and this for a 4.4% beer. Sweet strong coffee, toffee, hints of chocolate and caramel. Aftertaste is mainly sweet, but also a bit acidic with some hints of bitterness. Cool

Mouthfeel: Nothing special. A bit watery, medium-high carbonation and easy to drink.

Overall: My favorite Euro Dark Lager until now. Amazing how complex and full of taste such a 4.4% beer can be. Very easy to drink and highly recommendable for the style!

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2009 18:32:30 | More by rvdoorn

stoutman

Michigan

4.72/5  rDev +25.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Was in Czech republic and tried this one.. Awesome stuff for being a dark lager! Deep ruby red clear with small short lasting light beige head. Very faint roasted malt and caramel aroma. Medium thin body. Clean dry pleasant palate. Medium bitter-sweet roasted malt flavour with hints of coffee/toffee and a wonderful dry clean finish. Super nice beer when fresh!!!!!!

Serving type: on-tap

05-28-2003 17:30:47 | More by stoutman

BucBasil

South Carolina

3.78/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured from the tap into a tall mug. Reddish brown, flat cola appearance with a tan frothy head with OK retention.

S: Little smell coming from this one. A faint sweetness with a touch of spice. Some sort of creamy malt coming in as the beer warms.

TL Brown sugar, a bit of spice, some apple. Nice toasty malt, finishing smooth with a touch of fruit... reminded me a bit of a Newcastle. Very little bitterness evident - a touch at the end.

Overall: a very reasonable, sessionable beer with a nice taste and huge drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

04-27-2010 11:24:04 | More by BucBasil

sfprint

Germany

3.85/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at White Trash Fast Food in Berlin

A: Very dark amber in color. Even head with excellent rentention.

S: Dark fruit, amber. Sweet but beautiful smell.

T: Flavor isnt as lcean and defined like the smell. Still amber yet the flavor is obscured by the astringentcy.

M: Low carbonation, astringent.

D: Fine. It's too bad it's more superficial characteristcs outshine the tasting experience.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2010 21:11:11 | More by sfprint

ark57

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It pours black with ruby/garnett throughout. The light tan head is okay, but the beer is clear and has a beautiful color. The aroma has some coffee, caramel, cherry, and some malt. The taste is somewhat sweet with some roasty character, toffee, and anise spice. A clean finish for this good beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2004 17:47:26 | More by ark57

ernie

Russian Federation

4.38/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Dark brown liquid with occasional red spark, elegant cappuccino head, low carbonation.

Smell complex, mixture of roasted malt, dry fruit, nuts and a hint of herbs.

Start malty, with a note of bitter chocolate, body firm and dry, taste perfectly balanced, finish bisquity-hoppy, pleasant bitter aftertaste.

One of the best Darks from the Czech Republic. Recommended!

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2006 17:42:55 | More by ernie

Daredevil

Switzerland

3.75/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

an extremely dry version of a dark beer ... sort of like a very light version of guiness ...
this is hardly going to be a contender for the 'greatest dark beer award', however the brew has it's merrits and although the first feel was a bit odd, I actually began to enjoy it more sip by sip

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2006 14:17:51 | More by Daredevil

boss302

Florida

2/5  rDev -46.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Staropramen prager bier (dark) draft. 

A Beautiful amber color, clear, nice head. 4.5 

S Similar to a dunkel, no hops. 2.5 

T Nasty and old tasting. Maybe cellaring issues? Flat taste, no character. Astringent, but not from hops. 1.5 

M Thin, but had good carbonation. 2 

D Not very good. 2 

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2010 03:52:08 | More by boss302

PapaEugene

Netherlands

3.43/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Rvdoorn contributed this beer to our second beertasting evening. Holiday buy.

A: A beautiful dark brown/ruby color with a cream colored head that goes into some wild bubbly lacing.

S: Hops, roasted malts, liquorice, woody and a something metallic in the background.

T: Dissapointing after the rich smell.Slight hops, roasted malts and faint liquorice.

M: Medium carbonation, very light body.

D: Will not drink this again, unless rvdoorn imports another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2009 21:53:51 | More by PapaEugene

jspruit

Denmark

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bought this 0.5L bottle in Prague while visiting and drank it back at home in Ireland. Pours a rich dark amber with a 1.5 finger head that had a bit of yellowish to it but was basically white and it disappeared slowly into a decent lace that stuck around throughout the drink. The smell was great malty hints and some light floral & fruity hints. The taste is exactly what you would expect from the smell and was very smooth going down with more and more light fruity sugary notes coming through as it warmed up. Not a strong or harsh beer that went down great and something I could drink all day long-wish it was more available.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2007 21:33:17 | More by jspruit

Charthepirate

New York

2.73/5  rDev -27.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is the Staropramen dark beer. It pours a gorgeous deep red with an offwhite tawn. Head is thick and billowy leaving a thin lacing.

The smell is very sweet, caramelly and roasted.

The beers flavor comes in basically sweet. Theres a little bite, but mostly the flavor comes in as sweet grapes and caramel. Far too sweet for my tastes, even by Czech Dunkel standards.

it's generally smooth going down, but the sweetness leaves my mouth feeling sticky afterwards.

There are much better czech dark lagers. This is too sweet, and the grape and caramel flavors don't mesh well.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2003 02:13:38 | More by Charthepirate

anders36

Sweden

3.85/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This Staropramen pours a dark brown colour with a tan head that disappears quickly, leaving a thin lace. It has a big roasted smell with some hint of chocolate and some caramel. The taste is a bit roasted with some hint of chocolate, coffee and caramel. The mouthfeel is a bit weak, but this is a lager.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2004 20:00:59 | More by anders36

jerryjeff

Tennessee

4.43/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Aroma
Caramel/toffee in nose, very nice roasted scent with a bit of butteriness

Mouthfeel
Lower carbonation and light amount of bitteriness on front and sides of mouth

Appearance
Mahoghany/reddish in 1/2 liter stein. Poured initially with 3/4" head which dissipated with much lacing

Taste
Caramel light with some roasted taste and a little residual bitterness

Drinkability
High, love to give this a go for an evening

Overall
Much better than anticipated from what I'd seen of prior reviews. One of my favorite beers I had in Prague.

Review from notes taken during tasting at Starapromen brewery restaurant in Prague

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2011 03:14:31 | More by jerryjeff

simonjohansson

Sweden

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Smell: sweet, slightly burnt malt, dark bread, some raisins, butter, some hops.

Taste: smooth, sweet and light taste of dark bread, raisins, some notes of coffee and chocolate, butter, syrup; some bitterness and flowery hops. Easy to drink, quite refreshing.

Im not a big fan of czech lager beers, but they know how to make dark lagers. This one is good stuff. Not exceptional in any way, but solid.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2008 22:06:26 | More by simonjohansson