Hermann's Dark Lager - Vancouver Island Brewery

RooferOnFire

British Columbia (Canada)

4.14/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From Vancouver Island comes a dunkel that's been on my wish list for quite some time. I poured this from a bottle into a 20oz pint glass

Appearance - pekoe tea coloured with medium carbonation that vanishes very rapidly

Aroma - roasted coffee, malt. Subtle and clean.

Taste- Coffee entry, burnt toast, yet quite refreshing. Light for a dark beer. Slightly sweet aftertaste. Carbonation makes an appearance when traditionally taste-tested, giving off a bit of cola punch that feels as good as it tastes.

This dark is tradition, and for a Bavarian dunkel, this shines. It's a smooth homage to the brewmeister's homeland that is great cold and pretty decent warm. It's not as heavy as most Dunkels I have tried, so do drink wisely. VIB has upped the ABV to 5.5% and due to the lightness, you could get very drunk on these very quickly.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 02:18:45 | More by RooferOnFire

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

On tap @ Garick's Head

A - Dark brown; completely opaque with a thin layer of light brown head.

S - Sweet bready malts, roast, toffee and a hint of chocolate.

T - Toffee, brown sugar, roast and a slight bitterness with a hint of chocolate in the background.

M - Light to medium body. Somehwat creamy. Moderate carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2013 23:01:16 | More by TheSevenDuffs

kitsgrad84

Alberta (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4.5

Very true to the same in Munich, but thicker head from GIB. Nice finish with dark full taste that went down thick at first ,but smoothed out after a few sips. Have seen and heard alot of negatives from a few folks, but I really enjoy this southern German dark. A filling brew as you would expect. This is a very true to original beer, that I would dare anybody to complain about.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 00:20:34 | More by kitsgrad84

maclean25

British Columbia (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I drank three bottles from a sampler pack. One of the few Vancouver Island Brewery's beers I've had in the past. I have a positive impression of the brewery thanks to their Hermannator, though I've haven't had one of those in over a decade.

It pours with lots of brown head with lacing as it recedes. The body is opaque and brown. It has a rich toasted, malty scent. The taste is rich with honey, rye, and burnt malt. It isn't sweet or bitter but is well-balanced. Impressively smooth and clean. Overall, while I'd go for a Hermannator everything over this, it is actually good, especially for a dark lager.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 03:03:54 | More by maclean25

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

341ml bottle poured into pint glass 27/1/12

A clear reddish cola with loads of bubbles and a short lived two finger head that quickly falls to a thin film that looks like a slow boiling pot due to all the bubbles

S nutty toffee with a little chocolate and cold coffee

T mimics the smell quite well but with roasted nuts and a little smoked meat, pretty decent actually I wasn't sure what to expect

M light bodied, lots of big bubbles but not foam, nutty after taste lingers faintly

O pretty nice light beer with some full flavours, went down pretty fast so that says something

not a bad start to my mixed pack from a brewer I've never heard of. this ones worth trying if you like the lighter dark stuff

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 21:20:59 | More by wordemupg

McBastard

British Columbia (Canada)

4.22/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours cola black with ruby highlights. A nice tan head with some lacing. Smells sweet, with coffee and bread. Tastes of toasted malts and grains, with some coffee and cocoa. Has a pleasantly bitter, nutty finish. Has a smooth mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Altogether a delicious, very drinkable beer. The best beer offered by VIB - in my opinion - and the best Canadian version of the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 04:01:15 | More by McBastard

notchucknorris

California

4.05/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Black with a 1/2 finger tan head. Really nice lacing down the glass.

S: The aroma is a little faint, but I picked up some coffee, some light yeast and a bit of banana.

T: This is probably my favorite lager. Roasted malts, coffee and some bready malts with some chocolate on the finish. Nice depth and great drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

07-12-2011 00:01:09 | More by notchucknorris

lespaulrocker

Tennessee

3.95/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Very, very dark. Small tan head, moderate lacing. Beautiful.

S: Sweet, nutty, malty, maybe a little bread.

T: Very tasty. Malty at first, gives way to more citrus/flower notes, coffee and bitter finish. Wonderful.

M: Moderate carbonation, medium bodied.

I loved this beer. Of all the beers I had while visiting Victoria (and there were many) this is probably the most memorable for me. I would seek this out again.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2011 16:34:25 | More by lespaulrocker

mountsnow1010

Vermont

3.4/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Deep deep amber with hint of red and a tan head. Distinct lack of lacing.
S - Lighter malts, hints of toast. Interesting, but not super complex.
T - Lager with a hint of oak and bourbon (very light). Very flavorful especially for a lager. Picking up the toasty-roastiness as well. Hints (slight hints) of metal.
MF - Creamy, with a reasonably sharp carbonation.
O - Solid brew, very pleasant. Easy drinker. However, I would prefer some nuttiness as well; not really picking up much of that. Not a huge fan of the metallic flavor but it is minimal.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2011 02:24:21 | More by mountsnow1010

Grunewald

British Columbia (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - poured from a 341ml bottle into a pint glass. It pours clear ruddy black. The head is tan and leaves a consistent dusting of lacing that slowly falls back into the brew.

S - roasted malt, light fruit/flower, leather and some charcoal

T - rye bread, roasted malt, not sweet but lightly tannic, leathery hops and a light charcoal/burnt finish

M - medium-high carbonation, medium-thin body, and wet finish

D - very easy drinking. I like that its not sweet in taste despite what the smell imparts.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2010 04:56:21 | More by Grunewald

ritzkiss

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pint on tap at a local restaurant, Sauce. Arrives, in a nonic pint, a jet black, light fuzz on top. This used to be a regular in my early craft beer days, nice to have a chance to revisit.

Smell is light light, roasted malts.

This beer is all about drinkability. Lightish roasted malts flavors mix with a slight bittering hops in the finish to provide a nicely rounded, light beer. Nice carbonation. This is a food beer - pair it with anything. Not over the top in any area, light enough to appeal to the average beer drinker, and yet enough going on to please the discerning beer drinker.

Great local brew that is often the best choice when out on the town in most local stops.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2009 05:42:32 | More by ritzkiss

Graham5161986

British Columbia (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

pours a dark, almost opaque blackish brown with just the slightest ruby hints. Gives a 2 finger, off-white head with decent retention and lacing. Smell is of minerals and chocolate with a touch of caramel and grassy hops. Taste is chocolaty up front with some decent coffee notes and a nice, crisp, mineral presence. This beer is medium bodied, creamy and well-carbonated with a smooth, slightly oily finish. Drinkability-wise, this beer is very easy drinking with a good crispness to it that helps lighten the load from the malts. This is a great go-to beer for those looking to try dark lagers. I will certainly be buying this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2009 22:19:10 | More by Graham5161986

elricorico

Alberta (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Very dark brown, nearly black with a thin tan head.

Smells sweet and nutty, chocolatey malt aroma being the strongest of smells.

Taste gives away the fact that this is a lager. A grainy maltiness through the first half of the mouth reminds me of a less dark lager. From there a slight coffee flavour and a balancing hop finish. Pretty tasty.

Good amounts of body for a lager of regular strength, with a full dose of carbonation. Pretty good mouthfeel.

Easily a session brew, but with plenty of flavour. Well worth trying. My thanks to my friend Jay who brought me a bottle from Victoria.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2008 03:29:21 | More by elricorico

msubulldog25

Oregon

3.65/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tried this one on a trip to Victoria, BC in August. Brought back a couple bottles; poured this 341ml to a pint glass. Label lists 5.5% alc./vol. rather than the 5.0% shown above.

A: Briskly-poured, this lager presents a steadily fizzing, light tan head, cresting at around 2-fingers high. Several minutes later it's reduced to a splotchy patchwork of sparkly film, evidence of the plethora of tiny bubbles streaming to the top. Color is a deep, dark mahogany with a ruby redness trimming the clearer edges.

S: Meh, really not much going on in this nose. A lightly buttery caramel and gently toasted malts. A hint of fruit syrup, ripe cherries perhaps.

T: There we go, loads of toasted dark grains. Quite husky, with a clean roast that borders on being 'smoky'. Cocoa powder-like subtle bitter-sweetness. A smattering of caramelized sugars are offset by hop bittering.

M: Mouthfeel is fizzy like a soda, though carbonation is smaller and tighter so it's more of a zesty tickle on the taste buds. Body is medium-light, maltiness leaves a sticky residue. Darker bittering clings for a while in the middle of the tongue; cheeks draw inward a little, too.

D: A straightforward and well-done rendition of the style. This bottle was tasted on its own (for reviewing), but the one I had in Victoria paired surprisingly well with a rich meat & veg-loaded pasta dish. I liked this one today, but may have liked it even more with that dinner. Worth giving a try, either way.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2007 22:51:05 | More by msubulldog25

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this again July 2009 & thought it was quite nice. Good depth to the flavour, a little roasty & chocolatey, pleasant aroma, average appearance, quite drinkable.

Original review 12/24/2005:

A2.5: Ruby-black, no head or lace.

S3: Roasty caramel odour, slightly fruity.

T3: Bready caramel malt with a little chocolate, slightly fruity. It doesn't taste as "dark" as it looks, and could definitely use some more depth/complexity.

M3.5: Moderate body and carbonation.

D4: Good. Should certainly appeal to the general public.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2005 18:32:13 | More by Derek

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A dark very refreshing and drinkable brew. Pours an amber/dark brown with some generous white head and lacing. Smells like a lager, with some malty notes. Taste is malty, with some hints of bitter chocolate, hops and coffee (in that order) and a smooth finish. Drinkability is very high, I could see myself putting back quite a few of these. Very good for summer drinking.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2004 22:43:53 | More by Viggo

canucklehead

British Columbia (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Looks nice and dark with a bit of a healthy shine to the body. The nose is malty and slightly burnt but the taste is clean and refreshing. This is a really drinkable dark lager with none of the overt sweetness some versions have but there is still lots of body and finish. Well deserving of the gold medal bestowed on it recently.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2004 03:28:17 | More by canucklehead

beerguy101

California

3.7/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Dark black color, medium white foamy head. Aroma is malty, fruity and sweet. Medium bodied Dunkel. Roasted malts, slightly sweet. Nicely hopped, good balance. Mouthfeel is full and round. Smooth taste. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2003 01:53:46 | More by beerguy101

lipschitz

Alberta (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: 341 ml Bottle

Pours as dark as cola, with attractive garnet tones as the light penetrates. Head is minimal, but there is some nice lacing and stick. Smell is rich & malty, with overtones of seared plums. Taste is heavily on the caramel side with generous portions of dates & raisins. There are also some suggestions of nuts and gentle licorice, as well. Hop presence is fairly hidden – just enough to keep the sweetness in check. Mouthfeel is slick, yet amply carbonated.
Notes:
This is another excellent offering from this brewery. A fantastic warm weather dark lager – a pleasure to drink.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2003 19:18:02 | More by lipschitz