Beers similar to Samson Dark Lager

Czech Dark Lager·Czech Republic·4.5% ABV·One of 46 Czech Dark Lagers in hopIQ·

hopIQ found 10 beers that share Samson Dark Lager's roasted and chocolate character. This original dark lager greets the senses with light notes of caramel, chocolate and roasted coffee, a little treat to sweeten life. Known in Czech as Tmavý ležák or Tmavá 11, it is brewed in České Budějovice with water from a 274-metre artesian well. It won Country Winner for the Czech Republic at the World Beer Awards in 2022, 2023 and 2025 and silver at the European Beer Star 2025.

Similar beers ranked by flavour match rather than popularity.Similar beers ranked by flavour, not popularity.

chocolatecaramelroasted

Explore 10 alternatives Compare with your taste

Also searched: alternatives to

Postřižinský Tmavý ležák

Find alternatives →

Find alternatives →

Krušovice Černé

Find alternatives →

Černá Hora Tmavé (Granát)

Find alternatives →

10 beers like Samson Dark Lager

1

Měšťanský pivovar Havlíčkův Brod

Czech Republic · Czech Dark Lager · 4.7%

CLOSE ALTERNATIVE

90%

FLAVOUR MATCH

As with Samson, same coffee notes and caramel notes, plus richness.

What carries overcoffeechocolatecaramelsweetroasted

Structure: very close

Compared to Samsonfruityrichcitrusysmooth-drinking

Structure: Same structure — body, sweetness, bitterness and texture all land on the same spot.

Structure: very close

View beer Alternatives to Rebel José

Tried both? Do they taste alike?

2

Coors Brewing Company UK

United Kingdom · Dark Mild · 2.8%

CLOSE ALTERNATIVE

84%

FLAVOUR MATCH

Alongside Samson on coffee notes and caramel notes: adds fruit notes, a notch softer.

What carries overmaltysweetroastedchocolatecoffee

Structure: a notch softer

Compared to Samsonfruitycitrusy

Structure: Very close — a touch less body, a touch more bitterness.

Structure: a notch softer

View beer Alternatives to M&B Mild

Tried both? Do they taste alike?

3

Pivovar Primátor

Czech Republic · Czech Dark Lager · 4.5%

CLOSE ALTERNATIVE

84%

FLAVOUR MATCH

Shares coffee notes and caramel notes with Samson; adds bitterness, lighter-bodied, but drops sweetness.

What carries overcaramelroastedchocolatecoffeemalty

Structure: a touch lighter, crisper

Compared to Samsonbitterdark fruitcreamysweetsmooth-drinking

Structure: Very close — a touch less body, a touch more texture.

Structure: a touch lighter, crisper

View beer Alternatives to Primátor Dark

Tried both? Do they taste alike?

Also close

More matches

Same idea, less detail — open a beer to see the full comparison.

4

Zámecké Černé

Chodovar

Czech Republic · Czech Dark Lager · 4.2%

82%

MATCH

Keeps coffee notes and caramel notes like Samson, adds bitterness, drops sweetness.

Structure: very close

View Alternatives

5

Vereinsbrauerei Apolda

Germany · Schwarzbier · 4.5%

81%

MATCH

A touch more dark fruit notes, no caramel notes — coffee notes and sweetness as with Samson.

Structure: very close

View Alternatives

6

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

United States · Dark Lager · 5.0%

80%

MATCH

Like Samson on coffee notes and caramel notes — adds bitterness, crisper carbonation.

Structure: crisper, a touch lighter

View Alternatives

7

Cerveza Quilmes

Argentina · Dark Lager · 4.8%

80%

MATCH

Mirrors Samson's coffee notes and caramel notes, plus toasty notes, lighter-bodied.

Structure: a touch lighter, crisper

View Alternatives

8

Černá Hora Tmavé (Granát)

Pivovar Černá Hora

Czech Republic · Czech Dark Lager · 4.5%

79%

MATCH

Same caramel notes and sweetness as Samson, adds bitterness, but without the chocolate notes.

Structure: very close

View Alternatives

9

Cigar City Brewing

United States · Brown Ale · 5.5%

79%

MATCH

Stronger — same coffee notes and caramel notes as Samson, adds dryness, a notch stronger, but without the sweetness.

Structure: a notch stronger

View Alternatives

10

Plzeňský Prazdroj

Czech Republic · Czech Dark Lager · 3.8%

78%

MATCH

Crisper — same caramel notes and malt character as Samson, adds bread notes, crisper carbonation, but without the coffee notes.

Structure: crisper, a touch lighter

View Alternatives