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Berliner Original

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The first beer Lemke ever brewed, still made to the unchanged recipe. Pepper and soft roast on the nose, cocoa and bitter chocolate; after a crisp start the dark malt turns soft, the texture dry, and toffee, toast and cocoa linger in the finish. Slim and malty at 5.4% ABV, built on Pilsner, Vienna, caramel and chocolate malt with Hallertauer Magnum.

ABV
5.4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter26 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
amber11
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
chocolatetoastyroasted
chocolate
toasty
roasted
malty
caramel
spicy
Aroma
The nose opens with soft black pepper and subtle roasted grain, followed by cocoa and bitter chocolate notes that develop as the beer warms.
also:clean,bready
not found:hoppy,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Berliner Original

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to light brown, bright and clear with excellent transparency. A thick, cream-colored head forms readily and clings to the glass with fine Schaumhaftung, leaving distinct rings as the beer is consumed. Carbonation is moderate and steady.

deep amberclearpersistent headfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with soft black pepper and subtle roasted grain, followed by cocoa and bitter chocolate notes that develop as the beer warms. Vienna and caramel malts contribute gentle toasted bread undertones, while Hallertauer Magnum hops add a restrained noble character without aggressive herbality.

cocoablack pepperroasted grainnoble hop spice

◐ Taste

A crisp attack gives way to a soft, malty mid-palate where Vienna and chocolate malts dominate with toffee and cocoa notes. The texture becomes dry and refined, with light caramel sweetness balanced by restrained bitterness. The 26 IBU provide clean definition without harshness, allowing toasted and chocolate character to shine.

chocolatetoastydry maltbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately long, with toffee, toast, and cocoa lingering gently on the palate. The dryness persists without astringency, leaving a pleasant malty impression.

dry finishchocolate linger
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
84
Appearance
85
Finish
79
Serve at 7–9°C

Serve at 7–9°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Stein

The sturdy German stein maintains temperature and keeps carbonation intact. Built for long, convivial drinking.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Berliner Original

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About Vienna Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Vienna Lager?

Vienna Lager is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Vienna Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same chocolate, toasty, roasted character as Berliner Original will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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