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Leinenkugel's Dark Lager

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Rich, nutty cocoa flavour runs through this dark lager, brewed with a blend of malts and ending in a crisp finish. It is dark in the glass yet surprisingly smooth, and it runs at 4.9% ABV and 20 IBU. The name says exactly what it is, and the beer belongs to the regional year-round line-up.

ABV
4.9%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter20 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
nuttychocolatemalty
nutty
chocolate
malty
toasty
clean
roasted
Aroma
The nose leads with pronounced nutty and cocoa notes, grounded by a solid malty foundation from the blend of dark grains.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Leinenkugel's Dark Lager

◎ Appearance

Deep amber-brown hue fills the glass with full opacity, characteristic of the dark lager style. A modest tan head forms on the pour and settles into a thin collar with moderate lacing. Carbonation reads as gentle and well-integrated, contributing to the beer's polished presentation.

deep amber-brownopaquemoderate lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with pronounced nutty and cocoa notes, grounded by a solid malty foundation from the blend of dark grains. Subtle toasted grain character emerges beneath, while clean fermentation keeps the profile straightforward and inviting without adjunct or fusel heat.

nutty, cocoa-forwardtoasted grainclean fermentation

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and rich, with nutty chocolate flavors layering across the palate immediately. Mid-palate deepens into malty sweetness tempered by restrained hop bitterness at 20 IBU, maintaining balance without astringency. The finish arrives crisp and clean, shedding residual sweetness quickly.

nutty chocolatemalty sweetnesscrisp finish

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is brief and dry, with lingering cocoa and grain notes that fade cleanly. No harshness or cloying quality remains.

clean, drycocoa fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
80
Appearance
76
Finish
77
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve at 4–7°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 Leinenkugel's Dark Lager

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About Dark Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Dark Lager?

Dark 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 Dark Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same nutty, crisp, rich character as Leinenkugel's Dark Lager will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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