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Japanese Dry Black Lager

Modus Brewing
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🌍 Australia · Schwarzbier · One of 39 Schwarzbiers in hopIQ

Japanese Dry Black Lager is the dark counterpart to the brewery's pale Japanese-style lager. Its six-malt grist adds light crystal, roasted malt and roasted barley to the Pilsner and Munich base, with flaked and rolled rice keeping it dry. It pours near-black with a deep red glint and a tan head. Aromas of creamy coffee and cola lead into soft milk chocolate, light caramel and a nutty, toasty dryness that clears the palate quickly.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark30
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How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Lean body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

The texture leads here, with everything else held in gentle reserve.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Schwarzbier.
Malt character
coffee
roasted
chocolate
nutty
toasty
caramel
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Japanese Dry Black Lager

Appearance

Pours deep black with a distinctive red glint when held to light, revealing the beer's complexity despite its dark appearance. A tan head forms with moderate density and settles to a thin, persistent collar that leaves fine lacing on the glass. The body is clear and well-defined, with gentle carbonation evident in the slow rise of fine bubbles.

near-black with garnet depthpersistent tan headclean and bright

Aroma

The nose opens with creamy coffee and cola notes, immediately inviting and familiar without being heavy. Soft milk chocolate emerges alongside light caramel sweetness, layered beneath a subtle nutty and toasty dryness that prevents the beer from becoming cloying. The six-malt grist shines through as roasted barley and toasted grain tones that clear and refresh the olfactory sense.

creamy coffee, colasoft chocolate, caramelroasted grain, nutty toast

Taste

Entry is smooth and approachable, with roasted malt and coffee flavors establishing the foundation immediately. The mid-palate balances chocolate sweetness with dry, toasty grain character, while the flaked and rolled rice adjuncts work to maintain a lean, crisp structure that prevents any cloying residue. Subtle caramel and nutty complexity build gently across the palate without overwhelming the clean lager character.

roasted coffee maltmilk chocolate, carameldry, toasty finish, light body

Finish

The finish is clean and dry, with the rice adjuncts and roasted grain creating a brief, pleasant dryness that clears the palate efficiently. Aftertaste remains short and malty, allowing the beer's refreshing character to linger without bitterness or astringency.

dry and cleanquick finish
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
75
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Japanese Dry Black Lager

Serve at 7–9°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Japanese Dry Black Lager

About Schwarzbier

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Schwarzbier?

Schwarzbier 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 Schwarzbier

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

Other Schwarzbiers in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all Schwarzbier beers in hopIQ →Browse Australia beers →