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Negra (Almacén)

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Cuba's Cervecería Antiguo Almacén brews Negra in the Austrian Schwarzbier tradition — dark, smooth, neither roasted nor sweet but balanced between them. At 5.5% it's sessionable without sacrificing character; the clean finish and moderate carbonation let you taste grain more than molasses. A house beer with real identity.

ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark32
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedcleanmalty
roasted
clean
malty
toasty
coffee
dark fruit
Aroma
The nose leads with toasted grain and a subtle coffee note, underpinned by soft malt sweetness that never tips into cloying.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Negra (Almacén)

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany-brown to near-black in the glass, with excellent clarity and a dense tan head that clings persistently to the walls. Moderate carbonation creates fine, steady bubbles that sustain the collar without aggressive fizz. The beer presents the polished, composed appearance characteristic of a well-executed Schwarzbier.

deep mahogany-brownpersistent headclean clarity

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with toasted grain and a subtle coffee note, underpinned by soft malt sweetness that never tips into cloying. Noble hop character emerges as a restrained, slightly herbal undertone. The aroma is understated and inviting—more bread-crust than roasted darkness—suggesting a brewhouse focused on balance rather than intensity.

toasted maltcoffee grainsubtle noble hops

◐ Taste

Clean grain flavors dominate the palate, with a smooth, almost creamy texture that belies the 5.5% ABV. Roasted notes appear as dried coffee and light char rather than charcoal or ash, while a gentle 25 IBU bitterness arrives mid-palate without harshness. The malt base exhibits enough presence to anchor the beer without sweetness, allowing the dry, crisp character to emerge on the back of the tongue.

smooth grainroasted coffeebalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

A clean, dry exit with lingering toast and a whisper of coffee in the aftertaste. The finish is crisp and sessionable, leaving no sticky residue, only a gentle reminder of the malt's character.

dry, cleantoasted aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
79
Appearance
80
Finish
78
Serve at 7–9°C

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

Pint glass

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

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Negra (Almacén)

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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, smooth, clean character as Negra (Almacén) will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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