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Negra (Plaza Vieja)

Cervecería Factoria Plaza Vieja
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🌍 Cuba · Schwarzbier · One of 30 Schwarzbiers in hopIQ

A dark lager brewed Austrian-style at Plaza Vieja. Smooth roasted character with a clean, dry finish — a pleasant surprise for visitors expecting only lagers in Cuba.

ABV
5.5%
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
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Substantial body.

The weight carries the beer on its own, leaving the aromatics free to lead.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Schwarzbier.
Malt character
roasted
malty
chocolate
coffee
toasty
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Negra (Plaza Vieja)

Appearance

Deep brown to black color with excellent clarity and a tight, persistent tan head that clings to the glass with fine lacing. The carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a refined visual presentation that belies its tropical origin.

deep brownexcellent claritypersistent headfine lacing

Aroma

The nose presents a restrained but inviting profile of roasted grain and subtle chocolate notes, with a background of gentle toast and light coffee character. The overall impression is clean and well-balanced, with no oxidative or off-notes—characteristic of careful lagering at Plaza Vieja.

roasted grainchocolate noteslight coffeeclean

Taste

The palate opens with smooth roasted malt, delivering a balanced entry without astringency. Mid-palate shows developing toasty and chocolate complexity, while moderate bitterness (25 IBU) provides structure without harshness. The beer maintains its dry character throughout, with no cloying sweetness.

smooth roasted malttoasty chocolatebalanced bitternessclean dry finish

Finish

The finish is crisp and drying, with the roasted character persisting into the aftertaste without becoming bitter or burnt. A light dark fruit note emerges briefly before fading into a clean, refreshing conclusion.

crisp dryingroasted persistencelight dark fruit
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
79
Appearance
80
Finish
77
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Negra (Plaza Vieja)

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 Negra (Plaza Vieja)

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 (Plaza Vieja) will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Schwarzbiers in hopIQ

Explore all Schwarzbier beers in hopIQ →Browse Cuba beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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