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Samson Dark Lager

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This original dark lager greets the senses with light notes of caramel, chocolate and roasted coffee, a little treat to sweeten life. Known in Czech as Tmavý ležák or Tmavá 11, it is brewed in České Budějovice with water from a 274-metre artesian well. It won Country Winner for the Czech Republic at the World Beer Awards in 2022, 2023 and 2025 and silver at the European Beer Star 2025.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Winner · 2022
World Beer Awards
Czech Republic – Dark Lager
Winner · 2023
World Beer Awards
Czech Republic – Dark Lager
Winner · 2025
World Beer Awards
Czech Republic – Dark Beer
Silver · 2025
European Beer Star
★Winner — World Beer Awards (Czech Republic – Dark Lager)
★Winner — World Beer Awards (Czech Republic – Dark Lager)
★Winner — World Beer Awards (Czech Republic – Dark Beer)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
chocolatecaramelroasted
chocolate
caramel
roasted
coffee
malty
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with dark chocolate and caramel sweetness, underpinned by roasted grain and subtle coffee notes.
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Samson Dark Lager

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany brown with excellent clarity, revealing the beer's true character without haze or sediment. The head forms densely and persists with fine, tight lacing that clings to the glass wall. Carbonation appears moderate and well-integrated, supporting a stable foam collar.

deep mahoganyclearpersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with dark chocolate and caramel sweetness, underpinned by roasted grain and subtle coffee notes. There is a gentle malt foundation that suggests careful grain selection and controlled kilning rather than aggressive char. Noble hop character remains restrained, allowing the malt complexity to occupy the foreground.

chocolate, caramelroasted graincoffeenoble hops

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and medium-bodied, with chocolate and caramel notes establishing themselves immediately on the palate. Mid-palate develops a balanced roasted character—clean and structured—without any burnt or astringent edges. Bitterness is restrained at 22 IBU, serving as a gentle counterweight to the inherent sweetness rather than dominating the profile.

smooth-drinkingchocolate-forwardbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and relatively dry, with residual caramel sweetness fading into a subtle roasted grain note. Aftertaste lingers briefly with malty undertones, leaving the palate refreshed and ready for the next sip.

clean finishmalty residue
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
86
Appearance
85
Finish
82
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 Samson Dark Lager

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About Czech Dark Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Czech Dark Lager?

Czech 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 Czech Dark Lager

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

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