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Telenn Du

Brasserie Lancelot
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🌍 France · Dark Ale · One of 2 Dark Ales in hopIQ

Brasserie Lancelot's most unique beer and the only one of its kind in France. Brewed with blé noir (buckwheat), a Breton specialty grain brought from the Crusades. Dark, malty, and subtly sweet with a light body — a haunting, earthily complex dark ale unlike anything else in French brewing. Telenn Du means 'Black Harp' in Breton.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark30
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

Even from Body through Texture, the taste structure is evenly distributed.

Harmony over emphasis — the beer is built for each note to sit at the same volume.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Dark Ale.
Hop character
earthy
Malt character
malty
nutty
roasted
bready
toasty
wheat
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

#10 of 50The Best French Amber Ales

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Telenn Du

Appearance

Deep mahogany to near-black in the glass, with a density that catches light at the edges. A modest tan head forms and recedes quickly, leaving thin, delicate lacing that clings intermittently to the glass walls. The body appears still and settled, with minimal visible carbonation.

deep mahoganythin tan headlow carbonation

Aroma

The nose opens with earthy undertones—faintly mineral and grain-forward—layered beneath toasted malt and a subtle nuttiness. Buckwheat adds a distinctive earthiness that prevents the beer from settling into typical dark ale territory, while whispers of dark fruit and a light bready note round out the complexity. No hop aroma registers; the adjunct grain character dominates.

earthy buckwheattoasted maltssubtle dark fruit

Taste

The palate enters with soft, malty sweetness and a light body that belies the beer's dark appearance. Mid-palate reveals layers of roasted grain, nutty undertones, and that haunting earthiness from the blé noir, balanced by restrained bitterness (28 IBU). The finish arrives clean and slightly dry, with lingering grain character and no astringency.

malty sweetnessroasted grainlight-bodied

Finish

A short to medium finish that fades gently, leaving behind earthy grain notes and a faint nuttiness on the palate. No heat or harshness lingers despite the dark roast profile.

clean fadeearthy aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
84
Appearance
78
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Telenn Du

Serve at 10–13°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 10–13°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 Telenn Du

About Dark Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Dark Ale?

Dark Ale 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 Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same earthy, malty, sweet character as Telenn Du will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Dark Ales in hopIQ

WHERE TO BUY

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