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Wernesgrüner Dark

Wernesgrüner Brauerei
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🌍 Germany · Dunkel · One of 36 Dunkels in hopIQ

A dark lager brewed for export and sold mainly in the United States, where the can calls it a black lager. In the glass it is chestnut to deep brown rather than black, under a thick tan head. Toasted and nutty malt leads, with caramel, a light cookie-like chocolate note and a faint roast in the background. The body is moderate and smooth, and a grassy hop bitterness keeps the finish clean and fairly dry.

ABV
4.9%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
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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
Substantial body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Off-dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Balanced mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Each axis lands close to the centre in a considered, even reading.

A profile in balance where the form comes from all sides, every layer speaks in turn.

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

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Wernesgrüner Dark

Appearance

Chestnut to deep brown in color, presenting as a true dark lager rather than the black claimed on export labeling. A thick, persistent tan head rises above the beer, with visible Schaumkleiden clinging to the glass walls as the head recedes. The body is clear and bright, with moderate carbonation evident in gentle streaming.

chestnut brownthick tan headclearmoderate carbonation

Aroma

The nose is led by toasted and nutty malt character, with distinct notes of caramel sweetness and a subtle cookie-like chocolate undertone. A faint roasted element sits in the background, grounding the profile without becoming prominent. The overall impression is of restrained, well-balanced malt expression with no sharp or burnt edges.

toasted maltnuttycaramellight chocolate

Taste

Entry is smooth and malt-forward, with toasted grain and nuttiness establishing the foundation. Mid-palate develops a caramel sweetness alongside a subtle roasted chocolate note, maintaining moderate body throughout. Grassy hop bitterness emerges cleanly in the middle register, providing definition without aggression and supporting the malt backbone.

smooth malt entrytoasted, nutty mid-palategrassy bitterness

Finish

The finish is clean and fairly dry, with the grassy hop bitterness persisting pleasantly into the aftertaste. Sweetness recedes quickly, leaving toasted grain and a gentle herbal impression.

cleandrygrassy hop finish
77
hopIQ score
Aroma
79
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
74
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Wernesgrüner Dark

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

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

Stein
Recommended for this style

The sturdy German stein maintains temperature and keeps carbonation intact. Built for long, convivial drinking.

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

Food Pairing

What to eat with Wernesgrüner Dark

About Dunkel

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Dunkel?

Dunkel 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 Dunkel

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same toasty, nutty, clean character as Wernesgrüner Dark will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Dunkels in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all Dunkel beers in hopIQ →Browse Germany beers →