Truth be told, Nonny isn’t new to me, as my last video review was for a Nonny beer, but it still sits in the vault awaiting editing, so for now, let me introduce you to a friend from the north. Nonny Beer is out of Vancouver, Canada. They have a few different beers to their name and are excited to be a part of our foreign American customs of crushing NA beer like champs. With that in mind, let’s see what they have to offer us, shall we!
Dark Lager from Nonny Beer.
This week, we are drinking Dark Lager from Nonny Beer. If I’m continuing my honest streak, I don’t know what to expect from a dark lager. I have had so many variations on this, and it feels like even brewers don’t really know what it is. Maybe it’s just what happens when they brew a dark beer like a stout or a porter, and then it’s too light in mouthfeel and flavor to be one of those, and they call it a dark lager or black lager? I don’t know. That said, expectations are low, so long as I don’t get that burnt wort taste, I am game for whatever happens.
How Does It Smell? How Does It Look?
When I crack this can from the north, I immediately recognize a scent of cocoa and coffee. As it permeates the air and I pour the Nonny Beer into the glass, I also notice the faint scent of roasted malt. The color and clarity are similar, if not identical, to a cola. Dark brown and clear with an off-white, light tan head. The scent is nothing of cola, so I’m hopeful. So far, this Dark Lager is awfully similar to most porters.
How Does It Taste?
When I started to nom nom on this Nonny Beer, I immediately tasted what I smelled. Always a good sign. The beer is full of flavor with a roasted, nutty tone that’s complimented by chocolate and coffee. The mouthfeel is still light and crisp (like a lager, who knew), making the beer easily drinkable despite its heavier dessert flavors.
Untappd gives Dark Lager by Nonny Beer a 3.4 out of 5, and I am a little lower at a 3.1. Overall, it’s enjoyable, but I don’t think it knows what it is. In most other markets, I feel like this would be labeled a porter, and most brewers would blind-taste this as a porter, so I’m still not sure what the hell a dark lager is. Is that the trick? Also, fun fact, thanks to the Great White North, there’s French on the can! So you can culture yourself while drinking cultures! Wow, what a world we live in!
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