Last week, we enjoyed Lakefront Brewery's Riverwest Stein Beer, an all-
malt amber lager. This week, we run to nearly the opposite end of the
lager spectrum, for the fifth beer in our exploration of Lakefront
Brewery's variety eight-pack. Eastside Dark is a Munich-style Dunkel
Lager that's brewed with three different specialty malts-chocolate,
black patent and Munich-and hopped with Mt. Hood, a hop derived from
German Hallertau, which is known for its clean bitterness and spicy
nose.

Lakefront Brewery Eastside DarkMunich Dunkels are generally smooth,
rich and complex, without being heady or heavy. They boast brilliant
ruby hues and full bodies from the large amounts of Munich malts used.
Their moderate bitterness usually balances out any lingering
sweetness. Hop varieties used tend to be of the German noble
varieties, like Tettnang and Hallertau. We dig Munich Dunkels, as they
offer both the drinkability of a lager with the malt complexity found
in dark ales.

The Taste
The 12-ounce brown bottle drops a dark brew into the glass, with a
vibrant brown hue and a tight and slightly off-white head that settles
to a creamy ringed lace. Nose is a bit biscuity, with hints of bark,
chicory, toasty bread crusts, nuts, subtle dark chocolate and coffee.
Creamy on the palate, with an underlying tingle of carbonation
highlighted by an aggressive citric-rind hoppiness and an acrid bite.
Malts are toasty, roasty and moderately sweet, offering nutty flavors
of biscuit, earth and roots, a bitey coffee backbone, chicory, powdery
chocolate and brown bread. The finish is dry and powdery, with
lingering hints of biscuit and bark.

Final Thoughts
Coming in at 5.5 percent alcohol by volume, Eastside Dark is full of
flavors and complexities that capture your interest, quench your
palate and set you up for wanting another. Its bite would make an
excellent contrast against something sweet, while the nuttiness would
make a good marriage with pad thai or a similar dish; it could also
complement and quell some barbecue with an attitude. And it's most
enjoyable on its own, too. Regardless, it's another great example of
what a lager can be and why the world needs more of them. Speaking of
which: If you're a lager fan or have the urge to explore lagers, we
highly recommend that you attend our Night of the Lagers on June 15.

For more info: lakefrontbrewery.com

Respect Beer.

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