On tap at Little Falls’ 381 Main, fine one-off prune-hued ‘dark common lager’ augments resinous Warrior hop bittering with dried fruited abundance. Ripe prune-raisin conflux and chocolate-spiced Belgian yeast funk saddle burnt toast bottom. A rich sessionable beer for more adventurous lager heads. 

Slick molasses-malted caramel toasting, disruptive metallic astringency, and acetous iodine driblet thankfully outdone by streamlined chocolate-cocoa spicing. Subsidiary tobacco-roasted gingerbread, pecan pie, dehydrated fig, raisin, almond, butternut and hazelnut illusions penetrate dry rye breading. As bottle drains, ample mocha prominence dissuades blunt alkaline acridity of wildly variable, thickheaded, coppery bronzed, medium-bodied dark lager.

Effective Munich dunkel lager (given noir-like dark ale labeling) contrasts cocoa-seeded black chocolate chalking, peat-smoked molasses malting and buttery toffee sweetness against coarse hop roast. Mild nut-roasted rye-pumpernickel breading overcomes fizzy phenol fizzing and slick schwarzbier-styled mocha plasticity. 2012 version boasted richer dark chocolate malting and deeper peanut-shelled hazelnut-walnut conflux.

Easygoing organically barley-malted Bavarian dark lager retains soft-watered flow, dewy earthen funk, and banana-browned fruit-dried nature to timid caraway-seeded rye-breaded spine. Amiable fig-date-prune sedation, reticent chocolate-covered raisin paucity, and meager chocolate nibs influence find space between. Likable light-bodied German beer may not have enough stylistic honeyed wheat efficacy but milder tastes will be appreciative.

Celebrating the 40^th anniversary of Jazz-fusion masterpiece, Bitches Brew, uncommon ebony-hued honey-brewed Imperial Stout-affiliated dark lager better defined as complex schwarzbier. On tap, shiny-leafed berry-like gesho influence affixes sarsaparilla flow to grain-seared cocoa-malted Baker’s chocolate frontage, tar-like hop-charred walnut-singed bitterness, and mildewed cellar-dwelled black grape dankness. Filmy black chocolate midst picks up espresso-milked Anisette reminder, spicy cardamom lilt, and gooey anise ascension. Rich port-bourbon wining fills out clean mocha finish. In bottle, kiln-smoked maple malting picks up chocolate-covered raisin sway and peppery-hopped Belgian chocolate spicing. Worthy salutation’s nearly as interesting as legendary artist Miles Davis.

Tame garnet-amber Czech lager lacks firm body, plying ashen chocolate-caramel malting to dry fig-date placidity and blanched hazelnut-chestnut reminder. Tepid sweet tea midst depletes tannic red grape and port wine acridity.

Smoky cured meat aroma and Band-Aid mouthfeel give inceptive prickly-hopped tongue a peppery spicing, but girding beechwood seasoning depletes barley roast. Instead, piquant amber lager settles to sudsy cocoa-chocolate malt frailty.

Deep black cherry ripeness increases wintry nutmeg-cinnamon essence for rich holiday treat. Orange-bruised clove-coriander spicing underscores insurgent stewed prune penetration, pecan-pied raisin-fig sequence, and honey-glazed finish, retaining confectionery medicinal deluge.

Musty malt-scented, golden brown-hued, sweetly caramel-malted brew slips down the throat with gentle velvety smoothness. Mocha moderation fends off slender hop toasting, negligible barley roast and raspy coffee snip.

Amiable chestnut-hued brew retains mild turbidity as affluent cascading brown bubbles surface at fleshy head. Unrefined grain nose, muted sugar malt assertiveness, tobacco-stained docility, and cocoa butter creaminess settle into ripe cherry-orange fruitiness before rich raisin finish adds thicker luster.

Off-dry amber-coppered German-styled dunkel lager retains easygoing dry Scotch appeal. Roasted nut-grain subtlety and candied malt creaminess pick up tobacco-cocoa reticence before orange-grapefruit ripeness conveys appealing sourness.

Earthen peat-soiled garnet-cleared lager retains nut-roasted brown ale-like styling and mineral-grained purity. Strange vegetal-soured matchstick nose consumes toasted barley base and pumpernickel-rye slip to no ill effect.