Eastside Dark is Lakefront Brewery’s Bohemian-style dark lager, named for Milwaukee’s East Side neighborhood. At 5.6%, it is a dark beer that drinks like a lager: smooth, clean, and far lighter than it looks. It is the kind of beer that makes you wonder why more dark lagers do not get this kind of attention.

The basics

• Brewery: Lakefront Brewery (Milwaukee, WI)
• Style: Dark Lager (Munich Dunkel)
• ABV: 5.6%
• IBU: 21

What to expect

Eastside Dark pours a clear, very dark ruby-mahogany with a mild tan head. The aroma leads with roasted malt, dark bread crust, and a touch of caramel and cocoa. On the palate it is medium-bodied and smooth, with malt sweetness, chocolate, roasted nuts, and a hint of vanilla over a clean lager base. The finish is dry with a whisper of roast rather than hop bite. It is rich without being heavy, and very drinkable for a dark beer.

Our rating

6.0/10

Rated by Nick (6) and Alex (6). Nick and Alex both gave this one a 6, and we think that score is fair. Eastside Dark is a well-made dark lager with real roasted character and a clean, dry finish, but it does not do anything surprising. A solid, sessionable dark beer that is easy to recommend to anyone who thinks they do not like dark beer.

Sources: Lakefront Brewery, Eastside Dark sell sheet, 5.6% ABV, 21 IBU, https://lakefrontbrewery.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Eastside-Dark_LFSS21.pdf ; BeerAdvocate, Lakefront Eastside Dark, dark lager, https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/741/2220/ ; Wikipedia, Lakefront Brewery, founded 1987, Milwaukee, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakefront_Brewery