Heineken Dark

Heineken Dark is a dark lager produced by Heineken Nederland. It was first introduced in 1992 as Heineken Special Dark — an American-market variant of Heineken's dark beer range — before being renamed Heineken Dark in 1996. In the United States it was also marketed as Heineken Dark Lager.

The beer is brewed at 5.1% ABV, with a deep red-brown colour and a creamy tan head. Reviewers have described a sweet malt aroma with caramel and chocolate notes, hints of nuts and coffee, and a smooth, slightly sweet finish — noticeably lighter in body than its colour suggests. It was marketed in the US with the memorable line "the dark beer that isn't," emphasizing its unexpectedly light and drinkable character despite its dark appearance.

Heineken Dark should be distinguished from Heineken Oud Bruin — the much older and more traditional Dutch dark beer that has been brewed since the 19th century — and from regional dark variants marketed under the Heineken name in specific export markets.

The exact date this beer stopped being produced is unconfirmed, assumed is 2025 — no reliable primary source has been found pinning an end year, and physical evidence (a modern-looking bottle in this collection) suggests production continued well past previously assumed dates.