Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel

Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel. Munich Dunkel Lager.
5 % ABV. 21 IBU.
Privatbrauwerei Ayinger, Bayern, Germany.
Authentic Bavarian Dark.

Clear, caramel brown color, large-ish head that drift down swiftly.

In the nose: Sweet and malty. Caramel and plums. Brown sugar.

In the mouth: Rich and malty on the tongue. Toasty, sweet, but balanced. Modicum of hops amidst a mass of malt, while clean, smooth, light bodied, and oh, so tasty. Caramel and toffee flavors on top, with dark fruit just below, raisins, plums, a dash of nuttiness, and it's pretty much yum-a-dum-dum.

I first wrote about this one nearly 18 years ago. I think that in the intervening years that I have become fonder of this style of beer. I also think that this may be a fresher sample than the one that I had when I took these notes that I posted to BeerAdvocate.com in December of 2002: Cream-colored head, dissolves quickly. Malt background prominent. Toffeeish sweetness, quick, but pleasing finish.Nutty flavors, coppery, metallic, even. Very little hoppiness, clean, simple. Dark lager isn't one of my favorite styles, but this has to be one the best.

Up until the Second World War, dark beer was the predominant beer type in the Munich area. The hard water found in the region played a special role in producing this specialty. In his book “Beer International”, the world-renowned English beer writer, Michael Jackson, accurately describes the Ayinger “Altbairisch Dunkel” as: “A good example of its kind. Impenetrably dark with a golden-brown gleam when held up to the light, and with a warm aroma and malty taste, while summoning up coffee taste sensations on going down. It is brewed from five types of malt (two of which are torrified dark), and it is only lightly hopped.” It is produced using the traditional double fermentation process. 

Unmapped Schnitzendunkel

Unmapped  Schnitzendunkel.  Dunkel lager.
4.6 % ABV. 23 IBU. Unmapped Brewing, Minnetonka, MN.

Dark brown, very opaque, slim white head.

In the nose: Sweet malt, caramel and toffee. Brown sugar. Delightful.

In the mouth: More delicious malt, more caramel and toffee. Medium bodied, long lasting flavors. Moderate bitterness. Excellent balance. Tasty stuff.

This went down exceptionally easy.

Introducing our first collaboration with our very good friends at Lupulin Brewing (Big Lake, MN): Schnitzendunkel! This classic dark lager is deliciously malty with some hints of chocolate too. If you're looking for a dark beer that is also a summertime easy-drinker, you've found it! Prost!

Indeed Danzig Dunkel

Indeed Danzig Dunkel. 4.6% ABV. 22 IBU. Indeed Brewing Company, Minneapolis, MN.

I'm trying to keep track of my reportage on the beers of Minneapolis. It's hard to do with 30 breweries in the city. Wait, no, 31, one just opened today. And when I prepared some data to see where I need to go, I was shocked to see that I haven't been to Indeed in over a year. I've checked in their beers 37 times on Untappd since then, and entered 6 blog posts about them here in the Nib. By that regard, this brewery has been a part of my Minneapolis writing, which more and more I want to make my focus here. So, thanks to the Sample Man, he knows who he is, for getting this to me, and I promise I will make it back to the taproom soon, this I swear.

Clear, caramel toned body, ruby tinges, ample head, light brownish coloring to it.

In the nose: light and malty, caramel notes, soft and nutty.

In the mouth: soft and creamy, light/medium bodied, quite tasty. Lightly lingering malt flavors. Touch of cocoa, bit of bread-y. Good ol' drinking beer. I like a good dunkel lager, and this is most certainly one.

Go drink it, if you see it.

Lake Monster Last Fathom Dark Lager

Lake Monster Last Fathom Dark Lager. Lake Monster Brewing, St. Paul, MN. 5.5% ABV.

Solid brown coloring, slim tan head.

In the nose: roasty malt, light hop bitterness, notes of cocoa, vanilla, cream.

In the mouth: Smooth, malty, with flavors of caramel and cocoa abounding. Light bodied and exceptionally consumable. Very minimal hop bitterness, nothing but dark, tasty and easy-drinking. I love a good Munich Dunkel and this is one of them.

Gobbledygook from the label: "What will the last fathom reveal? Sip our Munich-tyle Dunkel and discover a full-bodied, malty, smooth lager with nutty and earthy notes from Minnesota wild rice. The Last Fathom proves to be dark, mysterious and delightful. You may never turn back."

Good dunkel, go drink one.

Leinenkugel's Bavarian Dunkel

Again, the looming reflection of my Galactus, Devourer
of Worlds, bottle opener. I swear it won't happen again.

Leinenkugel's Bavarian Dunkel Bavarian Style Dark Lager. Dunkel Beer brewed with natural ingredients. Carefully brewed by the Leienkugel family for six generations. The pride of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin since 1867. 5.5% Alc by vol.

There are beers I review here that I went out and bought myself because I wanted to try them, and there are some that given to me as samples by brewery or distributor reps. Sometimes I tell you which category a beer belongs to, and there are times when you can probably figure that out for yourself. You wouldn't be wrong in assuming that I don't pick up Leinenkugel's beers very often. This one doesn't have Berry or Weiss anywhere in the name, so I think it might be better than most of their offerings. Let's pop it open and find out.

Dark brown color, slim off-white head.

In the nose: sweet malt, cocoa tinges, nice.

In the mouth: good and balanced. Lightly sweet, full malt flavors, cool and calm. Light to Medium bodied, with an utmost ease of drinking. Chocolate notes persist through the taste.

I've got to admit it: I love a good ol' Bavarian Dunkel, and this is one of them.

OLIPHANT Steve Dirkul Dunkel Lager

OLIphant Steve Dirkul Dunkel Lager, 4.6% ABV.

Solid blackness, slim cocoa/tan head.

Soft, chocolate-y nose, mild bitterness, mayor sweet maltiness. Ends on a nice, dry, bittersweet note.

In the mouth: all of that and more. Medium bodied. More chocolate, staring sweet, ending dry and just a touch more bitter. Ah, delicious.

I like a good, smooth, easy-drinking dunkel lager. And this is one of them.

Lakefront East Side Dark

Another one from May of 2003, this the dunkel lager from Lakefront:

Appearance: dark brownish hue, nearly opaque, with a fine, if short, creamy head.

Aroma: soft, with flavors of cocoa and nuts, very malty.

On the palate, so smooth, and terrifically tasty. Body feels light, on the tongue, but the texture is quite good, and the flavor is unstoppable. Some minerally notes pop up in the middle, carrying through the finish, though they did not detract from any enjoyment of this delicious dunkel.

Town Hall Dark Krystal Filtered Dunkel Weizen

Town Hall Dark Krystal, filtered dunkel wizen. Purchases last Wednesday at Town Hall, with a "best by" date of 11/27. That's today! Let's drink some.

Clear, dark mahogany hue, nearly crimson, very small head whittles down to nil.

Soft banana in the nose, slight cocoa. "Muted" is their word, and it's the best one. What would be bursting out in an unfiltered version is playing it nice and cool. Minor amounts of clove.

Taste: Smooth on the palate, light-medium bodied, small, but fruity finish. Ends a little dry, sharp, succinct. The only problem is, is that I'm missing what I want from a dunkel wizen. I need the yeast flavors. Got to have them. If I know they 're not there, and they should be, I keep on wishing for them. Very clean, snappy, nice and drinkable. Ain't nothing wrong with it….except for all the things I wish it was.

Here's the brief description from Town Hall:
Brewed in the same fashion as a Dunkelweizen. Light banana, clove, and chocolate characters. But we filtered this beer to give it a very bright and Krystal look. Smooth, refreshing, and a great body.

Mother Earth Dark Cloud Dunkel Lager

Mother Earth Dark Cloud Munich-style Dunkel Lager, Handcrafted in Eastern, N.C.

Cloudy, reddish brown/burgundy hue, smallish dark head.

Aroma: sweet malty notes, touch of fruit. Earthy, herbal, intriguing.

Taste: Lean-bodied, malty, flavors dark and grainy. Mild bitterness. Easy-drinking, good balance. A little bit roast on the malt, increasingly tasty. Not bad, not bad at all…..

Surly Schadenfruede Dunkel Lager

Surly's dunkel lager, dark German-style brew, first debuted last year in Chicago only, and I was told that it was given that name because that other market was getting it before the Twin Cities did. Joy in our suffering? How surly, Surly! It never got a proper release party (didn't this year, either) and we eventually got some here at the Nile. Proved to be very popular here, then.
Enjoying now from a freshly tapped keg, first took notes a year and a few weeks ago, May, 2010. Here's what I said then:

Dusky brown color, with crimson highlights shining through at the edges, slim head.

Caramel and cocoa hit the nose first, sweetness dominates, then mild coffee notes come in.

Taste: mild mouthfeel, but flavor-packed. Caramel and toffee, tops again, but rounded out, and the sweetness is tempered by the work of the barrel. Everything is even-keeled, and extremely, what's the technical term? Tasty.

Minor hop bitterness, medium mouthfeel, body, tingly texture. One of the more to-style (aside from the oak-aging) Surlys so far, and one of my favorites among those. I tend to favor darker lagers more than lighter ones, and the maltier the better.

This one where one pint begs for another, an excellent session choice. I actually find myself not yearning for a hoppier brew, or one stronger in alcohol...although I'll probably have one of those, anyway...knowing me, as I do.

I gave it a 4.1/5, an A-, 4% above the average, which gives it a B+. I don't think the average Surly-drinking beer advocate reviewer is really able or willing to judge and appreciate a good dunkel lager as a good dunkel lager.

Sly Fox Dunkel Lager

Another one from the Woodman, fresh from the CANquest.

Sly Fox Dunkel Lager.

"A traditional Bavarian style Dark Lager, made with Munich, Pils, and German Roast malts, and a variety of Bavarian hops. OG 13 Plato, 21 IBUs, 5.3% by Vol."

In an Einbecker Dunkel glass, because why not, that's why.

And I love the dunkels, so I'm looking forward to this one.

Clear, caramel brown body, slim beige head, gets tight, but stays strong.

Aroma: clean and malty, caramel and toffee, light hops, sweet, rich and getting richer.

Taste: very tidy, minimal hops, good blend of cocoa, caramel and toffee in the malty flavor. Even-tempered, well-balanced, medium-bodied, expertly drinkable. A little mineral, metallic feel, flinty, maybe, but overall a nice, if unimpressive dunkel.
And what's wrong with that, I'd like to know.