Dunkel
Heater Allen Brewing

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: Munich Dunkel Lager
Glass: North Park 400-ml. Rastal Lawrence tumbler (green) glass
Price: $4.99
From: Bottlecraft Beer Shop in North Park (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: Nov. 25, 2022
Consumed: Nov. 27, 2022
Misc.: Couldn’t read canned on date

Picked up a can of this and three others at Bottlecraft North Park. Heater Allen’s website described this as “Very few American breweries produce dunkels, so we've taken it upon ourselves to help set things right. This is the beer that made Munich famous. The challenge is getting the color right without using too much black malt, as this beer shouldn't display that character, we use 98% Munich Malt in the grist. The beer is dark brown/red in color, with both malt and subtle hop aromas. The beer shows strong and complex malt character, with a hint of milk chocolate. The hops take a back seat to the malt, and only keep things in balance. This beer is great with aged cheeses like cheddar and gouda, sauteed mushrooms, or braised meats and sausage.”

Poured a deep garnet color with four fingers of rocky-to-frothy khaki white head. Could see plenty of fast-moving bubbles coming up along the sides of the glass. Excellent uneven foamy lacing. Excellent retention. (Sight - 4.50)

Smelled grain, biscuit, wheat bread, caramel, dark fruit, allspice, hints of gingerbread, cocoa and lingering toasted malt. A little better out of the can. (Smell - 4.00)

Tasted even better than the nose. In order got earthy grain, biscuit, wheat bread, caramel, dark fruit, plum, dates, allspice, gingerbread, cocoa, toffee and lingering toasted malt. (Taste - 4.25)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Lively carbonation. Long, slightly bitter finish. (Feel - 4.25)

This was nice. Glad I picked up a can. (Overall - 4.25)

4.21 | 94 | A-

 

 

L: Deep amber body with a dense off white head.

S: Brown bread, dark fruits, caramel malt

T: Malt forward with slight roast.

F: Medium bodied and very drinkable.

O: Loved this one.

 

poured from a 16oz can into tall franziskaner hefeweizen glass. medium brown in color with three fingers of khaki colored foam head. expressive lager yeast in the form of dark bread, caramel and even light chocolate. taste follows. easy drinking yet complex. subtle notes of coffee and chocolate as well as caramel and dark bready malts. full mouthfeel. nice carbonation level. one of the better representations of this style i’ve had in quite some time.

 

16oz can from Tavour. Dark brown pour, clear, off-white foamy head recedes. Sweet malty aroma, nutty, toasty. Taste is malty, faint chocolate, toasty, sweet. Dries out at the finish. Solid, full bodied, Mellow.

Clear, dark amber body; modest carbonation; thick, frothy, light khaki colored head; tiny blotches of foam speckle the glass. Dull sweetness on the nose, caramel-like with a touch of subliminal fruity esters; light trace of caramel and toffee. Moderate malt sweetness to the taste; a blend of toasted and lightly roasted grains; light caramel; moderate underlying bitterness. Medium-heavy mouthfeel; lager smooth with some residual sugar silkiness; lightly sticky.

An easy drinking, rich, rounded, malty beer. The taste and mouthfeel open up nicely as the beer warms.

Pouring temperature: 44 °F; canning info: 10/10/22
Source: @Dimidiata

L: Hazy medium brown with a lacy head.
S: Caramel, dark fruits, a hint of herbs.
T: Follows the nose generally. Sweet at first with caramel and raisin, quickly becoming coco powder and herbal hops (nice bitterness), and then comes the bready lager quality.
F: Medium bodied, moderate carbonation.
O: Surprisingly bitter, though not unfortunately. A nice range of flavors in this one.

Likely less than 2 months old, but the date is mostly scratched off. Poured from a tall-boy can into my Ayinger Pokal.

Sinopia body with copper highlights supports a low beige cap. Average clarity (the beer is unfiltered); mediocre retention; very fine/delicate lacing.

Vague aromatics suggest country bread, and a low herbal element.

Nice, even, bread-y malt on the palate entry. Low, clean bitterness. Faint milk chocolate and nuts. Smooth medium finish. Clean, somewhat delicate.

Medium-light bodied, slightly low carbonation perhaps.

More than the sum of its parts in some ways, even if it lacks the richness of the better examples of the style.

 

 

A wise poet once had this conversation:

“Do you want me to pass it?” “No!” “Do you want me to shoot it?” “No!” Do you want me to Dunkel it?” “Yes!”

And I think Raul will.

Peace!

Murky maple brown with a mocha head. Aromas of caramel, cocoa, raisin toasty bread, and puff pasty. Taste is milder, more focused on the bread/toast and cocoa, malts round out. Feel is malty, chewy, yet surprisingly light and frothy, could be crisper. Not the cleanest feeling dunkel but well worth a try

Darker amber brown body. Frothy offwhite head. Caramel, light milk chocolate and cocoa, bit of pumpernickel and a dab of allspice. Mild floral notes and overall medium noble hop bitterness, good carb, nice body, pleasantly balanced and not too sweet.