Dunkel
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

DunkelDunkel
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From:
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
 
North Carolina, United States
Style:
Munich Dunkel
Ranked #7
ABV:
4.9%
Score:
90
Ranked #9,506
Avg:
4.03 | pDev: 9.43%
Reviews:
38
Ratings:
148
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 30, 2024
Added:
Dec 19, 2009
Wants:
  39
Gots:
  31
Winter has met its match in the form of this classic Munich-style dark lager. Smooth, with caramel and roasted malt flavors courtesy of Dark Munich and Carafa malts, Dunkel offers an easy-drinking finish to even the coldest, darkest days of winter. It may be freezing outside, but the conditions inside this bottle of Dunkel are always absolutely perfect. Enjoy it all winter long.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by metter98:
Photo of metter98
Reviewed by metter98 from New York

3.8/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
On-tap at The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, Charlotte, NC

A: The beer is clear very dark amber in color. It poured with a short beige head that consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface and the sides of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of dark malts are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell but has a little more sweetness than toasted malts. There are notes of underlying bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is very malty but is easy to drink because it is not sweet.

Serving type: on-tap
Dec 26, 2016
More User Ratings:
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

4.24/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
12 oz bottle from an Ingles Market in NC.

Appearance. Clear, dark reddish-brown body with high clarity and a good beige head.

Outstanding aroma and flavor that is clean and malty with what seems to be near perfect hopping. The hops bring some welcome light spiciness and make this malt bomb have a great bitter/sweet mix.
Jan 30, 2024
 
Rated: 4.44 by lakewy17 from New Hampshire

Nov 12, 2023
 
Rated: 4.32 by siege06nd from Virginia

Mar 04, 2023
Photo of ovaltine
Reviewed by ovaltine from Indiana

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a nearly translucent rich brown color with a light tan head. The nose features a nice toffee aroma, some nutty notes, and a bit of roast.

The toffee leads the taste and is rich and decadent, balanced by the nutty flavor and roasty notes. This is really well executed. The medium mouthfeel keeps you coming back for another sip.

This is a perfect cold weather beer, one I would gladly try again.
Feb 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4.02 by clm9 from North Carolina

Dec 28, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by FLBeerGuy from Florida

Dec 23, 2022
 
Rated: 4.31 by Wiffler27 from South Carolina

Mar 29, 2022
 
Rated: 3.74 by EcuPirate07 from North Carolina

Jan 08, 2021
Photo of thebeers
Reviewed by thebeers from Pennsylvania

4.04/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Clear caramel brown with three fingers of creamy-looking tan head. Good retention and thick lacing. Nice caramel malt in the nose. A little more coffee-and-cocoa character in the taste. Clean finish with mild hop bitterness under the malt. Creamy feel with moderate carbonation. Very drinkable.
Jan 08, 2021
Photo of bonsainut
Reviewed by bonsainut from North Carolina

3.99/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A very good dunkel! I recommend!

Notes: The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery is a Charlotte-based local craft brewer that embraces classic old world brewing. They brew lagers (more costly to brew than ales). They embrace the Bavarian Purity Law (Rheinheitsgebot) that limits beer ingredients. They don't heat pasteurize their beers - so they must be kept cold at all times.

With that said, here is the review:

From a retail 12 oz. bottle:
Look: A pleasing dark amber color. True to a dunkel brown with some red. Only trace foam in a clean pour into glass.
Smell: Pleasing earthy aroma with soft caramel and almost chocolate undertones. Fresh hops that smell soft and not green or bitter.
Taste: Smooth malty flavor with soft caramel and distant cocoa. Not sweet - but quite smooth. Just a touch of hops bitterness, but balanced by the malt. Very drinkable.
Feel: Medium to medium light body with light carbonation. Not at all heavy like some dunkels.

How I grade:
1: Poor
2: Below average
3: Average
4: Above average
5: Exceptional
Dec 05, 2020
Photo of hottenot
Reviewed by hottenot from North Carolina

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
An exceptional Dunkel!
Looks Ruby Dark
Smells like Malted Caramel and something like Coke.
Tastes like it smells. Malt and Coke with a smattering of Hops.
Overall it is as authentic a German Dunkel as you can get this fresh.
(I live about 25 miles from the brewery.)

OMB is the closest to a German Brewery outside of Giessen.
Feb 10, 2020
Photo of Reef
Reviewed by Reef from South Carolina

4.12/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at the brewery in a Willie Becher style glass
Dark brown with a finger of tan head. Full curtains of lacing. Full ring and cap.
Nutty, cocoa malt aromas.
Light hop bitterness, slight char note, dark chocolate, pumpernickel.
Good steady carbonation, medium body and flavorful at a low ABV.
Dec 29, 2019
 
Rated: 4.36 by msscott1973 from North Carolina

Dec 17, 2018
 
Rated: 3.94 by PaleAleWalt from New York

Dec 03, 2018
 
Rated: 4.73 by Lullaby from North Carolina

Nov 28, 2018
Photo of OhioKevin4
Rated by OhioKevin4 from Ohio

3.98/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Had On-tap at The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. Typical German style dunkel. Good quality and fresh.
Nov 15, 2018
 
Rated: 5 by lebriarjr from North Carolina

Sep 18, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by Bmarkalan1970 from South Carolina

Jan 28, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by jwclt from North Carolina

Jan 13, 2018
Dunkel from The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 148 ratings