Dunkel
Occidental Brewing Co.

Don't remember the beers from this brewery specifically as it has been a number of years since we were there. But I do remember there was not an even an average one in the beers I tried. All were very good

Much lighter in color than I expected for a Dunkel. Aroma is yeasty, not super strong, slightly metallic. Flavor almost came off as a light beer at first-- very low impact towards the beginning, but the aftertaste won me over... toasty, malty, full flavor. At first sip, I felt the body was lacking.. but I think the impact of a watery flavor was impacting my perception... after re-evaluating... nice body, low astringency. Overall probably wouldn't purchase again because I was expecting more robust flavor throughout rather than just at the end.

 

 

Look: Opaque rich amber, leaning brown with a nice, off-white head that quickly recedes to a film, leaving good lacing behind
Aroma: Warm brown bread, dough, earthiness, wafts of dark fruit, toffee, floral hops, and melanoidin
Taste: Melanoidin, bread, dough, and toffee scream onto the palate with waves of earthiness and dark fruits rolling in. Toffee and dark fruit rule the middle only to be overtaken with sweet breadiness, floral notes, and toffee that grab hold and lead to the finish
Mouthfeel: Full but light feeling, very clean throughout, medium-high carbonation, and a clean, soft, and slightly crisp finish
Overall: This is a winner right here. One of my favorite lager styles and was pumped to hear that one of my favorite lager brewers were releasing theirs in cans. A nice and well-made American take on a Dunkel with rich bready notes, toffee, earthy and floral hops, and some dark fruit. Fulfilling, refreshing, and just straight up good. Recommended

had not seen this one before i picked it up yesterday, and i continue to be impressed with these guys, they make some mean lagers and everything is always traditional but also distinctive, and super well executed, i love what they do. this is a cool example of the style, a little paler than many, light brownish mahogany colored brew with several inches of rising off white head and a ton of frantic carbonation, eggshell luster, not all the way clear. looks great. the nose and taste are less sweet and more nutty than most of these, a toasted or kilned grain thing rather than a caramelized one, i love that in this, and i think it leaves unique space for the german lager yeast to occupy, bready in its own right and bringing forth the mineral profile of the water in an appreciable way. surprisingly dry for the style, its almost crisp. i think it being a little lighter in malt depth and in body help with that, but this isnt hurting for flavor at all. subtle raisin, almond, dark bread, and mellow woody notes intermingle beautifully, and this feels clean and almost healthful to drink. oddly a fast one, usually a sipping style for me but this is a real drinker, my wife adored it as well, and we found ourselves wishing we had more than one can. seems like every single beer these guys make is awesome, and this definitely stands as one of the better american made dunkels i have ever had.

Draft at PreFunk. Hazy copper color, small skin of head. Caramel, brown bread aroma. Taste too features these, a bit weaker than the native German style. Still excited to see this in the US.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Served on tap into a weizen glass.

A- Poured an incredible dark cherry wood color, very clear with tons of streaming carbonation, huge fluffy off-white head that left spotty lace.

S- Mostly cereal grains, sweet malts, medicinal notes, and indistinct fruity notes.

T- Big cereal grains, sweet bready notes, medicinal notes, some fruity notes, nutty flavors, and caramel.

M- Lighter bodied, somewhat watery, and soft carbonation.

O- Really incredible appearance for this beer, lots of malt sweetness, and a lighter lager but not as clean and crisp as I would expect.