Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel | Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer KG / Brauerei Aying
Brewed by:
Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer KG / Brauerei Aying
Germany
ayinger-bier.de
Style: Munich Dunkel Lager
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
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.
Added by TheLongBeachBum on 12-13-2001
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 1,143 | Reviews: 600
Reviews by DrewBest:
More User Reviews:
4.16/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Nice color poured well,not overly sweet but just right.Really liked the caramelly aroma,one of my favorite traditional Bavarian darks.Creamy texture with a cookie dough-like flavor with moderate crispness in the finish.Not overly sweet with just mild caramel and and brown sugar notes.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Nice color poured well,not overly sweet but just right.Really liked the caramelly aroma,one of my favorite traditional Bavarian darks.Creamy texture with a cookie dough-like flavor with moderate crispness in the finish.Not overly sweet with just mild caramel and and brown sugar notes.
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3.41/5 rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Redish/brown colour. Foamy head doesn't last too long. Slight maltiness in the nose. Lightly hopped. Hints of molasses & very light licorice with a pinch of caramel but yet not sweet at all. The finish is very mellow & starts to dry, almost disappearing too fast.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Redish/brown colour. Foamy head doesn't last too long. Slight maltiness in the nose. Lightly hopped. Hints of molasses & very light licorice with a pinch of caramel but yet not sweet at all. The finish is very mellow & starts to dry, almost disappearing too fast.
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4.1/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Appearance This orangish-brown lager was luminous with a nice, foamy head that puffed up and stayed around for a while.
Smell The sweet molasses and nice, dark malt came with a hint of weizeny bread.
Taste The molasses and malt came out well at the tongue, but the big story here was the bready notes. You almost never see this outside of Bayern, but its really typical of the style done properly.
Mouthfeel This lager was medium-bodied with some excellent, puffy carbonation that again reminded me of a Dunkel Weizen.
Drinkability This is old-school dead-on for the style, and I really appreciated the craftsmanship that went into this offering from Ayinger.
688 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Appearance This orangish-brown lager was luminous with a nice, foamy head that puffed up and stayed around for a while.
Smell The sweet molasses and nice, dark malt came with a hint of weizeny bread.
Taste The molasses and malt came out well at the tongue, but the big story here was the bready notes. You almost never see this outside of Bayern, but its really typical of the style done properly.
Mouthfeel This lager was medium-bodied with some excellent, puffy carbonation that again reminded me of a Dunkel Weizen.
Drinkability This is old-school dead-on for the style, and I really appreciated the craftsmanship that went into this offering from Ayinger.
688 characters
4.33/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours reddish in color with a generous, tan head.
Caramel and nutty aroma with a bread dough yeasty note, pumpkin bread.
Rich malt flavors that are like nutty banana bread with vanilla in the fade. Pretty big flavors for the style. The body is soft and smooth, and if you don't mind a little sweetness, it's very easy to drink.
Ayinger makes truely great beer. Nothing extreme or flashy, just great.
402 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours reddish in color with a generous, tan head.
Caramel and nutty aroma with a bread dough yeasty note, pumpkin bread.
Rich malt flavors that are like nutty banana bread with vanilla in the fade. Pretty big flavors for the style. The body is soft and smooth, and if you don't mind a little sweetness, it's very easy to drink.
Ayinger makes truely great beer. Nothing extreme or flashy, just great.
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3.74/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
This is a dark, translucent, stained oak brown beer with a monster malted milk head that thins slowly with a thick and low lacing, almost as though it isn't dissapating but being sucked back into the brew. The nose is doughy soapy water and yeast.
Spicy hops hit first chased by metallic sweetness with a soft-baked quality. There is a very subtle toffee tone. Finish is yeasty and spicy with notes of clove, nutmeg, and alcohol. Mouthfeel is lightweight and chewy. This is a fun beer, but not really a new favorite. Kind of reminds me of a really toned down Goose Island Xmas Ale.
585 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
This is a dark, translucent, stained oak brown beer with a monster malted milk head that thins slowly with a thick and low lacing, almost as though it isn't dissapating but being sucked back into the brew. The nose is doughy soapy water and yeast.
Spicy hops hit first chased by metallic sweetness with a soft-baked quality. There is a very subtle toffee tone. Finish is yeasty and spicy with notes of clove, nutmeg, and alcohol. Mouthfeel is lightweight and chewy. This is a fun beer, but not really a new favorite. Kind of reminds me of a really toned down Goose Island Xmas Ale.
585 characters
3.96/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours a very nice clear brown into my fluted glass. Nice bronze head retains well.
Aroma nothing notable.
Taste on the other hand very nice. Smooth, light, sweet. Very sessionable.
A very nice change when I want to cleanse the palate with something totally drinkable after a hop bomb or two.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours a very nice clear brown into my fluted glass. Nice bronze head retains well.
Aroma nothing notable.
Taste on the other hand very nice. Smooth, light, sweet. Very sessionable.
A very nice change when I want to cleanse the palate with something totally drinkable after a hop bomb or two.
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3.98/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Presentation: It was poured from a brown 500ml bottle into a Pilsener glass.
Appearance: On top there is a thin creamy off white colored head. It fades down to just a very thin wispy covering that leaves some nice lace rings on the glass as I drink. Its body is a deep brownish amber or caramel color. It has a good transparent appearance and light amber highlights.
Smell: The aroma has a light sweet caramel or toffee malt character.
Taste/Mouth Feel: The flavor has a deep buttery sweet malt with hints of sweet candy, caramel and chocolate. Hop flavor is very mild and offers very little balance. It finishes smooth and sweet with a smooth slick texture. It has a medium body and light carbonation.
Notes: This is a very nice Dark Lager.
746 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Presentation: It was poured from a brown 500ml bottle into a Pilsener glass.
Appearance: On top there is a thin creamy off white colored head. It fades down to just a very thin wispy covering that leaves some nice lace rings on the glass as I drink. Its body is a deep brownish amber or caramel color. It has a good transparent appearance and light amber highlights.
Smell: The aroma has a light sweet caramel or toffee malt character.
Taste/Mouth Feel: The flavor has a deep buttery sweet malt with hints of sweet candy, caramel and chocolate. Hop flavor is very mild and offers very little balance. It finishes smooth and sweet with a smooth slick texture. It has a medium body and light carbonation.
Notes: This is a very nice Dark Lager.
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3.88/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Presentation: 17 oz euro brown bottle with no freshness date.
Appearance: Dark brown in colour with a heavy creamed coffee coloured head that retains quite well.
Smell: Sweet toffee, caramel, light ripe fruit and hints of coffee.
Taste: Warming and chewy toasted bready malt with slight caramel and a trace fruitiness are the forefront of this brew. A touch of hop bitterness barely dents the big malt profile. A thin coffeeish finish in the end with a touch more toasted malt.
Notes: "Old Bavarian Dark Beer" is what Altbairisch Dunkel translates into. This beer is just chock-full of malt, the model dark lager for brewers to mold from. Absolutely Superb!
669 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Presentation: 17 oz euro brown bottle with no freshness date.
Appearance: Dark brown in colour with a heavy creamed coffee coloured head that retains quite well.
Smell: Sweet toffee, caramel, light ripe fruit and hints of coffee.
Taste: Warming and chewy toasted bready malt with slight caramel and a trace fruitiness are the forefront of this brew. A touch of hop bitterness barely dents the big malt profile. A thin coffeeish finish in the end with a touch more toasted malt.
Notes: "Old Bavarian Dark Beer" is what Altbairisch Dunkel translates into. This beer is just chock-full of malt, the model dark lager for brewers to mold from. Absolutely Superb!
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3.58/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
500 ml bottle. No date, but there is a touch of oxidation. Brown and garnet with a nice tan cap on top. Strong malt nose featuring chocolate, and toffee. No hops here. Buttery chocolate with a drying at the end. Light carb is nice. Well worth the coupole of bucks fo the bottle.
278 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
500 ml bottle. No date, but there is a touch of oxidation. Brown and garnet with a nice tan cap on top. Strong malt nose featuring chocolate, and toffee. No hops here. Buttery chocolate with a drying at the end. Light carb is nice. Well worth the coupole of bucks fo the bottle.
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3.92/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
500 ml bottle pours a clear dark chestnut body with a small tan head that disperses some minor sheet lacing.
Malty aroma of caramel, toffee, brown sugar, and baked brown bread. A hint of spicy hops underneath.
Body is medium and the carbonation seems a little too fierce for the style.
Taste is very much like the aroma. Baked brown bread, toffee, and toasted caramel notes are enhanced by a nice hint of nuttiness. Just a vague note of spicy hops to balance.
A simple dark lager that is extremely well executed and very tasty.
531 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
500 ml bottle pours a clear dark chestnut body with a small tan head that disperses some minor sheet lacing.
Malty aroma of caramel, toffee, brown sugar, and baked brown bread. A hint of spicy hops underneath.
Body is medium and the carbonation seems a little too fierce for the style.
Taste is very much like the aroma. Baked brown bread, toffee, and toasted caramel notes are enhanced by a nice hint of nuttiness. Just a vague note of spicy hops to balance.
A simple dark lager that is extremely well executed and very tasty.
531 characters
4.09/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
In a glass stein at the Gasthaus by the brewery in Aying. Wonderful malty aroma and taste with just enough German hops (Hallertauer?) to somewhat control the malt. I say "somewhat" because the crystal malt flavor definitely runs the show here. No burnt or roasted grain flavors like so many faux Dunkels from the U.S. Decoction mashing doesn't lend itself well to mass production but this sure tastes like my triple decoction attempts at this beer style. I have no idea what mash procedure they used but it is one delicious Dunkel. Their Dunkelweizen is awesome as well, IMHO.
582 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
In a glass stein at the Gasthaus by the brewery in Aying. Wonderful malty aroma and taste with just enough German hops (Hallertauer?) to somewhat control the malt. I say "somewhat" because the crystal malt flavor definitely runs the show here. No burnt or roasted grain flavors like so many faux Dunkels from the U.S. Decoction mashing doesn't lend itself well to mass production but this sure tastes like my triple decoction attempts at this beer style. I have no idea what mash procedure they used but it is one delicious Dunkel. Their Dunkelweizen is awesome as well, IMHO.
582 characters
4.34/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A: Dark ruby red with deep browns. Creamy white head
S: Very bready on the nose. This is like a liquid version of a variety of freshly baked breads. There are some nice melanoidans and som subtle toasty notes as well. Im getting a very distinct smell of a smoore that has been slightly burnt in the microwave... toasted graham, burnt marshmallow and chocolate.
T: Malty sweet and malty melanoidan mix as soon as this beer hits the palate. A variety of toasty notes, with none reaching the roasted level. There is a mild caramel sweetness and a nuttiness in the finish. Hop bitterness is firm enough to balance the sweetness well
M: medium-light body, almost slick. This is a sweet beer, but the finish is moderately dry with just a slight residual sweetness.
D: A well made munich dunkel is always a drinkable beer and this is no exception. It came in a 16 oz (true pint) bottle but I could see this being served by the liter. Very good beer from a very good brewery!
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look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A: Dark ruby red with deep browns. Creamy white head
S: Very bready on the nose. This is like a liquid version of a variety of freshly baked breads. There are some nice melanoidans and som subtle toasty notes as well. Im getting a very distinct smell of a smoore that has been slightly burnt in the microwave... toasted graham, burnt marshmallow and chocolate.
T: Malty sweet and malty melanoidan mix as soon as this beer hits the palate. A variety of toasty notes, with none reaching the roasted level. There is a mild caramel sweetness and a nuttiness in the finish. Hop bitterness is firm enough to balance the sweetness well
M: medium-light body, almost slick. This is a sweet beer, but the finish is moderately dry with just a slight residual sweetness.
D: A well made munich dunkel is always a drinkable beer and this is no exception. It came in a 16 oz (true pint) bottle but I could see this being served by the liter. Very good beer from a very good brewery!
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4.1/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Purchased at Stateline. I have a PhD in US micros but my knowledge of German/Belgians is lacking but I will give this a shot.
Pours with a light head. Roasted malt in smell. Taste is of rich malt. Mouthfeel is mooth and this a very drinkable brew. I have had some dark lagers since I am in SE PA & this is a good one. Recommended.
Cheers.
341 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Purchased at Stateline. I have a PhD in US micros but my knowledge of German/Belgians is lacking but I will give this a shot.
Pours with a light head. Roasted malt in smell. Taste is of rich malt. Mouthfeel is mooth and this a very drinkable brew. I have had some dark lagers since I am in SE PA & this is a good one. Recommended.
Cheers.
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4.21/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.98/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured into a tall pilsner glass,a thick creamy off white head.A clear ruby red hue.Very carbonated.wisps of tiny bubbles racing to the top of the glass,looks very inviting.
A bisquity,carmelly aroma with a slight hint of smoke.
A tart, dry,bisquity,light malty taste.The aftertaste is a bit thin,light hints of carmel,and a light spicey hop finish. Very smooth and drinkable.A good dark summer beer.Overall a pretty good brew,would drink this again.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured into a tall pilsner glass,a thick creamy off white head.A clear ruby red hue.Very carbonated.wisps of tiny bubbles racing to the top of the glass,looks very inviting.
A bisquity,carmelly aroma with a slight hint of smoke.
A tart, dry,bisquity,light malty taste.The aftertaste is a bit thin,light hints of carmel,and a light spicey hop finish. Very smooth and drinkable.A good dark summer beer.Overall a pretty good brew,would drink this again.
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Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel from Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer KG / Brauerei Aying
Beer rating:
3.96 out of
5 with
1,143 ratings
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