Frankenmuth Brown Hound Dunkel | Frankenmuth Brewery

4/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #54 (July 2011):

The second-oldest brewery in the US is brewing again. Dark chestnut-hued brew, bordering on black. Lacing dresses the glass very well. Fresh-toasted dark bread flaunts the malt aroma; very clean. Strong malt presence here—even with it teetering on the dry side, there are a lot of complex layers that peel away, sip after sip. Heavy toasted taste eventually calms down with an even malt flavor. Mild hopping is just enough to keep the malt in check. Very good drinking—spot-on for style, and on par with its authentic German counterparts.

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3.27/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Pours into a becker a deep walnut brown with a thinner light beige head atop that leaves a few spots of lace as it settles.Syrupy in the nose with light nut shell,the sweetness is the main thing here.To be expected it's quite malty and maybe a little sweet for the style with caramel and brown sugar flavors really standing out,just a light drying breadiness in the finish.Not a great example of the style but I love going to the brewery/restaurant on the Cass river close to where I grew up.

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3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

3.26/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

3/5  rDev -17.1%

4.33/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Brilliant chestnut under a clingy 1” dirty white foam collar.
S: Dark malts, spice not roast.
T: Dark malt flavors, no roast or harsh flavors, no fruity esters.
F: medium to medium full bodied, medium to a little above on the carbonation.
O: A well balanced malt forward Munich Dunkel.

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3.87/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

While there are some orange-brown hues that come in when this beer is held up to the light, it's a very dark brown that's completely opaque. The head is a tan one that achieves half a finger's height and retains itself well while putting moderate lacing onto the walls of the glass.
I immediately get notes of toffee out of this one, with a distinctive nuttiness following. There's also lots of toast. There's just enough of a very light earthy hops to balance it while letting malts rule. Some yeasty esters slide in while the flavor shows a gentle peppery sort of character to it. It's very nice, adequately strong, balanced, and deep with a creamy smoothness that's never too high. The finish gives way to the earthier notes and something herbal as well as taking off just a hint of that creaminess when dryness comes in.
The body is medium, crisp from beginning to end and smooth as well with a rolling carbonation. A sort of spiciness or peppery bite translates to the feel at the end of every sip.

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3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

3.88/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at the Frankenmuth Brewery. Wasn't able to watch them pour it, but it arrived with a small, one finger head. Dark brown/mahogany and somewhat cloudy in appearance. Had a malty, cooked grain aroma. Somewhat sweet tasting with a rich maltiness and light on hops. Smooth and full bodied but not heavy. Refreshing Dunkel.

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3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes. The appearance was a dark brown color with a one finger of off white foaminess that bled to a light lacing. The smell had some cinnamon, breadiness, light raisin backed up by some light caramel malts. The taste was mainly sweet through the previously mentioned flavors. On the palate, this one sat right at a medium on the body with a fairly decent sessionability about it. The carbonation was pretty subdued and good to me. Overall, I say this was a pretty good Munich Dunkel to have again.

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4/5  rDev +10.5%

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

4.6/5  rDev +27.1%

2.48/5  rDev -31.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

12 oz. From notes back in September.
Amber/brown pour, solid finger of white bubbles.

Aroma, Leathery, malty. Fainter chocolate, caramel, a little mustiness?

Taste, started tart, tea and leather. Cherry, some sour, hmmm.

Lighter bodied. Quite over carbonated as well. Chalking this one up to a bad bottle.

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3.25/5  rDev -10.2%

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

4/5  rDev +10.5%

4/5  rDev +10.5%

3/5  rDev -17.1%

2.88/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Part of a sampler at the brewery. This is another beer I remember from before the big storm. Clear reddish brown with a thin off white head. Very little aroma at all, mild malt and faint yeast. The flavor is a little lackluster, slightly malty, not really roasted, and then a yeasty aftertaste. The body is okay. This was a bit of a disappointment, but it still is a nice beer to drink.

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3/5  rDev -17.1%