Eichhofener Spezial Dunkel
Schlossbrauerei Eichhofen

 

 

Appearance: It's dark, black with dark ruby and amber tones when held up, all under a very light tan head that dissipates quickly.

Aroma: Lots of roasted and caramel malts, and a decent tart note in the nose. Quite pleasant and refreshing.

Flavor: This beer is quite similar to Eichhofener's Festbier, only more roasted malt flavors. In the front, you a strong dose of tartness (not sourness) with a slight dry, burnt umami taste lingering on the front of the tongue from the roasted malts. The center is more of the same, only even stronger than before, and on the sides finally the relief of burnt and roasted malts flood the senses. The back is where the fun begins, really, with more burntness, some licorice notes and then a lot more burnt roasted malt mixed with caramel sweetness into one umami flavor. However, it's more complex a flavor than that, finding undertones of bitter dark chocolate. It's almost like sucking on a roasted malt hard-candy. You also get the spritzy tartness in the back, as well. The aftertaste is dry, light tartness and a long lingering roasted malt flavor that stays on the tongue long after the swallow is complete.

Mouthfeel: This is both a very full-bodied, thick, typically Bayern beer, but simultaneously also has a spritzy dryness from the tartness and the yeast still popping the mini bubbles and scrubbing the tongue. Like the Festbier of Eichhofener, this is a multi-talented beer in that it could hold up well with a Torte or Kuchen, or fried chicken or schnitzel, though I'd prefer a cake with this beer I think.

Overall: It's a good, really good, almost great Dunkel Kellerbier. I like the sweet-sour affect that the roasted and München caramel malts achieve with a tartness and dryness. It's sweet, caramelly, roasted umami in spades,yet tart & spritzy at the same time, giving it a lighter, dryer feel after you're done than if it were simply a Dunkel with lots of roasted and caramel malts. Without much hops, it's quite an achievement. Though with all that, there's something missing, though I'm not sure what, but overall, it's still a really really good beer.