Munich Dunkel Lager: Underappreciated Style?

I absolutely love the style as well. I unfortunately I have had few examples and need to check out the Ayinger offering that you mention. As to homebrewing one, if you're lucky enough to have a temp controlled fermentation system go for it. I'm still waiting on a chest freezer and dual temp controller to set mine up. As soon as that bad boy is up and running, I'll be brewing one of these and at least a couple pilsners to boot.

 

Dunkel is a wonderful drink. The Ayinger Altbairisch is my favorite. You can homebrew very good ones at home with some skill and yeast management through the fermentation. Big starters are part of the process , so don't skimp.

 

Underappreciated and underrepresented for sure! There aren't too many around by me (even fewer if you don't count the generic 'continental darks' like Heineken Dark), but you alrady hit up two of my favorites. The Ayinger is great, and the Hofbrau is really solid (and a nice case purchase due, in part, to the green glass but also because they do go down very easily.

When I was homebrewing this style was my first lager, too. It definitely was forgiving and made for a drinkable beer, but took a couple more tries to get really zoned in there. Consider doing a decoction, or maybe do that 'concentrating a portion of the wort' thing. If you keg, then you are in for a treat- having a non-filtered fresh dunkel available on command is a real pleasure.

 

Good luck with this thread, that shit ain't hoppy enough to get most BA's to talk about or appreciate it.

To answer your question, when it's done right, it's a delicious and enjoyable style, tasty and relatively low ABV.

 

Look for Weltenburger too: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1315/4920

 

Guess you missed how this thread progressed? http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/an-ode-to-helles-lagers.31181/

 

Find Ettaler Kloster Dunkel if you can.

 

Sorry if I'm recommending something that's not available in the US, but I had this the first time a few weeks ago and it was really good: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/6063/54678

 

I drank this at the source on my honeymoon - IMO the cream of the crop ! I wish it was distributed in RI/MA...

 

I like this type of beer too and I've been looking into it. I've only tried the Ayinger though.

 

Aw man -- now you're just being cruel! That place looks idyllic.

 

I've tried this one in the past, but there's no freshness date on the bottle and the bottles I've had have been off -- sour & astringent. Just a fair warning.

 

Weißenhoe is imported and distributed by Shelton Brothers in the US -- a somewhat contentious group.

 

This thread has me wanting some Frankenmouth Dunkel !

 

It is.

 

I enjoy the style, but always forget about it or just never see it. Picked up a sixer of Spaten Dark the other day for the heck of it and was surprised how good it was - like drinking a chocolate lager - and you can't beat the price. #ABInbevhaterscanshoveit

 

May not be the best in the style, but Warsteiner Dunkel is pretty tasty and goes down easy.

 

One of my absolute favorite styles. I'm surprised more of them don't make it here. All six Munich breweries make one, and almost all of the surrounding breweries do, too.
With as many beers are Paulaner and Weihenstephaner send over here, I'd trade most of them for their dunkel.
Usually when I need a dunkel fix I go with the Ayinger or I go full-out and buy a sealed case of the HB (to avoid the green bottle blues).

Prost Brewing in Denver (opening in 3 weeks) will be reproducing an authentic Franconian dunkel as part of their line-up. It'll even be brewed with real German equipment shipped over from the (former) Brauerei Hümmer near Bamberg.