Munich Dunkel Lager: Underappreciated Style?

Do they have the brewhouse set to do decoctions?

Many of the American breweries have German brewing equipment. I have seen a lot of Huppmann brewhouses for example.

 

Yup. Their website is up and down, but here's the lowdown whenever the site goes back up:
http://prostbrewing.com/

 

It doesn't have enough hops to make my unsuspecting guests grimace when they try it. Therefore it isn't cool, and therefore it isn't under appreciated. :-)

 

I love the Munich Dunkel style. It was the first lager I brewed and is one of my favorite beers I have brewed. It has really been a gateway beer to the german lagers for me. Under appreciated, no. I feel that people who know about the style, appreciate it plenty. Is it under brewed, sure. I wish more breweries made it. Bastone and Redwood lodge in Michigan make good Munich Dunkels.

 

Great style. I'd love to homebrew one myself, but I'm not set up for laggering. If you brew it, feel free to send me many samples and I willl let you know my thoughts.

 

Bearing in mind this is the first conversation about the style that I can bring to memory (disclaimer: other memories are available, your results may vary), I'd agree that it's under-appreciated. I'm very partial to a dunkel from time to time: Ayinger, Hoffbrau, Warsteiner, whatever I can lay my hands on. I like it every bit as much a helles, and when I crave one, I really crave one and it satisfies me as much as the best saison.

 

Especially if you arrive via ferry up through the Danube Gorge !

 

To be fair, I drank mostly Asam Bock during my visit

 

I drove there, and it was still scenic. We had stayed the couple of nights before on the Altmuhltal, at this place.
http://www.brauereigasthof-schneider.de/

 

Nothing wrong with that one either -- in fact, I don't think I've disliked any of the Weltenburger beers I can lay my hands on -- they make a couple Märzens that are terrific too.

 

I'll have to give that another try. I gave it a go when it was first introduced (reintroduced?) in the US a couple years back and I thought it was a little thin.

For those in the Midwest, don't forget Lakefront's Eastside Dark. Not a bad take on the style.

 

I find that dark beers in green glass are much less susceptible to skunking than light colored beers. I buy Spaten Optimator six packs off the shelf all the time and have never had any issues.

 

Was in the wrong style on my posting.

 

You've been lucky -- I've had skunky Optimator and the old Dinkel Acker Dunkel in the past. It's not as bad as a lighter beer, but it can get close.

 

Recommended: Red Tape Lager by Jack's Abby.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26520/71819

 

While probably good (I haven't tried it myself), it's not really a Munich Dunkel Lager, as the thread is titled. Dunkelweizens usually take on the typical estery, phenolic characters inherent in the yeast used, so they aren't near the same as a Munich Dunkel.

Edit: Sorry, just saw your amendment! Still, GB makes some good brews.

 

Not the same kind of beer at all, but my experience with Belhaven Scottish Stout in clear glass convinced me once and for all that dark beers DO skunk.

 

This is an unfortunately underappreciated style. More breweries should be brewing dunkels. It's that simple.

 

While I agree with you, it's a very difficult style to brew and get right. Sprecher calls their Black Bavarian a Dunkel, but it's really more Schwarzbier. And Schwarzbier isn't bad, it's just not the same as a Dunkel if that's what you're craving.

 

I love Dunkels! For those who have the ability, Sly Fox's Dunkel Lager is well worth a shot!

And yes, I do feel in the craft beer world it can be a bit of a "looked over" style (as are most lagers in general).