The world needs more Dunkel

warsteiner is my favorite imported dunkel. It definitely has the most roasted malt flavor out of all the imports. It taste like a completely different style compared to ayinger, hofbrau, hofbrauhaus freising, ettaler, and weltenburger dunkels I've had.

 

I can get 10-15 different brands here and now at my local shop (Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia).

That's really strange because Spaten Hell is everywhere all over the year and Oktoberfest is one of the first to show up in mid July. There are also piles of Spaten NA beer :/

BTW: I'll not get tired to mention Giesinger is the 7th genuine brewery in Munich. I'm biased for Augustiner beers but, quality wise, I think Giesinger's Dunkel is the best in Munich now. None of them come close to a traditionally brewed Dunkel from Franconia or Upper Palatinate (in my opinion)

 

It is, basically. The further north you go from Munich, Dunkels tend toward more hoppy and roasty in character. Maybe not as roasty as Schwarzbier, but close.

While I like roasty dark beers, I'm more partial to the richer, maltier Munich style (sorry, @b9d9 ) -- which is what seems impossible for American breweries to recreate.

As to Warsteiner's "Dunkel," I just found it too thin and dry for my tastes.

 

Have you seen many Franconian-style Rotbier around you? It's a style I'd never heard of, and a local brewed a rendition that was a very good beer, but I have no idea how the style should actually taste.

 

Thanks for bringing that to my attention.

I found an interesting article (linked below) which details Giesinger Bräu. It appears that this brewery has really grown over the past 10 years.

I found this part interesting:

“Another very positive side effect of the new location stems from the new 147m deep well where the brewery can in future obtain its brewing water which will replace the tap water. The own water is not only cheaper but makes Giesinger also a true Munich brewery. The membership in the Association of Munich breweries, with members like Paulaner, Augustiner, Spaten-Franziskaner-Löwenbräu and Hofbräu is reserved to breweries which brew their beers with authentic water from the Munich soil and not tap water which is sourced in the Mangfall region East of Munich.”

I was heretofore unaware that there was a specific source of water requirement to be classified as a “true Munich brewery”.

Prost!

https://www.inside.beer/news/detail/germany-munich-has-a-new-brewery/

 

Not many but I can remember having "Rotes" from Brauerei Eller a few months ago and I can get Veldensteiner Rotbier locally.
I had too few Rotbiers to give a general picture but I tend to say they are less malty and more fruity. Still rich and flavorful but nothing you'd like more than a Munich Dunkel after your description



Prost!

 

Well, Munich Dunkel isn't my only "favorite" beer, I just prefer it over the more roasty renditions of Dunkel.

Here's my review of the local Rotbier. I entered it into the database as a Vienna Lager, because there's no slot for Rotbier.

 

I was about to say it could be what you call Vienna Lager or Amber Lager. Brooklyn Amber Lager is a beer that comes very close to the Rotbiers I've had

 

Well, here's my review of a Vienna from the same brewery -- draw conclusions here.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/50290/606689/?ba=steveh#review

 

I personally have not tasted it but Notch Brewing recently produced a Rotbier.

“Notes: A rarely found style originating from Nuremberg in Franconia. The red color comes from the unique Francoinian malt, as well as an extended decoction and wort boiling. Double decocted, naturally carbonated, and conditioned in horizontal lagering tanks for two months.”

That beer was placed within the American Amber/Red Lager category:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22723/608520/

It sure reads like a tasty beer. @Rug

Prost!

 

what is your thoughts on flensburger? It is the only available near me dunkel I have not tried.

 

I don't have any special connections in the US. I thought is was available locally...I'll need to check. We do regularly go to Munich to visit relatives, maybe I only had it there?

 

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2854/6711/?ba=steveh#review

Another in the Northern German style of Dunkel, but well done -- IMO.

Lot of hate for Flensburger in Germany, it seems, but I've liked a couple of their beers.

 

You did not direct this question to me but: check dates!!

I have not had the Dunkel but it took me several years until I lucked out at 'finding' a Flensburger Pilsner that was not very old. It was at a German Restaurant and while I thought it was good, it was not anything special. I will no longer be 'on the hunt' for this beer.

Cheers!

 

I appreciate any input from anyone on here. That is the same reason I have not drank flensburger dunkel yet. I went to multiple total wine stores near me most of there flensburger beers are over a year old. I have tried the pilsner before it was 9 months old and I would rank it probably at the very bottom of all the german pilsners I have tried.

 

Sounds exactly like my journey.

Prost!

 

18 out of 61 German Pils in my reviews, but mine was definitely fresher than yours.

Their Dortmunder, on the other hand...

 

I feel like it's already getting there. Even some smaller breweries I've been to have one, in addition to of course Notch, Tree House, and the like