Dunkel beer: what you need to know and popular brands

Dunkel - it is a German lager of bottom fermentation. "Dunkel" means "dark" in German. Beer is mainly associated with Bavaria and Munich. Its color can vary from copper to dark brown.

What you need to know about Dunkel beer

1. Characteristics of Dunkel beer

   Alcohol content 4.5-6%. 45% of Munich malt is used as ingredients, the rest is Pilsen malt. The beer is soft and easy to drink. The taste is roasted, caramel, toffee, nuts. Hops are weakly expressed, there are no smoky notes, but there are malt tones.

   German Dunkel, sometimes called Munchner dunkel, should have an aroma of chocolate roasted malt and bread or biscuit. The beer is not too sweet. It balances between the expressive character of malt and a subtle hint of bitterness from noble hops.

2. Feature of production

   The caramelized malt of Munich-based dunkel is the product of a chemical process known as the Maillard reaction. It gives the malt its characteristic bread crust flavor. To get shades of caramel, it is fired until it is browned.

3. In addition to formalities

   In conversations, all dark beer is called dunkel. In the northern and western parts of Germany, even altbier, a dark, top-fermented beer, suffers this fate.

4. How and with what to drink

   The lager is served at a temperature of 9-10 °C, poured into mugs or beer glasses (especially typical for Oktoberfest, the German beer festival). Goes well with classic Bavarian dishes such as sausages and roasted or grilled meats.

Popular Dunkel brands worth trying

1. Augustiner-Bräu

   The most popular beer is Augustiner Helles (5.2%), a light, long-lasting secondary fermentation.

2. König Ludwig Schlossbrauerei

   Their slogan "Bier vom königliche Hoheit", or "beer of the Royal Highness", belongs to the heritage of the Kingdom of Bavaria, has long been associated with brewing.

3. Warsteiner Premium Veru

   the most popular drink. The largest private brewery in Germany, produced in strict accordance with the Bavarian Beer Purity Act.

4. Hofbräu München

   The company is located in Munich, Germany, but is owned by Bavaria. It quickly became popular thanks to the first brewer, Heimeran Pongratz, and the famous law of 1516, which stated that only natural ingredients could be used in the brewing process.

5. Paulaner

   One of the six breweries that supply beer for the Oktoberfest. Ranks sixth among the best-selling beers in Germany.

Update: 18.04.2020

Category: Beer, Cider, Ale