Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel

Brewed by Brauerei Aying
Style: Dunkel
Aying, Germany

10.09.04 .5l bottle. Dark copper pour; thick tan head of soapy bubbles. Aromas are mild, grassy, white bread, milk chocolate. You really have to search to find any aroma at all. Flavor is quite lagery; plenty of mulch and hints of light chocolate; some grass, mostly bland. It’s easy to be balanced when there’s no flavor. A bit tinny everytime. I’ve given this beer too many chances to be good because it has a high rating. I have never liked it, time after time, but I can’t keep trying to find one that tastes as good as many of these glowing ratings claim.

20080927 Okay, so it’s been a while and this is due a re-rate. The weird thing is that my description from 2004 andthe other experiences does not change. I get the same flavors, mild aromas, and slight mineral characteristic, however, it’s fair to say that now I quite enjoy the beer. Ah, tastes change and we grow to appreciate the finer things, as they say. Well, it took longer that for any other style but in the last year or two I’ve come around on dunkel. Still not my favorite, but I’m bumping the score from 3-4-3-2-5-1.7 up a bit.

Pours a brown color, with a hint of red around the edges. Aroma is roasty and malty. Maybe a little bit of coffee in there as well. Flavor starts off with a little bit of sweet chocolate and finishes with a bit of burnt malt. Flavors are well balanced.

Pours out a somewhat transparent brown with a very small streaky head. Does not have a super strong aroma, but there are notes of malt. It has a nice malty flavor with some notes of fruit and a slight nut flavor. An awesome dunkel from a great brewery!

Dark ruby color with a medium fading off white head. Aroma is light malt and a little nuttty. Flavor is toffee like with a hint of coffee. Finish is slightly dry and the palate a bit thin. Not bad, not great.

Chestnut brown color. Tan head disappears quickly. Nutty, grainy nose and taste. Very light hops. A very nice dunkel even though it is not one of my favorite styles.

Pour was a brown that displayed red when held to the light. The head was huge, thick, creamy and beautiful. The aroma was nutty and lightly fruity. The flavor was hazelnut, and some other stuff that I couldn’t pin down. Just outstanding beer. Dunkle is quickly becoming one of my favorite styles.

Cream-colored head, dissolves quickly. Malt background prominent. Toffeeish sweetness, quick, but pleasing finish.Nutty flavors, coppery, metallic, even. Very little hoppiness, clean, simple. Dark lager isn’t one of my favorite styles, but this has to be one the best.

Lightly roasty aroma with hints of nuts and a light fruitiness. Malty with some heavy toasty flavors, not quite roasted though. Light fruits and some nutty qualities. Finishes dry and earthy with a light coffee and hazlenut flavor.