Cask (gravity dispense), St Albans Beer Festival 2005. Deep ruby red colour. I certainly thought this beer was a bit of a strange beast and difficult to classify, but I never would have had it down as a dunkel. Just take a look at that grain bill. I think they may have accidentally omitted the kitchen sink. There’s more chocolate and coffee than I would normally expect to find in a dunkel. The words "milky" and "creamy" appeared several times in my notes - milk chocolate, creamy coffee. But most of the impact is up front in the aroma. Some soft coffee and roasty malt on the palate but, truth be told, there wasn’t a lot happening. Falls away slightly on the finish. Odd but somehow appealing.

Bottled. Dull red/brown body, off-coffee head that soon goes. Roasty aroma. Liked the lively feel tempered by more roastyness. More than a hint of sweetness in the finish. To be honest, I didn’t find it to be the most flavoursome but still a decent toasty/roasty in a style I’ve not tried before.

Cask conditioned - handpump - Cask & Cutler Sheffield. Stated to be a mild on the beer board and also 5.3% but if Durham state it’s a dunkel who am I to argue? I certainly wouldn’t have described it as a mild. A dark ruby beer with roasted notes in both the aroma and the taste. There is added fruity notes. The beer is tasty but seems a bit too complex for its own good.

I have never tried a British Dunkel before-this may be the only one in existence. What a pleasant surprise it was although I should know by now that this brewery consistently produces good beers. Dark with a lot of complex flavours including chocolate and coffee. Well worth a try.

Bring it on. I love this dark lager brew. More than a mild and more than a lager. Bottle, but nice with it. A good zippy one.