Ettaler Kloster Dunkel

Brewed by Klosterbrauerei Ettal
Style: Dunkel
Ettal, Germany

This one was a nice surprise. Served in a 10 ounce glass at the Drafting Room, Exton (I’m not sure why this one was a 10 ounce serving). Nice deep brown hazy pour with aromas of heavy caramel malt, almonds, brown sugar, toffee, cabernet. Dense velvety palate, with great caramel/toffee malt flavor, coupled with nuts, brown sugar, cabernet, and even a dark chocolate sensation. Wonderful.

Pours borwn with a tan head. Smells of bananas, cherries, citrus, rasberries, and blueberries. Tastes sweet with some nice orangey notes. As the beer warms up, some chocolate and pepper notes emerge. Tarte mouthfeel with a semi sweet finish.

Thick bready aroma with berry-like fruitiness and grainy malts. Clear dark amber-brown with low, fine-bubbled white head that leaves a lasting cover and clings to the side of the glass. Toasted, bready and toffee-like malts with some caramelized character and moderate finishing bitterness. Refreshing medium-light body with lively effervescence. Tulip glass, just above fridge temp. Bottle (BB 101005, Bello Vino, Jul-05).

Brown with a hint of orange when held to the light. Moderate light tan head. Dry aromas of chocolate, caramel and fruit cake. I’m sure a fresh mug of this would be better. A touch to much carbonation that takes away from the feel. Nutty fruitcake flavors, with pecans, raisins and toasted wheat bread. Long pleasant malt linger. A fine dunkel. I’m sure this is would be great on draft.

Bottle: Dark reddish brown, thin, but lacing off-white head; distinctive malty nose, some traces of roasted malts ,molasses ,a tinge of raisins and port in the aroma; quite dry, malty, coffeeish taste, smooth mouthfeel; slight chocolatey-bitter finish. Very pleasant, a very good Bavarian Dunkel !

Mahogany color with a tan head. Aroma of roasted malt and chocolate. Chocolate, roasted malt and a hint of hops in the flavor. Finish is dry with a hint of cocoa. The monks have done a nice job.

Head is initially average sized, frothy, light brown, . Body is medium to dark brown. Aroma is moderately malty (caramel, chocolate, toasted bread), lightly hoppy (flowers, herbs). Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly bitter. Medium body, velvety texture, lively carbonation. Delightful dunkel, very clean. It’s a bit restrained and a bit too sweet, keeping it from 4+ range, but it’s very enjoyable.

Sampler from bottle at <a href=http://ratebeer.com/Place/illinois/orland-par Orland Parh, Another beer at a Binny’s tasting that’s just coming out here in the states. Deep malty smell and a respectable brown body. Deep malt taste, too. Just a little bit of fruitiness, perhaps a touch of figs, caramel, etc. Really too much malt to allow any hops to wander in.