Ettaler Kloster Dunkel

Brewed by Klosterbrauerei Ettal
Style: Dunkel
Ettal, Germany

Bottle. I tried the Ettaler Doppelbock a short while ago and loved it, so thought I’d try one of their other flavors. This pours a deep brownish amber, thin white head that fades quickly.Nutty aroma and taste. I’ve had few dunkels, so I’m not one to know this as a comparison, but I liked the taste, it went down smooth, and while I preferred the doppelbock, I would imagine this is a good representation of the dunkel family.

Nice deep brown coloured body with a non-existant head and very minimal bubbles. Aroma of roasted malt, nuts, a bit of dark spices and a tiny amount of hops. Medium-bodied; Short maltiness then showing a ton of nuts and a large sweetness. All of that fading in the aftertaste to show some mild maltiness. Overall, a decent dunkel, nothing great in any aspect, the style or the beer. I sampled this 50 cL bottle purchased from Chevy Chase Wine & Liquors in Washington, D.C. on 31-December-2005.

Bottle, pours a deep mahogony, with a thin dark tan head. Aroma is light with pleasant hints of dark malt, light wheat scents and rounds out with some carmel notes. The flavor is very rich with roasted malt at the forefront, the bittersweet flavor of molasses, and light bitterness. The mouth is creamy and makes this beer savory. Not entirely complex, but a very good dunkel. This would be a great dinner beer.

Darker brown, smooth off-white head. Soft toasty malt nose, milk chocolate and light cherry note. Watery palate that left this beer a bit lifeless.

Pours a clear brown with amber highlights and thin beige head that quickly fades. Aroma of molasses and sweet caramel malt. Flavor is lightly molasses and raisin. Body is nice and chewy but the finish is astringent and cloying. Not bad, I’d like to try it fresh.

<b>11-Sep-08</b> <i>(500-ml bottle: Purchased 27-Aug-08 for $3.99 at the Pizza Port Bottle Shop in Carlsbad, CA)</i> This beer offers flavors of soft chocolate, toasty bread crust, and a background graininess suggesting some pilsener malt, with only a little residual sugar and a very light roastiness. Hops flavor and bitterness are both low. As the beer warms and the sips increase, the graininess starts taking on a slight hint of corn. Medium in body, reasonably dry, carbonation is medium but soft. The aroma of toasty malts dominates for the most part, with subtle notes of nuts, grainy malts, and vaguely floral hops. Clear, light-brown in color with a steady supply of small, slowly rising carbonation streams. The beer pours half an inch of off-white head that slowly settles to a wide ring, leaving only a few spots of lace on the glass. Overall, a pleasant, smooth, easy-drinking dunkel and a decent example of the style.

50 cL bottle. Pours clear and golden deep orange with a creamy off-white head. Orange fruity and malty aroma. Flavour is sweet and light fruity. Mild caramel malt base with a mild spice note. Ends dry and bitter.

(Bottle). Malt aroma. Dark copper color with light tan head. Flavor is nicely developed caramelish malt that transitions into a very respectable finish.