Spaten Dunkel - Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu

DoktorZee

Alberta (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a schooner. No obvious best before date on the bottle.

A - deep brown, clear with a one finger tan head that disappears after a couple minutes with just a hint of lacing.

S - big caramel malty nose on this one; mixed in with a bit of bread as well

T - initial hops bitterness is subdued and quickly overtaken by the big caramel malt profile. This never quite gets sweet like a Maibock and instead finishes with a combination of mild bitterness and caramel malt. Some spiciness at the end as well.

M - medium bodied with moderate carbonation; definitely heavier than a lager

D - goes down very easy

Hard to pick a final review on this one: it's got some flashes of brilliance, but in the end may be just a touch too subdued to be exceptional. I certainly don't regret drinking it as it was solid, but it wasn't truly outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 01:39:54 | More by DoktorZee

kvnstfrd

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +22.3%

05-23-2013 13:08:50 | More by kvnstfrd

johntfox

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

05-21-2013 01:45:26 | More by johntfox

kp29

Arizona

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

05-20-2013 00:48:22 | More by kp29

ElizabethEleanor

Texas

4/5  rDev +8.7%

05-16-2013 20:42:38 | More by ElizabethEleanor

Cvescalante

Texas

3/5  rDev -18.5%

04-30-2013 06:11:11 | More by Cvescalante

johntandlich

New York

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

04-25-2013 03:15:19 | More by johntandlich

bendukes86

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

04-20-2013 18:41:43 | More by bendukes86

nycavalier22

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +15.5%

04-05-2013 22:26:39 | More by nycavalier22

losdizzel

Oklahoma

4.25/5  rDev +15.5%

03-29-2013 01:38:23 | More by losdizzel

hersh500

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.7%

03-28-2013 01:14:25 | More by hersh500

Tjvan2

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

03-28-2013 00:42:30 | More by Tjvan2

RyanTeeter

New York

4.38/5  rDev +19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

a: A very pretty beer. Ruby red chocolate in color. Very clear, with limited amount of light allowewd through. Head was a pretty khaki color but left as quickly as it came.

s: Wonderful citrus roasted chocolate flavors! Very delightful. I am getting some vanilla aromas on the end.

t: The flavor is delicious. I really am enjoying it. A very smooth chocolate flavor with an ending flavor of vanilla and grassy malts. Again, very plesant.

m: Nice coverage witin the mouth. Not real heavy but not very light. Light oil texture, but each sip and it's flavors all manage to disappear between gulps.

o: I know I mentioned it earlier but I really enjoyed this beer. Veryy unique flavors - reminds me of some vanilla casket beers, only lighter on the vanilla and heavier on the chocolate.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 01:42:19 | More by RyanTeeter

KevinGordon

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +8.7%

03-19-2013 14:21:36 | More by KevinGordon

BetterBeerPlz

Arkansas

4/5  rDev +8.7%

03-18-2013 13:16:56 | More by BetterBeerPlz

T100Mark

California

3.09/5  rDev -16%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A 12 ounce bottle (no Euro Weenie bottle) in a shaker pint glass.

Appearance - Dark amber color. The head disappeared almost immediately. Zero lacing.

Smell - Nice enough.

Taste - Malt. Carmel. Herbs. Faint smokey flavor. Slightly sweet. Very smooth. Mild.

Mouth - Very little body. Almost no carbonation. Unimpressive.

Overall - Not bad but not good either. I expect more from the Germans. Is this beer always this flat?

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 03:01:29 | More by T100Mark

Vyronian

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +15.5%

03-14-2013 20:17:23 | More by Vyronian

mcewesr

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -18.5%

03-13-2013 17:22:17 | More by mcewesr

Herky21

Iowa

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

03-12-2013 00:00:36 | More by Herky21

DragLine6

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

03-09-2013 06:57:44 | More by DragLine6

TastyAdventure

Kentucky

3.94/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance - Beautiful dark ruby color. Thin white head that fades a little too quickly

Mouthfeel - Could use some more carbonation. other wise, a nice consistency.

Taste - Dark fruit, I taste raisins, a touch of bitterness to help balance the great malty sweetness, nothing overpowering,

Smell - freshly poured, it's amazing, rich, full flavor, dark fruit,

Overall - tastes like a beer that should have more alcohol, I really wish it did. If it had as much alcohol as Spaten's Optimator (7.5%), I'd get a sixer of this regularly. Nonetheless, a great tasting brew with plenty to offer. My first dunkel, and based on it's low ratings, I'm guessing I need to go try some more of this style.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 00:36:54 | More by TastyAdventure

TastyIsBeer

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

02-24-2013 21:25:18 | More by TastyIsBeer

atone315

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

02-23-2013 20:53:21 | More by atone315

GennyCreamAle

New York

4/5  rDev +8.7%

02-23-2013 04:02:52 | More by GennyCreamAle

Kwak78

California

4/5  rDev +8.7%

02-21-2013 07:16:04 | More by Kwak78