Spaten Dunkel - Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu

haddon

Kentucky

3.53/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

had this on tap at flying saucer in Nashville.

dark mocha color with decent off-white head. little lacing down pint glass. looks like it has potential

notes were a little light on the nose. did catch some malty caramel smells with lightly toasted grains and nuts. was expecting more considering its appearance

sweet malts on the palate. cocoa & caramel with very little hop presence. kept waiting for more to come through as it warmed but didn't happen

light to medium body with light carbonation

this beer was drinkable but borderlines on not much happening. I kept thinking it was going to start slow and take off, but no. not bad and not great. just OK.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2010 04:52:08 | More by haddon

drabmuh

Maryland

3.95/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Beer served in a tiny wine glass on draft/tap/draught at a local bar. Beer was brown and really hazy with a thin broken yellowish head of tiny bubbles that form some lacing on the glass.

Aroma is mildly sweet and really malty. I now realize that this is a lager. Smells OK.

Beer is medium bodied and has some malty sweetness up front and leaves a slightly dry finish on the back. There is no aftertaste and its a good dunkel lager overall. Its a little like a bock. I enjoyed it, I would order it again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2010 01:38:38 | More by drabmuh

DesMoinesMike

Iowa

2.45/5  rDev -33.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

With the dark color I was expecting a heaver body and deeper taste but was disappointed and feel that this is just a pilsner with food coloring and cinnamon. It has that sourness of the original Spaten but toned down with a bit more focus on malts, but not much more. It burns a bit going down and I wasn't too motivated to finish the bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

09-04-2010 02:02:34 | More by DesMoinesMike

smithza9

Michigan

2.83/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Of all places, I had this at an Irish pub in Canada. It was in a tall, thin. pint glass. This has a somewhat dirty, golden color. It has a very bitter taste, yet has a very smooth finish. Very bitter for a lager. A very light feeling in the mouth complements the bitterness nicely.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2010 00:25:01 | More by smithza9

mdfb79

New York

3.53/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From 6/4/10 notes.Had on tap at Saloon in DC.

a - Pours a dark amber color with a few inches of off white head.

s - Smells of caramel and bready malts.

t - Taste follows the nose, mostly caramel malts. Also some bread and grain.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation.

d - A decent lager. Some nice caramel malts in the smell and taste. Would try again but probably not seek out.

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2010 23:55:58 | More by mdfb79

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Split a pitcher at J. Ryan's in Syracuse. The pitcher made this beer look like a porter, but in a smaller glass is became clear brown. I have to say, this brew reminds me a lot of Spaten's Optimator. I guess I wouldn't be surprised if they shared the same yeast and similar grains. Anyways, that meant this dunkel had a big, dark breadcrust flavor with mild licorice around the edges. There wasn't a lot of flavor upfront, but Spaten is a more corporate-tasting (read simple) brand. Not a bad dunkel for a session.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2010 02:31:57 | More by tempest

MisterTiat

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Served in a Mass Krug

A: Nice amber when held to light, almost black when on the table. Off cream color head, ok retention

S: Roasty

T: Light roasted coffee flavor, but not so strong as to keep me from slamming! Maltiness well balanced by nice hop presence, I think detect some Hallertau

M: Good mouthfeel, beer feels thick and rolls around pleasantly in the mouth

Drinkability: Surprisingly easy to slam! Actually almost dangerously drinkable. It does get a little bit more difficult in a Mass Krug, 2 1/2 liters may be better

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2009 01:52:24 | More by MisterTiat

MTNboy

Missouri

3.68/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This beer has a great true to the name dark brown body with a thick foamy. The lace follows the body as you drink all the way to the bottom, in tight clusters. It has roasted malty aroma. The flavor is a little bit metallic but not enough to really care about. The taste of this beer is all about roasty caramel like malt. The mouthfeel is a little more watery than I thought it would be but it is still a medium bodied beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-05-2009 03:42:41 | More by MTNboy

atpben

Texas

2.95/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Had this on tap at the Gingerman in Houston. Poured in a pint glass. Appears dark brown color with a tan head that dissiptes quite rapidly. Very earthy in the aroma with some grain. Some light chocolate and caramel in the taste but no depth. Quick, dry finish. I expected more from this beer. Was a little let down. The first Spaten beer that I didn't care for too much.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2009 01:27:22 | More by atpben

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.18/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Found this beer on-tap at Marikka's Bierstube, Lexington, KY.

The beer opens with an impressive, solid brown color with some ambers shining through. Bright clarity, fantastic head formation and retention with some lacing left on the glass. Dunkels just don't look better.

A bit bolder in the nose than I am use to from the style. The dry, toasty malts blaze the trail while subtle hints of cocoa, walnuts, and coffee can be found. Bready, fresh yeast aromas provide the pillow for the clean and varying scents.

Flavors are very consistent with the aromas. The bready malts give enough sweetness to compensate for the toasty notes. Avoiding a lot of resudual caramel flavor, the beer tastes as malty as any Dunkel should. Still, the toasty, cocoa, coffee, nutty notes give the needed complexity to the taste without compromising the clean malt taste. Hop flavors are very, very subtle and probably only used to balance the bitterness.

The beers textures are medium-full with a superb roundess, breadiness-maltiness, and finishes very clean with a snappy dryness. Finishing with a clean maltiness and a touch of nuttiness on the tongue.

This is a fantastic beer that is sure to grow on me. I've never had a better Dunkel.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2009 14:36:01 | More by BEERchitect

projectflam86

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I went to my favorite beer bar and they just got this one in. I had to try it.

A- Poured a deep red brown color with a creamy tan head with a little bit of lacing.

S- Strong nutty and malted caramel aroma. Maybe a little bit of fig.

T- Lots of malted flavor with some coffee and and hazelnut taste.

M- Smooth and creamy, not too dry. Lacking a bit on carbonation though.

D- Overall a pretty nice beer with a distinct taste. Worth trying.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2009 16:01:26 | More by projectflam86

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

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

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

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.63/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into a pint glass

Appearance – Pours a brown-mahogany color with highlights of red shinning through. Upon pouring there is a small off-white head that fades fast leaving very little lacing on the sides of the glass but a thin film floating atop the brew that lasts for quite some time.

Smell- The aroma is heaviest of a caramel and toffee sweet smell mixed with some notes brown bread and a light amount of cocoa.

Taste – The taste begins with a bready flavor of dark roasted malt with some light chocolate and caramel. The sweeter flavors that were present initially fade quickly as some flavors a more bitter grape/wine come to the tongue. This more bitter wine like flavor as well as a light herbal hop flavor, that comes to the tongue at the end of the taste, end up combining with the roasted malt and the light sweetness to leave a odd fruity, roasty, and somewhat of light bitter tannin flavor to be left the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The thickness and creaminess of the beer was very average with a carbonation level that was average as well. The middle road fits this beer rather well as the darker flavors would likely be better with lower carbonation and higher thickness, while the wine like tannin and sweet flavors are likely better with the opposite (thin body and higher carbonation).

Overall – While at first I wasn’t wild about the brew, it grew on me as I drank it more. The mix of the roasted flavors and the more fermented grape flavors create a rather soothing taste. Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 01:11:04 | More by Darkmagus82

LeeryLeprechaun

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Beer pours dark dark brown with red highlights. A nice creamy tan head forms around the top of the beer.

The aroma is of dark malts, caramel, an chocolate. Everything is in wonderful harmony and no off flavors are detectable.

The taste is sweet without being cloying and a mixture of caramel, roasted malt, bread, and chocolate.

The body is medium but very smooth on the pallate.

This is really enjoyable. I don't get to drink enough dunkel an this beer reminds me exactly what I am missing out on.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 02:24:22 | More by LeeryLeprechaun

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4.5/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Spaten München Dunkel has a thick, lively beige head, a clear, bubbly reddish-brown appearance, and lots of splotchy lacing left on the glass. The aroma is of sweet brown bread, and the flavor is the same with some slight caramel, wine, and hop notes. Mouthfeel is light-to-medium, and Spaten München Dunkel finishes semi-dry, crisp, refreshing, and highly drinkable. Overall, this is a most excellent beer.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 15:26:14 | More by RonaldTheriot

acevenom

Louisiana

3.55/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a glass mug. Pours clear dark brown with a quickly dissipating off-white head. There are lots of visible tiny bubbles in this beer. There are aromas of toffee and roasted malt. I don't get many hop notes in the nose. The taste follows the nose. There's some mild sweetness and the roasted malt is there. The hops bring some grassy flavors. It's very straightforward and non-offensive. The body is light to medium with moderate carbonation. The beer is smooth with a crisp finish. It's very drinkable. This is a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 03:27:42 | More by acevenom

BigBarley

Texas

3.55/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours out nicely, looks thin and fizzy. Carbonation swelled to about half a finger and recedes fairly quickly. Head is an off-white color. Deep amber, brown hue, but visibly thin. Looks about right for a dark lager.

S - Sweet caramel, roasted malt, slight biscuit notes. Virtually no hops detectable except possibly an extremely faint note at the back. Very prominent sweetness, but not much complexity, A good smell, regardless.

T - Initially the taste is very much a roasted taste. Black malt domination, with a roasty bitterness at the end. Negligible hops. Fairly one-dimensional, all you can really discern is a faint caramel touch, wrapped and dipped in black Munich malt. If you like stout but need something lighter, this is a great option.

M - Excellent feel, light enough for a lager, but not so light you forget you're drinking beer. Carbonation is lively and crisp, without being overpowering. There's a thickness that's necessary in dark beers, and this beer just touches that line. Thin enough for a gulp, but nicely filling for a lager.

O - Not what I would call a spectacular, mind-blowing brew, but it's quite delicious if you're in that dark, malty mood. Not entirely complex, but satisfying nonetheless. I'd drink it again, but I can't honestly say this style is anything more than an occasional treat. Highly recommended for early explorers of craft brew

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 11:59:26 | More by BigBarley

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

2.8/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A pour that looked like a generic cola, dark brown flimsy beige carbonation head that falters on the side of the glass. Harsh aroma, not pleasant, alcohol and industrial cleaner type of aroma. Can't recall seeing a beer of this color (dark) in a green bottle.

Taste was a little better, the aroma harshness was a little much, not as bitter or alcoholic as I was expecting it to be. Flavor is lighter and easy going, don't let the color fool you. Some licorice like notes got in there though, I don't know if that's the yeast or what. Not really getting the dark roast flavors, just the bitterness, which, while less than I expected after getting hit in the nose with the smell, is still above average for style.

Overall, this is an average dunkel lager, with a far below average aroma. Sheesh. Bring on the nail polish!

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 17:29:54 | More by Beerandraiderfan

RichardMNixon

Delaware

3.78/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a seidel. Transcribed from notes.

A: Dark ruby-brown body with lots of bubbles coming up from the bottom. Thin off-white head that eventually disappears.

S: Lots of yeast and malt with a faint whiff of dark fruit and caramel.

T: Bready with some chewy caramel malt.

M: Medium bodied, a bit sticky sweet at the end.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 03:53:37 | More by RichardMNixon

fountainofyouth

District of Columbia

4.1/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a sizeable white head that settles quickly. Color is amber, more reddish held up to light.

Smell: It's a lot like Spaten's Optimator doppelbock -- hearty figs, apples, and brown sugar (and no hops).

Taste: Has some good complexity and breadth, but not necessarily a whole lot of depth. It's got a good mix of the lighter Munich malt and the schwarzbier-like Carafa flavor. I'm less familiar with German hop varieties, but I couldn't really detect much.

Mouthfeel: Modestly filling and medium-bodied, with a clean lager finish. Some lingering sugar in the back.

Overall: Solid beer. Would pair well with marinated steak.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 03:33:57 | More by fountainofyouth

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Spaten dunkel is like ruby brown in color and is super crystal clear. Really good carbonation, but a smaller head that fades real fast.
Aroma is as expected sweet malts with hints of crusty bread and dark fruits.
Taste is sweet and malty with crusty bread stewed fruits and toffee. It's super smooth and really soft on the palette.
Good drinking, no doubt but is kinda sweet too.
I think this beer woud pair well with Sugaree by Jerry Garcia.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 21:42:42 | More by micromaniac129

pkalix

California

4.43/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

spaten has always had a special place in my heart, especially with the club-weisse years ago, but with the world getting smaller and other, more obscure and nefarious breweries coming to the fore-front, i am realizing their place in the world. spaten has a distinct flavor profile which i cannot pin down but i will always respect them.
A- beautiful dark ruby-esque with minimal head retention and little carbonation.
S- typical spaten. love it, but beginning to realize there's a certain 'commerciality' to it all.
T- same as SMELL above. definitive flavor, which can also be found in the other Spaten brews line up.
M- typical. not as much carbonation as a Beck's or a Heineken, but the covers are starting to be pulled away from the vision and the realization that there is a trademark flavor associated with the brewery.
O- still love 'em. my first love at OLD WORLD in huntington beach. still brings back memories of that under-aged chicken dance with a woman twice my age and the flat tire on the way home during OKTOBERFEST with Steve. like a first romance (which doesnt result in a jail stay), i'll always remember spaten as my first and the great times i had before i found all the other great things brough to my front door due to greater trade abilities in the world. but still a great brew. BRING BACK THE CLUB-WEISSE! also, listed as a 5.2%, not the 5.5% as on the site.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 01:41:42 | More by pkalix

Treyliff

West Virginia

3.53/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A- pours a clear dark brown with vibrant ruby hue, large thick and foamy light tan head that reduces to a solid inch layer on top.

S- Cereal grains, sweet malt, musty, caramel, cacao, toast, slight herbal hop.

T- Sweet and malty, a bit of toffee, Biscuity, hints of cocoa, finishes dry and slightly bitter with an underlying herbal hop.

M- feels a little watery, medium body, low carbonation, just a little too slick for me.

O- a pretty good Dunkel, nothing special but definitely sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 02:20:13 | More by Treyliff