Saluki Dunkeldog - Big Muddy Brewing

karst

Missouri

4.45/5  rDev +30.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bomber fresh from the brewer after a tour of the facility. Fills the New Belg sniffer with a deep copper/mahogany topped with a one finger beige head that persists as a fine textured ring and minor lace. My estimation of color is 18-22 SRM with an obvious depth in its light mahogany brown.

Aroma of Munich malt suggests a German Dunkel more than American Amber. Low hop aroma (similar to Hallertau). Very clean no DMS/ corn or Diacetyl/butter.

Flavor features a rich malt with clean almost lager character. No Diacetyl, DMS or fruity esters noted. Low caramel and hints of chocolate linger in the background and suggest a higher lovibond crystal (> 120 ?) A moderate hop presence lingers in the clean finish.

MF a medium body and moderate to slightly higher carbonation adds to the mouthfeel. Low warmining noted. Not astringent. Smooth but short of being silky. Clean lager like finish with hops offsetting any residual sweetness.

Excellent drinkability with malts showing depth and complexity. Clean chrisp finish from well attenuated fermentation (Kolsch yeast according to brewer)

Although the lable declares it a Dark Am. Amber I am finding this malt complexity similar to a German Dunkel. So easy to drink and my favorite from Big Muddy Brewing.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2010 16:28:11 | More by karst

emerge077

Illinois

4/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was my last beer at the Great Taste '10, and it was nice to finally track down a (fresh) bottle to review.

Into a tulip, Saluki Dunkel Dog pours an attractive reddish amber with bright jewel-tone clarity. About a finger of foam on top, that remains for the first few sips, later forming a ring around the edges. It laces nicely with spindly arcs of lace dripping down into the beer.

As it warms, there's a nutty malt character that comes out. Simple multigrain bread and clean toasted malt notes. This translates directly into the flavor, very malt forward with nutty, bready flavors of mutigrain toast. Little to no hop character, but there is a faint bitterness in the aftertaste. Zero corn, DMS, or diacetyl (likely a dirty tap line if you're getting that). Exceptionally clean, obviously all malt, no adjuncts. Body is crisp and light, the flavor isn't wild and crazy, but it's a fine Amber Ale. Finishing the bomber is no problem. One to pair with many foods, suitable for any situation. A good introductory craft beer, simple and well made. Simplicity is vastly underrated these days... obviously no one is trying to reinvent the wheel here, just make quality craft beer for the locals. Hope to see more from this tiny new Illinois brewery in the future.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2011 20:10:33 | More by emerge077

TheSarge

Illinois

4/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a mini weizen glass for the heck of it, and the brew makes a solid two finger thick light khaki colored head. The body is cloudy, and brownish copper in color.

The aroma is bready, metallic, toffee, a hint of black pepper mixed in with a light vanilla fragrance.

Taste wise, there is overripe plum, some vanilla, bourbon, and metallic qualities.

Feels medium in body, a little spicy somehow, wetting to the palate.

I had been standoffish from trying this beer, but this is a beer I may go back to. Pretty solid.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 18:12:05 | More by TheSarge

dhannes

Wisconsin

3.93/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured chilled into a Sam Adams' Perfect Pint and let warmed up to about 45º.

A=A transparent brown color...almost a mahogany. Head foamed up nice and think for a minute or so. I can't quite place it...it is different than most reds in that it is a reddish brown--more brown than red, but still quite transparent.

S=Nice aroma of malt, with some cocoa and perhaps cinnamon.

T=Sweet maltiness--a mild dunkel profile--like a whole wheat roll, some smokiness and caraway seed. Flavor is a bit lacking, however, in intensity.

M=Lighter body, with a fair amount of carbonation...probably designed as more of a session beer.

O=I'm not quite sure what to make of this one...somewhere I read that it is supposed to be a cross between a dunkel and a red, and that is what it reminds me of. The site suggests that this was designed for SIU students, hence the Saluki reference, and I can see this being a beer college students would want to drink as a better session beer...but compared to others out there, this is just a little lacking.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 02:46:57 | More by dhannes

speer

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Really a very good beer. Appearance is dark brown, technically dark amber with a thin head that doesn't stick around too long. New to beer so I'm not too good with picking out the smell or taste notes. However, very mellow, smooth tasting beer that goes down easy and has plenty of flavor to make you want to take another sip. Moderately bitter toward the end. Really a very good tasting beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2010 02:36:19 | More by speer

slammo

New Jersey

3.64/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

I thought when I purchased this bottle it was a Munich Dunkel but apparently not. The head is a nice firm beige topping on a dark orange hued body. The mouthfeel is slick and the taste is that of caramel with a slight hop twang. Overall I am satisfied with this beer and enjoy the experience even though it is not as labeled. Better than a lot of other ambers I have had.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 23:09:16 | More by slammo

TheWhiskerReview

Tennessee

3.6/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

My revisit of the Dunkeldog pours an orange-rimmed brown with a fluffy 3-finger white head, which gets rocky and leaves a small layer of retention and dense lace. From the start, there seems to be more hops in this bottle than the last one I tasted. Nose has a floral hoppy freshness brightening the aromas of toasted malt, butterscotch, chocolate and estery apple. Palate is medium bodied and vaguely slick with some muddled chocolate flavors leading to a more precise attack of toasted malt, apples and coffee. Again, hops seem bigger which is a wonderful improvement, while the finish tastes a bit like a KitKat bar, with some lingering acidity.

Overall, still not amazing, but shows amazing improvement from the last bottle I had several months ago. Wasn't nearly as thin and showed a much better balance of malt and hops. Looking forward to revisiting in the future.

Former review:

Serving type: bottle
Reviewed on: 03-21-2011 12:25:00
2.95/5

Pours a clear yellowish-mahogany and smells light and sweet, with notes of coffee, cream, banana and cocoa krispies. The palate is light-medium bodied with coffee and caramel flavors against a backdrop of grainy corn. This is Big Muddy's best in their short brewing career, and although not great, I think its more of a reflection of cheaper ingredients as opposed to brewing technique, which is promising.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2011 12:25:00 | More by TheWhiskerReview

gerite

Alabama

3.4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This was my second Big Muddy beer at the Blue Boar in Cobden, IL. My last visit they were sold out of the Saluki Dunkel Dog so I had to settle for the Pale Ale which was good, but not great. The Dunkel Dog is by far the better of the two beers. It looks and tastes like the dark amber beer that it is. Although better than their Pale Ale, it lacks the quality to be considered a great beer.

I had a 22 oz bottle poured into a pint glass. It was a nice dark amber color with about two fingers of foamy head which left plenty of lacing. The taste was mostly malts with a very slight hint of hops. The drinkability was very smooth with little carbination. The mouth feel was a little lite for this type of beer. Overall it is a good beer that I hope to find on tap somewhere.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2011 00:37:30 | More by gerite

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy, Brownish amber color with slight white head. Decent retention and spotty lacing. Smells of wheat, yeast, and slight sweet malt. A rather weak aroma, on the whole. Fits the style of an American Amber / Red Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp with an average carbonation level. Tastes of grain, yeast, and slight pale malt. Overall, a decent beer kudos to my neighbor for bringing some up from downstate!

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 03:11:53 | More by WoodBrew

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Gale Sayers shaker pint glass.

My first impression of this brewery will come from this beer. Good luck, Big Muddy! It pours a clear dark-ish russet topped by a finger of cream foam. The nose comprises dry biscuits, wood, light greens, grass, light flowers, and a touch of very light cocoa covering everything beneath. The taste keeps with the biscuit theme and adds some light caramel, light spicy pine, and a bit of balsa. It's not much, but it really ain't too bad, either. The body is a rather light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and an oily feel. Overall, an okay beer, straight up. I wouldn't recommend one, but I also wouldn't advise against one, either.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 00:36:40 | More by TMoney2591

vande

Illinois

3.35/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours out a nice light amber...little head and even less retention... the nose is light.. a fairly basic amber ale.. worth the $4 to try and could easily drink more than one... I'd treat this as a "time out" from the bigger beers..or at the very least one that you could enjoy more than one w/ out getting knocked on your can... I'm interested in trying their pale too...

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2011 00:34:38 | More by vande

Durtdiggler

Illinois

3.35/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Poured from bomber bottle into Pilsner glass, off light brown color. White 1 finger head settle quickly. Good effervescence. Some cloudiness

Aroma is slight roast malted cocoa with a bit of sweetness. A bit underwhelming but smells nice

Taste has nice toastiness with some chocaate breadmalt with some noble hops to balance. Very basic nothing complex to stand out.

Mouthfeel is a bit thin. Easy drinking.

This beer could be a bit better. There's nothing that stands out about it. I wish I could get more of the flavor I was sensing so was a bit underwhelmed. There's better versions of the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 23:17:45 | More by Durtdiggler

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark toasted ruby to clear brown color. Good bubbling and good head. Leaves a little lacing on the inside of my glass. Good bubbling too.

Heavy toasted malt aroma has notes of bread crust and malt syrup for homebrewing. Maybe just a little earthy hop aromas.

Powderd toast, a ittle bread crust, and watery malt syrup make up this beers malt profile. While just a little grass and earth from the hops balances that out.

Easy to drink, but not much to it except a nice look.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2011 04:09:10 | More by scruffwhor

champ103

Texas

3.18/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Tres Hombres in Carbondale IL.

A: Pours a hazy brown color. At first a one finger white head forms, and recedes in a moment. Light lace.
S: Sweet malt, lightly toasted, but plenty of diacetyl in the nose.
T: Again, lightly toasted, sweet, and diacetyl.
M/D: A medium body and good carbonation. Not hard to drink. The diacetyl keeps this from having more than one in a sitting.

Not bad, but the diacetyl is to much. I am a proud Saluki, and really wanted to like this beer. Though it is nothing great. Nothing bad either. I will have another in hopes of another MVC title. Be proud of the only local beer in Southern Illinois right now. Even if it is a little flawed.

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2010 02:52:28 | More by champ103

Tone

Missouri

2.98/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a hazy, copper color. 1/3 inch head of a white color. Great retention and slight lacing. Smells of wheat, yeast, and slight sweet malt. A rather weak aroma, on the whole. Fits the style of an American Amber / Red Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp with an average carbonation level. Tastes of grain, yeast, and slight pale malt. Overall, weak aroma and body, below average for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

05-02-2010 22:58:27 | More by Tone

crossovert

Wisconsin

2.85/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Bought it thinking it was a Munich dunkel.

It is a dark brownish amber.

Smell is light slightly metallic, hoppy.

Tastes like a standard brewpub brown ale/red ale/amber ale combo. Not interesting in the least bit. Drinkable because of the lack of character.

Do we really need this many amber ales?

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 04:33:27 | More by crossovert

SolomonGrundy

California

2.8/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to GraniteSkunk for this extra. Always like trying new things!!

The basics: no idea on price (trade) and 5.4% ABV...

Let's hope this beer is better than the Sabres' performance through 2 periods of this game 7...It can't possibly be WORSE!!!

A hazy rust colored amber. About a half-finger of head. Kight carbonation. OK yet sparse lacing. Meehh...

Heavily malty aromas. Lots of caramel malt, especially. A hint of brown sugar. MAYBE a tiny hint of cinnamon...It's ok but nothing special.

Flavor is weird...and thin. That seems to be an M.O. of this brewery. Maybe they're trying to keep the price down or something...Up front I get a spritzy tang that quickly disappears. This slowly leads into a middle that shows some malty and roasty characteristics, but they are subtle. Finish doesn't display much more as it slowly drags the malt out with what appears to be a hint of hops...This beer is unfortunately too bland to suggest trying...

What I like most: The nice color.

What I like least: The thin flavor profile.

Verdict: Strike two against Big Muddy. They need to get their recipies in line...

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2011 01:40:40 | More by SolomonGrundy

Duff27

Illinois

2.65/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A- half inch light tan head with a dark amber/brown beer beneath it. Decent head retention, no lacing.

S- sweet malts, slght breadness.

T- more brown malts, faint hops. Small coffee hint, maybe.

M- thin, watery. Alright carbonation.

D/O- this one was okay. Nothing special. Good sessional amber.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2011 01:59:17 | More by Duff27

KellyL

Illinois

1.4/5  rDev -58.8%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 2

Poured into a Sam Adams glass. Little head, quickly dissipated. The color was ok, not spectacular. Smelled of wet cardboard. The taste was unacceptible, off flavors and a metallic finish. Extremely thin mouthfeel.

I tried to choke it down but ended up dumping it. I hope that this was a bad bottle because I can't see it being a good seller. At least I got a bigger bottle for homebrew.

I can't say that I would be courageous enough to try it again. MAYBE I'd try it on tap if I ever found it.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 17:45:50 | More by KellyL