Ettaler Kloster Dunkel - Klosterbrauerei Ettal / Ettaler Klosterbetriebe GmbH

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.63/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours with a three-finger white head that leaves some lace. Deep clear amber color. Medium bodied and light carbonation. Slightly malty nose. Starts sweet, nice malt/hop balance finishes mellow and not dry. $2.79 for a 500ml bottle from Tulley's Beer & Wine Wells, Me.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2005 00:25:37 | More by jdhilt

albern

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer is quite flat, so I'm not sure if some of the carbonation didn't make it over across the pond, or if this is just one of those lagers that doesn't have much of a head or carbonation. Needless to say, the beer pours a deep mahogany color with zero carbonation and little if any head. The nose is a big whiff of molasses, caramel, toffee, some roasted sweetish malts too.

The taste pretty much follows the nose on this one. It is a fairly watery beer lots of molasses, caramel, toffee, maybe a touch of brown sugar, very light bodied, some roasted notes, but nothing to rave about. The beer is a pretty straightforward dark lager beer with a flatness that I guess works. The finish has a touch of some undefined nutty flavors, but it is all washed back with the thin wateriness of the beer. This one is okay, I wish I knew whether more carbonation is part of its true character.

Update November 2010: I had a bad batch when I first reviewed this beer. The beer is plenty carbonated, not flat at all. The beer is a touch watery, but has sufficient lagery caramel flavors to make it a decent choice. I'm upgrading the points on this beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2009 19:16:01 | More by albern

barleyman

Georgia

3.65/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the 1/2 liter brown glass bottle into my straight sided tumbler. The white head quickly dissapates down to lace along the sides to the glass. The Mahogany color is clear and attractive. The aroma is of grass and malt. This bottle sent to me by the son in the USAF stationed in Germany, and what a fellow his is!!!! The taste is quite pronounced, malt, raisins and port wine, Mouthfeel is picture perfect for a dunkel. Drinkability is spot on and could handle a few of these in an evening.

Just a thought,

barleyman

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2007 01:35:53 | More by barleyman

stcules

Italy

3.65/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark brown color, mahogany edges. Beige foam, quite abundant, beautiful and longstanding.
Toasted malt, caramel, and burnt. Notes of coffee powder.
A good resolute dunkel, for sure not too sweet. A sharp note of burnt, and toasted. Pleasant.
Almost feelings of coal dust.
Good body, not too much, but relevant.
Aftertaste very long, wih again burnt, coal, coffee.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2008 19:53:44 | More by stcules

alexwag

New York

3.68/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Trying to explore more German beers, so I picked one that others had obviously purchased. Fact that it was only $2.75 didn't hurt either. Got at New Beer Distributors in Manhattan.

A- Dark red, clean and fortified-looking -- very inviting. One finger of attractive white foam peaced out quickly.

S- Not very powerful: malts with a bit of spice. A tad yeasty, a little bite, some sweetness, molasses maybe.

T- Taste also lacks intensity. Pretty light -- some Munich malts with their distinct muskiness and richness, which is good stuff. More stuff emerging now ... a little nuttiness, a hint of sweetness. Finishes cleanly, not much aftertaste.

M- Got some fizziness, but it's crisp and refreshing ... obviously made with real ingredients, vs. the "crisp and refreshing" of Bud. I viscerally think of drinking this on a summer afternoon. It's got some body too, a little thickness with is nice.

D- A more than decent offering. As I mentioned, would be good in summer. Could use some more punch I think. I might buy it again, but there are so many other Germans to try.

[As I edit this -- the more I drink it, the more I like it. Still not above good, but enough to bump the score. Solid option.]

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2005 00:50:42 | More by alexwag

brentk56

North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a clear russet color with a head of foam that displays decent retention and leaves a few strands of lace

Smell: Brown bread, malted milk, toasted nuts, caramel and grain

Taste: Brown bread, toasted nuts and malted milk, up front, with the caramel and grain flavors building by mid-palate; after the swallow, the grainy flavors become more dominant, providing a bit of lager twang on the finish

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: A decent enough Dunkel, though I have had better; still, it is hard to know how fresh this might be

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 02:04:14 | More by brentk56

JohnW

United Kingdom (England)

3.73/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours reasonably dark into a glass, though was surprised the head disappeared almost immediately. Aroma as expected, malty, hint of burnt caramel and chocolate, though fairly light. Texture was much lighter than I expected, and taste is similar, tasty, but not at all heavy, slightly sweet, but more hints of bitter chocoate and burnt caramel in the finish. Have to confess to be just a little disappointed, I was expecting something with more body in the taste, but did enjoy this and certainly would have it again.


JohnW
(B'ham UK) tried while in Tampa FL May 2006

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2006 18:26:47 | More by JohnW

JohnQVegas

Tennessee

3.73/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours dark brown, big head, medium duration. Nose is malty, sweet. Taste is toasted malt, sweet, big bready character. Medium body. Highly carbonated, almost effervescent. Finish is sweet, malty. No detectable bitterness. Could drink this one all night.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2008 12:27:35 | More by JohnQVegas

Halcyondays

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

500 mL bottle,

A: Pours a translucent brown, with a soft cap of an off-white head. Fair retention.

S: Fragrant molasses, baked dark bread, brown sugar, sweet, loving the nose.

T: Baked brown bread again, baker's chocolate with a fair amount of roast. Quite bitter for the style.

M: Medium-bodied, nice carbonation, prickly with a smooth finish.

D: Great nose, solid taste, in the end a nice effort, it needs more sweetness to be really good, it definitely has potential.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2009 21:31:54 | More by Halcyondays

Zorro

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear brown colored lager with a small tan colored head. Nice ruby colors when held up to the light.

Smells sweet and malty with a fair amount of bread and yeast in the scent. Nice fruity aroma smells slightly like British ale with a faint hint of chocolate.

Starts out sweet and malty with a slight astringent quality. Fruity with a good bitterness and some nutty bock qualities. Some dark bread flavors and a bit of rye in the flavor.

Mouthfeel is good.

Nice drinkable beer especially if you like a little bock in it. Not all that remarkable, this one gets lost amongst all the others like it from Germany.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2009 03:13:53 | More by Zorro

BeerisfoodLLC

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass:

A - Dark with amber hints shining through. Minimal head.

S - Toasty caramel & bready scents.

T - A meal in a glass. Caramel, toffee, bready malts work well together. Hops are evident as well for a well balanced Dunkel.

M - Heavy bodied yet very smooth....almost creamy.

D - Decent representative of the style. if you like this it is very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2010 14:23:34 | More by BeerisfoodLLC

oberon

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Its been awhile since I had a good German dunkel so I picked this up yesterday,poured a nice clear medium brown/bronze with smallish light brown head that was gone pretty fast.Light aromas but pleasant milk chocolate,cookie dough,and some raw earthy nut mainly,soft malty flavors to this beer from the get go a lightly sweet cookie dough base over top of milk chocolate with a very noticable and nicely suprising herbal anicy note in the finish.A very easy drinking "soft" beer with real character,recommended if you like traditional dunkel lagers.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2006 12:01:13 | More by oberon

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer poured into the glass crystal clear brown with an amber hue. The head was white an rose slightly falling slowly to try and lace the glass.

The aroma was malty with a strong caramel malt presence and a bit of chocolate. The aroma contained some dark fruits, raisins, but not at a high level. The aroma was also bready and nutty.

The flavor was matly with a spicy and lightly metallic bittering component. Caramel malt and chocolate led the charge with a decent level of bitterness keeping things in check. The flavor was nutty with a light biscuit flavor.

The finish was dry with lasting light chocolate, nuttiness, and very light hop character into the aftertaste. The body was medium with a moderate carbonation. A nice Dunkel, but missing complexity.

16.9 ounce bottle.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2006 00:05:36 | More by GCBrewingCo

hanco005

Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle dated 10 10 05 poured into a pint glass

A—pours solid brown with a 1 inch fluffy cream colored head that slowly collapses into a thick blob on top, laces in spots

S—caramel, biscuit, mild chocolate, faint alcohol as well, some toasted malts aroma, too

T—toasted malts and caramel are up front, some bready yeasty taste lingers, not bad

M—smooth, light/medium bodied, good carbonation

D—good. Easily a session beer, the $4.99 bottle makes it too expensive to do so (for me anyway)

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2006 18:30:06 | More by hanco005

MABZ

Nebraska

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is a pretty decent beer. I really wasn't expecting anything good, honestly, but this is quite drinkable. Reminds me of a brown ale, but with the crisp mouthfeel of a lager and a distinctly German malt profile.

The beer pours to a great rusty brown color that seems to shimmer amber and gold as the lighting changes. Has a huge brownish head with loose knit bubbles that fade away within minutes. Leaves a decent film over the top, though no lacing sticks to the glass. A bit of carbonation is apparent when held to the light.

The aroma is of toasted biscuity malt, heavy with caramelized sugars. Some fruity berry undertones. Hints of vegetal aroma. No hops bouqet.

The taste is decent, and very close to the nose. Tastes like Victory and Munich malt and a hint of Pils. Very bready and biscuity, almost cereal-like. Lots of burnt caramel. Earthy berry aftertaste, almost pruney.

Very light and crisp mouthfeel. Hint of metallic in the finish. Fairly balanced between sweet and dry. Easy to drink. I'd probably pick a brown ale over this most days, but it is a decent change up.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2007 04:55:48 | More by MABZ

AndyAvalanche

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint glass. While pouring it it looked like cola. When finished pouring it and holding it up to the light it had a creamy amber brown color to it. There's a pretty bubbly head with lots of different sized bubbles that goes away pretty quickly, not much lacing, a few little blotches randomly stick to the glass. Not much of an aroma to the smell. It smells very sweet. Caramelized malts seems too weak of an argument, I'd go with caramel soaked or topped. The taste is pretty good, again it's pretty sweet. Caramelized malts take the bulk of the flavor with some toffee notes. There's also a hint of nuts to it, candied though with the slightest taste of alcohol. Slight hop on the aftertaste. The mouthfeel is good, very clean with decent drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2009 22:22:41 | More by AndyAvalanche

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear chestnut brown color with a thick foamy 2 finger yellowish beige head that slowly fades into a lasting ring. Minimal lacing.

Spicy aroma with a huge clove presence and a nice malty backbone with hints of caramel, chestnut and toffee.

The flavor is quite spicy as well with a nice cove presence as well as some ripe banana notes, smokey caramel malt and a subtle bitterness in the finish. Slightly watered down but still pretty flavorful and easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2009 23:50:33 | More by corby112

Frozensoul327

Michigan

3.83/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured out to more of a amber red, than a dark brown. Short lived head resulted in a thin layer of foam after a few moments. Minor lacing around the glass. Medium carbonation. Aromas of, well, not much. Traces of sweet malt and light hops were noted. Woulda been a helluva lot better if i didn't have to struggle to get some type of smell. Flavor was a nice pick-up point area for this brew. Notes of un-sweet caramel, medium malt and some smoke-like spice was also noted toward the finish, albeit weak. Nice mouthfeel, very crisp and refreshing. This could be a nice place to start for those looking for a gateway into German Dark Beers. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2005 02:21:56 | More by Frozensoul327

dherling

New Jersey

3.83/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Dark clear caramel color with an ok white head that dissipates into a thin coating, but with big lacing. Has some toasted malt notes and a little cherry int he nose, but not much else. Taste starts with a light mollasses, takes a left turn towards a metallic hop monster, but stops short of overbearing then finishes clean and refreshing with a slight malt/metallic aftertaste. Lovely mouthfeel.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2006 21:32:41 | More by dherling

mnstorm99

Minnesota

3.83/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Sitting outside of a German pub, in the middle of Ettal. Nice warm day, the girls were shopping. So my Dad and I sat down to have a beer. I had never heard of Ettaler, until I got to the town. This beer had a huge white head on it (german pour). Brown color was typical. Aroma was lacking, this one needs to hit the mouth. Very malty, carmel backbone, easy to drink and nice on a warm afternoon. Not to mention the feeling you get drinking a local german brew in southern Bavaria.

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2007 14:07:56 | More by mnstorm99

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bronze-like brown that becomes fiery red-orange when backlit with morning sun. The large cap of beige foam looks good immediately after the pour and as it deflates. It lasts longer than expected and deposits a surprising amount of bubble bath-like lace. A clean, refined look.

The nose is clean as well. In fact, it's too clean and could use a bit more personality. Dark caramel-toffee is central, with a wee whiff of earthy hops on the periphery.

Kloster Dunkel is a good, light, dark beer. It isn't explosive on the palate, but makes one work a little bit to appreciate its nuances. The malt load is acceptable for the style and contributes flavors such as cocoa powder, dark caramel and toasted walnuts. A mineral-like hard water character is noted as well.

The beer becomes more approachable with time and warming. I would suggest drinking it barely cool, drinking it prior to any bigger styles and avoiding food in order to appreciate it fully. The mouthfeel is light and airy, which is probably exactly where it should be for the style.

Ettaler Kolster Dunkel is good beer if given a chance. It's the antithesis of big beer, but calling it little beer is an undeserved slight. There can't be too many versions out there that are superior to this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2005 15:41:07 | More by BuckeyeNation

Nipitato

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a bottel at Downtown Wine & Spirits in Somerville, MA

A: A dark red tinted amber. Pours with a clear off white head that dissapates to around a quarter of an inch.

S: Roasty toasted malt aroma. Not too pronounced.

T: Mild malt toasted flavor. Moderately sweet taste with a strong malt backbone.

M: Medium light body. Moderate carbonation.

D: Very drinkable "dark beer". A great beer to initiate people into drinking something better than macro swill.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2006 23:54:47 | More by Nipitato

Metalmonk

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a strange head -- big soapy bubbles make it look more like dish soap than the head of a beer. They dissipate quickly (in about a minute) and leave a skim on top. The color is gorgeous, a glassy burnt ruby-brown. Resembles home-brewed root beer with way less bubbles.

Smells like a pumpernickel bagel sprinkled with brown and white sugar. Big caramel/toffee notes work their way in too. Big and bready, also kind of nutty. Very, very nice.

Flavor is many things: hazelnut, toast, caramel, toffee, brown sugar, root beer, chocolate birthday cake (ie. faintly chocolate) and cola. Absolutely wonderful at first, but it fades quickly. Leaves almost nothing in its wake; the finish is just a ghost of nuttiness and toasted bread.

Some might not like this beer's relative lack of carbonation, but I think it's a refreshing break from the many over-carbonated beers that do little more than sting the tongue. Has a thinness that glides over the tongue without feeling watery.

This tastes wonderful...for about 5 seconds per sip. Its greatness is fleeting. I tried to hold each sip in my mouth as long as possible. It worked well enough that I enjoyed this quite a bit. It certainly has its charm, but not sure I'd return. Ettaler's doppelbock (Curator) is way better (one of the world's best, in my opinion).

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2009 23:22:00 | More by Metalmonk

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours medium clear brown with an initial foamy white head. No lacing, no real retention.

Rich malt aroma, with a touch of brown sugar and a cocoa-like edge.

Smooth brew, with some brown sugar sweetness up front in the toasted malt. Grain fights through this with wonderful brown bread elements, and clearing to a light lingering bitterness. A touch thin in flavor, but just barely.

Medium body, but a little on the thin side. Soft mouthfeel as carbonation is present but not assertive.

Easy drinker here. Not the best of the style, but very worth trying. A bit light in intensity, but this is still one more example of what is turning into one of my favorite styles to drink year round.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2010 01:46:49 | More by OtherShoe2

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From the 500 ml. bottle. Sampled on December 16, 2012.

The pour is a beautiful dark mahogany brown to dark amber with a long-lasting foamy off-white head. Plenty of lacing.

The aroma is not upfront like other Dunkels. It is more subtle with its sweet dark malts.

The body is about medium and smooth.

The taste begins with a full toffee-caramel malt note followed by a a slightly biting bitter finale. But overall it is a balanced, drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 18:35:58 | More by puboflyons