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Warsteiner Premium Dunkel
Warsteiner Brauerei
- From:
- Warsteiner Brauerei
- Germany
- Style:
- Munich Dunkel
Ranked #123 - ABV:
- 4.9%
- Score:
- 80
Ranked #26,021 - Avg:
- 3.54 | pDev: 14.12%
- Reviews:
- 722
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 16, 2024
- Added:
- Sep 26, 2001
- Wants:
- 51
- Gots:
- 335
A rich dark amber beer with full-flavored, smooth taste nicely accented with satisfying notes of roasted malt and subtle bottom fermenting yeast tones.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by tectactoe:
Reviewed by tectactoe from Michigan
3.14/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.75
3.14/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.75
Warsteiner Premium Dunkel pours a dark brown color; kind of old and woody looking with the smallest possible red tint you could imaging. It exhibits good clarity and is topped off with a voluptuous beige can that grows huge and sticks generously to the inside of the glass. It leaves behind sheets of lacing at it slowly descends towards the top of the brew.
Huge Munich malt aroma; large boasts of heavily-toasted bread and a decent helping of slightly metallic-tinted caramel. Very doughy and bready with a little bit of cocoa powder hidden in the background, combining to form a slight cookie dough aroma. Fresh, crisp lager yeast crowds the end and smells great; very solid aroma overall, and it's much more powerful and robust than you might expect for a lighter beer.
Sadly, the taste is slightly less intriguing; it's kind of watered down a bit underwhelming considering that fact that my nostrils are still more than pleased. The water is very "mineral" tasting and rough with a thick and heavy yeast taste from start to finish. The yeast is pretty nice, but the chalky mineral essence, I could do without. Middle-to-end, it's pretty grainy with a much, much lighter caramel presence than the aroma would signify.
Toasted breads are still evident, but again, much more subdued and muted. Diacetyl is unfortunately more noticeable than I believe it should be, as I'm picking up quite a large buttery popcorn kernel flavor, especially in the aftertaste. Carbonation is pretty spot on, and I really have no complains about the thin-medium mouth feel. Crisp, somewhat dry finish with a nice snap.
Well, the aroma was awesome. And that's pretty much all I have to say about that. Quite a let down on the palate, with some strange off-flavors that hindered an already unimpressive flavor profile - minerals, chalk, heavy butter. Without those, this beer would have been okay. As is, it's floating right around "medicore". Not so bad I wouldn't drink it again, but I'd definitely never order one again on my own. Unless it was a candle.
Jun 08, 2013Huge Munich malt aroma; large boasts of heavily-toasted bread and a decent helping of slightly metallic-tinted caramel. Very doughy and bready with a little bit of cocoa powder hidden in the background, combining to form a slight cookie dough aroma. Fresh, crisp lager yeast crowds the end and smells great; very solid aroma overall, and it's much more powerful and robust than you might expect for a lighter beer.
Sadly, the taste is slightly less intriguing; it's kind of watered down a bit underwhelming considering that fact that my nostrils are still more than pleased. The water is very "mineral" tasting and rough with a thick and heavy yeast taste from start to finish. The yeast is pretty nice, but the chalky mineral essence, I could do without. Middle-to-end, it's pretty grainy with a much, much lighter caramel presence than the aroma would signify.
Toasted breads are still evident, but again, much more subdued and muted. Diacetyl is unfortunately more noticeable than I believe it should be, as I'm picking up quite a large buttery popcorn kernel flavor, especially in the aftertaste. Carbonation is pretty spot on, and I really have no complains about the thin-medium mouth feel. Crisp, somewhat dry finish with a nice snap.
Well, the aroma was awesome. And that's pretty much all I have to say about that. Quite a let down on the palate, with some strange off-flavors that hindered an already unimpressive flavor profile - minerals, chalk, heavy butter. Without those, this beer would have been okay. As is, it's floating right around "medicore". Not so bad I wouldn't drink it again, but I'd definitely never order one again on my own. Unless it was a candle.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio
3/5 rDev -15.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -15.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I got a can of this beer off the single shelf from the Festival Store in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. It poured a clear rich amber with no head and no lace. The scent had subtle Dunkel wheat notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with Dunkel malt base and finishing hop presence. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it is a good beer.
Mar 16, 2024Reviewed by P-Candy from Texas
3.55/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.55/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Thin in mouth. (After tasting an IPA)
Good head at serving which fades quickly.
Amazing dark bloody colour.
Smells: Bread and dark chocolate
Taste: Toasted malt and coffee, a bit hoppy in the aftertaste
Not the best but definitely would buy again.
Mar 15, 2024Good head at serving which fades quickly.
Amazing dark bloody colour.
Smells: Bread and dark chocolate
Taste: Toasted malt and coffee, a bit hoppy in the aftertaste
Not the best but definitely would buy again.
Reviewed by adamg39 from Ohio
3.12/5 rDev -11.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
3.12/5 rDev -11.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
I'm not a fan of darker beers, but being a fan of Warsteiner's Pilsner, I tried their Dunkel. It's got a fairly decent flavor, with, of course, strong malty taste, and a bit of sweetness. But, bitterness is the strongest flavor (along with that "burnt" flavor). There's just not much balance. On the other hand, it's one of the better dark beers I've drank, so if you like this style, give this one a try.
Mar 14, 2024Reviewed by Beergeeknut from New York
3.94/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: It pours a fairly dark amber with some brown hues.
Aroma: Big bready roasted malt. Roasted hop. Slight notes of molasses and dark chocolate.
Taste: Rather crisp up front. Nice and bready, big malt backbone. Roasted hop roams very freely.
Overall: It's not very often that I find this wonderful style. This one is definitely a buy again. Prost.
Jan 01, 2024Aroma: Big bready roasted malt. Roasted hop. Slight notes of molasses and dark chocolate.
Taste: Rather crisp up front. Nice and bready, big malt backbone. Roasted hop roams very freely.
Overall: It's not very often that I find this wonderful style. This one is definitely a buy again. Prost.
Reviewed by Bitterbill from Wyoming
4.15/5 rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Bought locally, part of the mixed variety pack, best by August 2nd 2024.
It pours a clear deep amber/brown with a rather large head of foam that shrinks to a fine layer, good lacing.
The smell is roasty with chocolate, hints of coffee, grain, just smells really malty with minimal bitterness.
The taste is roasty, dark chocolate, grain, an ample amount of bitterness that doesn't overwhelm the other flavours.
Good medium body.
Lots of flavour packed in this 4.8%abv brew!
Dec 06, 2023It pours a clear deep amber/brown with a rather large head of foam that shrinks to a fine layer, good lacing.
The smell is roasty with chocolate, hints of coffee, grain, just smells really malty with minimal bitterness.
The taste is roasty, dark chocolate, grain, an ample amount of bitterness that doesn't overwhelm the other flavours.
Good medium body.
Lots of flavour packed in this 4.8%abv brew!
Reviewed by ZenAgnostic from Texas
4.6/5 rDev +29.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.6/5 rDev +29.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
20.APR.24 printed on back label of 11.2oz bottle poured into a teku glass on Nov 2, 2023.
Appearance - Clear mahogany body. Sudsy, slightly bready off-white finger head with decent to good lacing, decent stick, good retention. 4.5
Smell - Bread. Coffee. But lightly or moderately some dark fruit underneath. 4.5
Taste - Toasted barley forward. getting some of that smokiness. The mild bitter hop blends seamlessly with the toasted malt to give a moderately deep roasted character. Well balanced. Great example of the style. 4.75
Mouthfeel - Smooth. Clean. A bit light-bodied. But not too much so. Light half-effervescent half-creamy head that easily regenerates with a swirl of the glass. Very easy to drink for the style. 4.5
Overall - Very sessionable. Would probably be one of my go-to picks at a German beer festival. Wouldn't have it outside of that though. 4.5
Nov 16, 2023Appearance - Clear mahogany body. Sudsy, slightly bready off-white finger head with decent to good lacing, decent stick, good retention. 4.5
Smell - Bread. Coffee. But lightly or moderately some dark fruit underneath. 4.5
Taste - Toasted barley forward. getting some of that smokiness. The mild bitter hop blends seamlessly with the toasted malt to give a moderately deep roasted character. Well balanced. Great example of the style. 4.75
Mouthfeel - Smooth. Clean. A bit light-bodied. But not too much so. Light half-effervescent half-creamy head that easily regenerates with a swirl of the glass. Very easy to drink for the style. 4.5
Overall - Very sessionable. Would probably be one of my go-to picks at a German beer festival. Wouldn't have it outside of that though. 4.5
Rated by jammer1312 from New York
3.81/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Smells deliciously toasted and malty.
Sep 27, 2023Rated by matcris from Arizona
3.66/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.66/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Good game day beer. Roasted malt comes through, nicely; not too sweet. Good balance overall.
Sep 05, 2023Reviewed by mcm180 from Ohio
3.46/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.46/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Pours dark amber, like dark maple syrup, into my Guinness glass.
Thin head that dissipates into nothing.
Smells kinda skunky, like a lager does.
Tastes sweet, malty, with the sweetness stronger than the roastyness. Caramel, molasses, and some dark fruits - dates maybe. A little syrupy on the aftertaste, but not overly so. No hoppy bitterness.
Edited: gets less sweet as it warms up, and that’s a good thing. More balanced than when cold.
Feels light in the mouth, lightly carbonated, but a little acidic on the swallow.
Overall: Pretty good, if you want a sweet and roasted-malty beer. Id drink it again happily. Might not choose it if other dark beers are available, but definitely beats plain ol’ lagers for me.
Aug 22, 2023Thin head that dissipates into nothing.
Smells kinda skunky, like a lager does.
Tastes sweet, malty, with the sweetness stronger than the roastyness. Caramel, molasses, and some dark fruits - dates maybe. A little syrupy on the aftertaste, but not overly so. No hoppy bitterness.
Edited: gets less sweet as it warms up, and that’s a good thing. More balanced than when cold.
Feels light in the mouth, lightly carbonated, but a little acidic on the swallow.
Overall: Pretty good, if you want a sweet and roasted-malty beer. Id drink it again happily. Might not choose it if other dark beers are available, but definitely beats plain ol’ lagers for me.
Warsteiner Premium Dunkel from Warsteiner Brauerei
Beer rating:
80 out of
100 with
1814 ratings
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