König Ludwig Dunkel - Kaltenberg International / König Ludwig International GmbH & Co.KG

engisch

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours weird. It has a carmel brown color, but it pours with a thick head and has bubbles that coat the inside of the glass. The smell and aroma is nothing special and is of sweet malts.

The taste is that of a typical dunkel style. It's a good balanced beer. It has nice lacing all the way down to the last sip.

Overall, if you are looking for a decent beer, this is a safe tastey dunkel.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2009 18:03:23 | More by engisch

jbro434

Switzerland

3.25/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Nice deep brown with a decent off white head that faded quickly with decent lacing. Malty and slightly sweet, nothing in the upfront taste to offend. Mouthfeel was pretty much the same with hints of chocolate, a bit thin. Finish was bitersweet chocolate nothing overpowering, nothing to make it very memorable either. All in all, a decent beer for the type and nothing I would turn down or try again if given the chance.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2009 08:23:26 | More by jbro434

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

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

Brown 0.5 litre bottle best before 15 Jan 2009, drank 30 Aug 2008.

Clear and bright body, a treacle brown colour with an off white head which became a collar and wisp in a very short space of time.

A malty, sweet treacle aroma came from the beer.

The taste was of burnt or toasted coffee beans, toffee and caramel, but not as sweet as the aroma suggested.

A sickly sweetness did arrive in the aftertaste and I also thought it a bit thin/watery. There was some metalic hint towards the end of the drink also, hence the average scores for a beer I had high hopes for.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2008 18:28:42 | More by BlackHaddock

WJVII

Wisconsin

2.98/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Last of the beers I brought back from Germany, this brew poured into a pint glass has a deep brown color, with an odd similarity to a cola. The carbonation stuck to the sides of the glass and there was a thin tan cap with minimal lacing. The smell is doughy and there is a hint of nuts. The taste is extremely thin and carbonated. There is a hint of roasted malt and a slight bitter after taste. I have to say for being the last beer I have from Germany I am a little disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2008 23:54:38 | More by WJVII

TheSarge

Illinois

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

The dude that gave me this beer to try told me it tasted like bluet. A little strange, I guess.

Anyhow, this makes about a finger and a half light tan head, with the body being a blackish amber color.

The aroma is slightly smoky, but with a bitter cocoa like finish.

The taste is a bit of chocolate with a hint of smoke.

This is very light in all of its characteristics, with a light to medium body. It's a decent session beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2008 16:22:21 | More by TheSarge

HappyHourHero

Indiana

4.1/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Solid aroma of cocoa, dough, and raisins. Dense tan head leaves a few strands of lace as it slowly fades. Dark cola colored beer with an amber hue around the edges. Flavors of cocoa and dark roasted malt. Fairly clean mouthfeel with a slight dark malt astringency. A really good dunkel and an all-around solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2008 19:35:37 | More by HappyHourHero

seanyfo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.08/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

50cl bottle poured into an Erdinger Weizen glass

A- 3 finger creamy head with good retention, nice brussels lacing. Dark mahogany brown body.

S- Slight chocolateyness, nutty, a bit of fresh, a subtle hint of roasted malt? that cant be right.

T- A light chocolate creaminess. There is definitely a light roasted maltiness to it. Otherwise, its pretty clean, , not much finish.

M- Light mouthfeel, touch watery, medium to high carbonation

D- a bit of a sub-par/average Dunkel for me, not enough chocolately notes and a bit thin on the ground. Erdinger dunkel beats this easy!

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2008 23:30:57 | More by seanyfo

Absumaster

Netherlands

4.1/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A clear, dark brown beer with a thin white head.

Smell is very malty and sweet with light roasted caramel notes. Some raisins and wood smells. Pretty complex.

Taste is malty and has some husky notes that smell a bit like cooked vegetables. On top of the malt is sweet caramel with some smokiness and some malt bitterness. Bitterness is quite high, higher than expected. A nice spicy but clean German bitterness. Body is medium to big and mouthfeel is medium sweet.
A beer that is in between a Munich and a Doppelbock, more towards the latter. Good beer!

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2007 08:33:07 | More by Absumaster

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.15/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Found this at the Tap Room in Lawrence, KS. Pours a translucent black/brown. Looks a bit glossy. Head is a bit small for this style. yet it does look nice; slightly off brown and soapy.
Aroma of roasted bread (?) and some dried apricot, but not real fruity. slightly carbonated.
Taste is clean. Roasted malt and bread, with touches of lemon zest and corriander. Starts to taste like a Wit, but shuts down at a nice pilsner feel.
Good brew. nice for a hot/hummid night. Wish I drank it colder.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2007 19:51:07 | More by Mebuzzard

petemoss14

Germany

4/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Pours a pleasantly warm mahogany with a fluffy head of tan foam.

Roasty malt aroma. Some dark bread. Faint cocoa and toffee.

A touch thin on the palate. Lots of dark malt with some roastiness. Slight bitterness leads to a medium dry finish. Uncomplicated and quaffable.

Straightforward beer that I wish had a bit more body, but, that said, what it lacks in depth and robustness it makes up for in drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2007 18:26:58 | More by petemoss14

ischer

Germany

4.47/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

The beer has a surprising white head for a Dunkles and a red-brown cola-like color with bordeaux-red reflections.
The mouthfeel is exact the right balance between creamy and sparkling.
The smell isn't too obvious, but if you search for it you recognize the smell of chocolate and a very hidden banana-like flavour.
The taste is of solid malt with a medium note of caramel and a slight note of eucalyptus.
Once poured it takes relatively long to get moldy. ( but it is a steady, almost linear progress - so drinking it fresh is always the best option)
It is absolutely drinkable in relative masses, but it has the slight over-average noticeable aftermath which is typical for Dunkel.

All in all, I like it very much - it's my standard afterwork-beer after all!

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2006 19:46:49 | More by ischer

Domingo

Colorado

3.68/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Found notes on this brew from my winter trip to Germany while cleaning out my bag!
I got this brew in a cafe at the foot of Neuschwanstein castle.
Because of the cold and altitude, mugs of this were a welcome sight, hence why they likely had ads for it on all of the outdoor menus.
Came in a small (10 oz?) mug.
It's a dark brown color, nearly black, but still clear enough to see through. Minimal head on this one, which is rare in Bavaria, even for a dunkel.
Flavors are crisp and husky. A little bit of dark chocolate, but not that strong. Nothing special, but not bad either. Nothing off plus some pleasant (but mild) flavors thrown in can be the best thing in the world depending on the situation. Might make a good session brew.
Mouthfeel is very thin. This might be where the lack of head comes from. Keeps the drinkability high, but it's a little too thin compared to some of the best of the style.
This seems to be a pretty common brew as you head into this area of Bavaira. I see more ads and crates for Kaltenberg along the trainlines near the alps. The Neuschwanstein area is VERY touristy, so don't expect any bargains but this beer would make a good session brew if you picked up a 6'er around town.

(EDIT: On a later trip I found this to be much better. Perhaps the tourist trap I bought this one at just had an old keg)

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2006 17:51:34 | More by Domingo

Daredevil

Switzerland

4.05/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

lovely malty dark lager from the brewery of the ancient bavarian kings ... classy dark brown colour, the head is not too foamy nor firm, the malty smell is matched by the palate which ends in a dark coffee like aftertaste ... the brew is remarkably dry (for a dark lager) and has a light to medium body, which makes is very accesible

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2005 19:13:47 | More by Daredevil

mobyfann

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Paid .70EUR + .08EUR glass deposit for a 500mL bottle.

*Reviewed on 24.04.2005

The beer pours a classic chocolatey base with a medium white head, solid retention and some nice lacing to follow. One-dimensional smell of toasted malts…

The taste has a bit roasted malt depth than the smell, maybe a light touch of caramel but nothing more. The aftertaste is a bit weird of this one, but other than that it feels great in the mouth and delivery. It’s a nice session dunkel, but I'd prefer Hofbrauhaus brand…

Final Thought: This is a solid dunkel with a little more depth than a Warsteiner's version…

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2005 15:41:01 | More by mobyfann

paulaner

Japan

4.72/5  rDev +26.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

The appearance is a dark black just like a coca-cola. The smell is a great dark beer smell but not very noticeable unless you are really searching for it. This beer is a very addictive one you drink it get the bitterness the wetness then it dries out and you just want more and keep drinking it I always have to put just one or two in the fridge at a time or else it all disappears. The only downfall is it is only available in my region ounce a year on tap and is like searching for a needle in the haystack to find it bottled. The mouthfeel is pleasant and smooth with the bitterness leaving you addicted to it. For the german dunkel beers I have found few as strong of flavor as this.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2004 20:18:29 | More by paulaner

elmocoso

Nebraska

3.78/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A transparent mahogony - soft cola color. Head comes up - head falls down leaving not much behing. Slight collar and decent beading. Nose is caramel - unsweet cola. Not much hops. Very appatising smell.
Taste is all present. Very malty with a roasted caramel aftertaste. Very drinkable with an OK mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2004 20:31:51 | More by elmocoso

stcules

Italy

2.53/5  rDev -32.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Coca cola - like colour, with dark reflexes. Decent foam, medium in compactness, with low persistence.
The smell is malty, with plums, very very light toasted, maybe a hint of citrus fruit, but in the end, not partularly conspicuous.
The taste is malty, and fruity (black cherry over all). Lightly toasted, and a hint of acidity. Some woody-bitter-astringency notes.
Medium body.
Bitter aftertaste, and malty, not very pleasant. (and with some astringency and citric again).
In the end, it is a bit heavy...

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2004 20:08:25 | More by stcules

Bierman9

New Hampshire

3.55/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I quaffed a 1/2 litre of this while at a restaurant called Deutsche Eiche, in the München suburb of Lochhausen.
The König poured a medium brown color, was clear, and had a lasting, creamy tan head. It left behind very nice lacing, and was an attractive looking Bier altogether. Aroma was semi-malty, with some caramel and roasty notes, yet mild. Body was a bit thinner than medium, though it was still nice on the tongue. Flavor-wise, it was roasty, with light caramel again and dark malt flavors throughout. Finishing, though, with a mild bitterness, it is a decent Bier, yet one I found a bit too mild in most all categories save for appearance. Zum Wohl!!

overall: 3.7
appearance: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | mouthfeel: 3.5 | drinkability: 3.5

620

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2003 14:45:50 | More by Bierman9

Gavage

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The waitress brought over the dunkel in a nice Kaltenberg glass. Nice thick head adorned the dark copper liquid. The head slowly drifted away to the sides of the glass. Great malt aroma. The taste was wonderful, matching what I have expected in a well made dunkel. No adverse bitterness and a smooth malt aftertaste that lingered softly on the tongue. The alcohol level was perfect. One of the better dunkels I have experienced on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

08-13-2003 01:06:59 | More by Gavage

StevieW

Florida

3.58/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Medium dark clear brown color. Foamy cream colored head. Stays around nicely. Mostly carmel smell matched with some hoppy bitterness. Taste is mild, mostly carmel malt. Sourness, very beerlike. After carmel malt taste, super shot of bitterness on the finish. Bitter finish is almost painful. Coffe undertones. Unexepected thin feel for a dark beer. Almost watery. Still very good, sweet start and bitter finish, not bad for the style. Cheers to my friend Heinz from Munich for bringing it all the way across the pond.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2002 19:23:18 | More by StevieW