Hofbräu Dunkel - Hofbräuhaus München

Monsteruss

Colorado

5/5  rDev +33%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Ah yes! The best beer in the world! I can't say any negative reviws on this beer. I've enjoyed this personal favorite for such a long time. The foam was a nice antique beigh with a deep rich aroma. The color is a dark amber red. Nothing compares to the taste in my opinion. A smooth, rich and robust taste with a plethora of complex smells. The mouthfeel was smooth and medium-bodied. If I had to live off
just kind of beer for the rest of my life, this would be it.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2009 22:56:26 | More by Monsteruss

germanbeerluvr

New York

4.88/5  rDev +29.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

By far, my favorite beer of all. The flavors in this beer explode along with the wonderful aroma of caramel. I usually have two liters of this great beer on tap, at the Heidelberg in NYC, the food and beer are fantastic, I have never been disappointed. I have serious trouble trying to keep my glass on the bar.

Serving type: on-tap

05-30-2008 01:47:28 | More by germanbeerluvr

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.83/5  rDev +28.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

First of all, a lot of the reviews on this page are refering to a Hofbrauhouse in Vegas or Kentucky...
Vegas is for gambling
Kentucky is for horse racing

Germany is for Beer!

This Hofbräu is from Germany...

I found this to be a nice dark brown brew which had a nice head that lingered around for the entire pint drinking experience.
I like this beer, good classic German Dunkel.
I could have a lot of these with a couple of bbq'd brauts or soft, warm, fresh baked pretzels.
Great taste.

A message for the other Hofbrau drinkers : Try this beer and you'll go back to Vegas or Kentucky and let the other guys know that their beer doesn't hold a candle to the German version!

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2007 19:04:19 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

RichardAlexander

4.75/5  rDev +26.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Amzing beer with a nice rich, full body taste. Smells like it taste. Good amount of head when poored. No bitter bite. Real nice dark malt flavor with hints of caramel and chocolate. The end is much like the taste of toasted bread. Just a hint of spicyness and a little bit of hop. This beer is a real winner.

I liked it some much a had to go out a get a 1/2 keg of it at home in the kegerator. Its just as good as ever. Really a treat.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2012 12:05:25 | More by RichardAlexander

billybob

Massachusetts

4.7/5  rDev +25%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

really enjoyed this beer its nicely balanced taste and crisp clean mouthfeel just makes you want that next one. pours a medium brown with hints of ruby highlights and a beige head and a light spotty lace.

lightly roasted malt with a very light hint of caramel.

slightly sweet roasted malt with a light bitter hop finish and a lingering after taste.

light to medium mouthfeel thats crisp and clean.

this beer gets it all right.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2009 15:00:18 | More by billybob

SkeeterHawk

Texas

4.58/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Very clear red-brown...bordering on light garnet. There is a small 1/4" head of off white bubbles that is there after a cautious pour. The head was on its way somewhere within the first 15 seconds, but it takes it at least a minute before it receeds into the beer.

Aroma: Lots and lots of toasty malts are the dominant aroma, and I don't think that there is really any hops here. The malt is so rich that it gives me an impression of dark cherries. It is dry and cracker like with a clean noticeable sweetness, with lots of toasty notes.

Taste: The flavor is even more malty than the flavor suggested. The sweetness is definitely there, but it is so attenuated with so many toasty notes that it is not cloying in any way, shape, or form. There is a noticeable caramel sweetness that makes itself apparent in the middle of the sip and sticks with you throughout the rest of the flavor profile. The finish is clean and malty with only a bit of sweetness and the dryness of the malt to linger. No alcohol is noticeable the entire time.

Opinion: This is a great beer, and one tha I like to drink pretty much as often as I find it. I am actually surprised that I haven't reviewed it until now because I drink it frequently...since it became available in Texas. I would recommend that you give this beer a shot if you want to know what a quality German session beer tastes like. Plenty of everything to make it a great experience to drink. Prost!

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2007 02:29:08 | More by SkeeterHawk

Megahertz

Missouri

4.58/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2oz Green bottle into a shaker. Why green, hofbrau? Why? My beer store has UV filters, but still, they only work so well, and even then, we don't know how it was handled before they get it...

A - Crystal clear brown with a massive off-white head that forms a nice, close pillow. Lots of lacing.

S - Slightly chocolatey with an herbal background. Very pleasant.

T - Smooth, doughy malt sweetness with a dark caramel note. Very light herbal hop flavor noted.

M - Light bodied with low to medium carbonation.

O - Wow, could I put down a few of these. They sure know how to do lagers in Munich.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 21:49:23 | More by Megahertz

aaronh

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +21%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Hofbrauhaus, Newport.

Dark copper-chestnut color, topped by a light tan head. Aroma of sweet caramel and roasted malts. The taste has a mild sweetness surrounded by nice roasted malt background. Good caramel flavors with a touch of what I would swear is chocolate, followed by a crisp finish. Lingering bitterness on the aftertaste eventually gives way to just an ever so faint sweetness. Mouthfeel is very solid. Drinakbility is excellent. Amazingly fresh. Even my grandmother and mom liked this offering. Perhaps the best dark lager I've tried. Outstanding.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2003 04:05:23 | More by aaronh

danadeny

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had this at the Hofbrauhause in Munich. Presentation in a liter stein is enough to warrant an exceptional appearance score alone, add to that a great brown color and frothy head and you have a winner. The smell was subtle, I could find the roasted malt only because I was looking for it, but a general smell of freshness is most prevalent. Taste is classic. Exactly what I would expect from this beer. The flavor is not over the top at any point, exceptional balance between the roasted malt flavor and small amount of hops. This beer is not trying to grab your attention; it's a classic case of less is more. This is one beer everyone should have on tap to understand the style and intention of the beer. In the US there is a mentality that every beer has to try to "out do" the competition and grab our attention. That’s not the case here; you will actually be wowed at the fact of how a simple beer can be so great. Mouthfeel is smooth and watery, refreshing and light. And drinkability is insane, to be served in a liter stein this thing has to be drinkable and that it is.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2005 16:49:15 | More by danadeny

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My fiancé bought me a case as I'm always up for trying a new German beer. Poured a bottle into my Victory Prima Pils pilsener glass.

A: pours a nice amber with nice three-finger head. Good carbonation evident.

S: very bready, slightly toasty malt aroma. Nice floral hop notes. Great display of German malts.

T & M: nice caramel malt profile. Each taste gives a nice slightly creamy sensation that delivers malt goodness over the tongue. Dry tasting with nice medium mouthfeel. Really great tasting dunkel!

D very drinkable beer. Could be nice for a session, as a compliment for whatever food, or a great after work brew. A delight.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2010 21:48:44 | More by jwhancher

pkalix

California

4.45/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

now this is a truly special review for me.
after just leaving the famous OLD WORLD in Huntington Beach and having one of these on tap, i come home to find a bottle of this superb nectar in my frig (i like to surprise myself). minus the great ambience of THE RATHSKELLER downstairs at Old World, i am now comparing the keg version of the pub and the bottled version in my frig.
both had a great head expected of decent (although commercial) german brews which dissipated into nothing in the bottled version but lingered a bit longer in the kegged version. both are a beautiful, coppery brown with the traditional malty smell and caramel-ly taste. smell is also of that traditional and beautiful (not sure what kind) malt and is also present in the other commercials like paulaner etc....
little carbonation in the taste but after putting the glass down there becomes a mini explosion of tiny bubbles rising to create a thin layer of foam.
overall, who couldnt love this brew except for one who has simply had too many german commercials in his life? it's not an outstanding tasting brew, but commercially, head to head with any othe country on the globe, the germans have got beer right.
i have to admit, however, that the first tatsings of the kegged version were unmarred as the latter tastes became slightly impaired by the sauerkraut and bratwurst which lent a tad numbing bitterness to the taste. but, man, i wish i were still at The Rathskeller. . . . . .
oh, and one more.... WHY/HOW CAN THERE BE NO PICTURE OF THIS BEER ON THE SITE???? so, i am uploading my picture. what a beautiful picture it is, isnt it? okay, never mind- it wont upload my jpeg. maybe THAT's why there's no pictures...

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2012 22:31:44 | More by pkalix

yelterdow

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled in mid-2008, this is served in a traditional German stange at several degrees above fridge temperature. Paired with a hunk of Raclette.

Appearance- Pours a rich caramel, supporting an unbelievable five finger crown... it reduces eventually to a craggy mat, rugged and uneven. A few broken bands of lace remain in the glass.

Smell- Chocolate, dark bready notes, and a whopping malt nose come together for an exquisite display of Dunkel magic. There's an organic character to the aroma, almost like centipedes or woodlice in the damp forest. Love it.

Taste- Rich and malty, the balance of ingredients is damn near perfect. It's straightforward and honest, but so well done that the hops kick in just at the end to dry the palate for the next sip. After swallowing, the atmosphere in the mouth remaines largely malt based; much better than I remember a year ago.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability- Solid, moderate carbonation fuels the flavors and brings out the malty, natural elements I mentioned before. Great alone and with the cheese I've selected, but it could certainly complement a burger or sausage just fine too. A worthy, widely-available Dunkel Lager from Munich.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2009 04:42:37 | More by yelterdow

LyonsHead

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: deep copper with a creamy off-white head and decent lacing

S: There is a munich malt presence with notes of bread crust and a slight nuttiness

T: There is a malty sweetness mixed with the melanoidan flavors of toasted biscuit and bread crust. There is a faint chocolate nuttiness which adds to the complexity of this beer.

M: smooth and full bodied (very dextrinous). There is a residual sweetness but it is not cloying, it leaves you wanting another sip

D: This is fantastic. The malt profile here is complex and tastes outstanding. You could drink this beer all night. I highly recommend this one

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2009 19:08:40 | More by LyonsHead

RedSpecial1

Florida

4.4/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours a rich reddish brown with just a little off white head that quickly dissipates. The smell is mostly of caramel and malt. The taste matches the smell exactly with a little bit of toasty flavor at the end. The mouthfeel is about what you would expect from a beer of this style. Overall a pretty tasty beer, but as these are fairly sweet I don't think I could drink more than a couple of these per session.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2010 19:12:59 | More by RedSpecial1

Alkey

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11.2 FL. OZ. Green bottle

Pours a nice three finger off white foam head. Very clear clean dark amber color with some slight small bubbles.

Light fragrance of wood and ripe fruit maybe a bit of brown sugar.

Slightly bitter hop taste with a bit of roasted malt notes and a hint of molasses.

Feels light and crisp in the mouth but has a rich flavor and is very refreshing.

Overall I was very pleased with this beer and I will be buying more in the near future.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2011 22:14:26 | More by Alkey

klintok21

Michigan

4.4/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

After getting hooked on the Hofbräu original I had to try the Dunkel. I've never been a huge fan of darks but this one will surely keep a permanent place in my fridge! Simply delicious! I wish I had tried it on tap while at The Old German Beer Hall in Milwaukee, WI but only had the original there. I tried the dunkel from bottle. Fresh, lightly carbonation, nice aroma, and highly recommended!

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2011 12:11:32 | More by klintok21

bierman2000

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this beer at the famed Hofbrauhaus in Munich.. Dark roasty chocolate with a lasting head in a Liter mug. Smooth and malty with a deep brown hue and excellent mouthfeel.. highly drinkable and thirst quenching.. smell is of chocolate and roasted malts ..

Serving type: on-tap

07-19-2003 17:03:00 | More by bierman2000

brownbeer

Missouri

4.38/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, reddish-brown with just a thin layer of head.

It actually smells really good. Rich, nutty toffee reminiscent of a brown ale. A bit of raspberry fruitiness as well.

Taste is similar with added chocolate and bready malt. Some how the green bottle hasn't affected this one. Nice medium body and dry finish, rich and satisfying. It does a great job of balancing the malt for how little hop character it has.

I have to say, i'm pleasantly suprised with this one, great example and priced right.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2010 02:56:43 | More by brownbeer

generallee

New York

4.35/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Presentation: It was poured from a green 11.2oz bottle into a Pilsener glass. The bottle has no freshness date or any info other than the style.

Appearance: Its body has a deep burnt coppery color with lighter amber highlights and good clarity. The pour produces a tall, foamy, light tan head with a mix of small tightly packed bubbles and bigger soapy quick fading bubbles. The settles down to a thin cap of tiny bubbles that makes very nice lacing on the glass.

Smell: The nose is full and rich. There are solid notes of caramel and bready maltiness followed up by some floral/mineral like German and Czech noble hops.

Taste/Palate: As in the aroma the flavor has nice caramel/bready maltiness and noble spicy/floral hops in good balance with a slight edge to the malt. In the finish it quickly fades to dryer mellow hop bitterness. The body has a medium to full body with a smooth, not to thick/not to thin, texture and carbonation.

Notes: This is another all-around solid beer with good balance and drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2010 12:33:06 | More by generallee

granger10

Wisconsin

4.33/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Transparent mohagany amberish color with a nice medium creamy tan head. Not too much lacing. A toasty grainy aroma with a touch of chocolate and caramel lying underneath. Flavor begins with a cereal grain toasty flavor which controls the beer. Some nutty and caramel characteristics come out but they're a touch weaker. A bit of bitter chocolate. Lightly earthy and dry in finish. A bit of some residual sugar stays. Smoth with a nice combination of roast flavor, malty flavors, and sweet to bitter balance. Maybe a touch more body and a bit more hop flavor but really, this is quite enjoyable. Very quaffable on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2006 22:52:13 | More by granger10

EpicWI

Wisconsin

4.33/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A. Poured from a 330ml bottle into a glass stein. 2+ fingers of a light tan foam that quickly dissipates. Clear deep reddish brown.

S. Heavy malts, with caramel and yeast coming through.

T. Earthy and malty, with a pleasant sweetness that tapers to a slight bitterness at the back of the throat. Smooth, but smoothness broken by slightly heavy handed carbonation.

M. Has the light to moderate yet still slightly chewy body distinctive in the Bavarian lagers.

O. A great beer, on of my favorites. I think it's mildly over carbonated, but forgivably so. About as good as it gets in this style.

On a side note, this one of my favorites all around, and also my "go to" choice whenever cooking a recipe that calls for an unspecified style of beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 00:08:14 | More by EpicWI

Haybeerman

Colorado

4.28/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Medium brown/reddish color, with a thick two inch head. Very good retention, excellent lacing.

Smell: Aroma is dominated by toasted malts, caramel, and raisins. Clean, but very bready/biscuity.

Taste: Flavor is dominated by toasted grains; biscuit flavors mixed with malty caramel.

Mouthfeel: Definitely a "big" beer that fills the mouth with full grainy and bready flavors.

Drinkability: Nice balance yet full flavor in a beer that fairly light and clean make this a very drinkable beer. Drinking it in the Hofbrau House in Milwaukee in a liter mug made it even better.

Serving type: on-tap

07-08-2008 19:51:09 | More by Haybeerman

HeadFullaHops

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - This beer is a crystal clear deep dark (dunkel) red in the glass and has a 1" head after a vigorous pour out of a 12 oz bottle into an 18 oz glass.

S - The aroma is definitely toasty bread with some raisin notes hiding somewhere. No hop aroma.

T - Delicious dark German lager! Clean; balanced to the malt side with the raisin bread smell rewarded in full on the palette. No hop flavor and only a slight bit of bitterness in the finish. No noticeable alcohol flavors.

M - Medium bodied. Not light or exceptionally heavy.

D - I could drink this style of beer all day. I just finished a six pack and I don't feel full to the brim or more than a little effect of the alcohol.

I am probably biased toward German lager beers in general but, this is a very good brew that I appreciated more and more as I went along. Try it out for sure!

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2009 03:59:12 | More by HeadFullaHops

hustlesworth

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A- shiny clear brew, with tones of ruby and copper with golden highlights, but could also be called brown. Rather thin beige head looks sticky and leaves some nice spotty lace. Foam becomes soapy as it settles.

S- mild aroma, nutty and toasty with some light chocolate and very weak coffee notes. Sweet, woodsy, brown sugar, and a hint of maple.

T- fresh grain flavor, toasty and robust but not too powerful as that would take away from other great aspects of this beer. Nutty almond skin, hazelnut skin, weak cocoa and coffee, mild fruity tartness like raisin and date, some tannins, brown sugar and a very nicely balanced spicy hop bitterness. Finishes cleaner than most beers on this end of the spectrum with lingering herbal bitterness and fading deeply toasted bread.

MF- crisp medium body, medium carbonation fits perfectly here, good balance of sweet and dry on the cheeks.

D- all around great beer, glad to have a keg of this stuff. Not too heavy and not too strong and excellent to sit down and have a few of. Seems it would go great with all manner of meats and poultry and especially sausage. Probably breakfast too. Entirely drinkable for something malty and on the dark end. Not overbearing in any way, just a relaxed, flavorful brew.

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2010 08:28:50 | More by hustlesworth

jkrich

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Green, 11.2 oz bottle poured into a stein: clear, brown with reddish highlights. The fluffy off-white head lingers for awhile before settling leaving some attractive lacing. The aroma was a fresh, smooth and malty sweetness but a little restrained.
For flavor begins with a nice roasted malt flavor with faint hints of licorice and caramel. There is a very nice complement of hops that keeps this extremely refreshing even as it warms in the glass.
Light and refreshing body for a dunkel with spritzy carbonation, the mouthfeel is clean, malty and for refreshing.
This is an excellent example of an underrated style. While not complex it is well balanced and very quaffable.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2010 00:02:14 | More by jkrich