Andechser Dunkel - Klosterbrauerei Andechs

IchLiebeBier

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Dark bronze; clear; big, cream-colored head

Aroma: Malty; peppery; dried fruit

Taste: Juicy malt on start; quickly turning to slight bitterness; slightly dry, slightly bitter finish; not bad

Remarks: Did not score A, T, S, M at that time; disregard those scores

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 02:04:57 | More by IchLiebeBier

Sunnanek

Sweden

4.05/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: Pour is clear brown with a large but a bit soapy beige head. Decent lacings.

S: Smells roasted sweet malt, with some bitter hops. Dark bread, rye. Some chocoalte and even some hay. Faint coffee.

T: Very bready, almost like swedish crisp-bread. Roasted. Well balanced with bitter hops. Faint notes of chocolate. Crisp.

M: Rather thin body, but that's not such a big problem when it comes to this style. Medium strong carbonation, very smooth though. Aftertaste is short but holds nice chocolaty bitterness.

O: Nice and well balanced. This is a nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2013 18:02:30 | More by Sunnanek

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From: Worldwidespirits.de
Date: Best by 08/22/2012
Glass: Ayinger willi glass

Pours a >2cm head of light tan bubbles, small in size and fairly dense, with good retention, head lasting over a minute as it settles to a thin cap atop the body of the beer, thicker around the perimeter. Head leaves some splotches of lacing along the sides of the glass. Beer's body is dark amber brown, with light bringing out the reddish amber hues. Body is transparent, with visibly active and substantial carbonation.

Aroma of modest toasted hazelnuts, toasted bread, and very light chocolate. Not bitter, tangy, or detectably acrid, mostly smooth and sweet.

Taste is, upfront, of lightly toasted bread and nuts, with some malt sweetness, with a background of mildly bitter chocolate. Aftertaste is of mild hazelnut-flecked chocolate

Beer is medium bodied, with a slight wateriness around the edges. Carbonation is noticeable, though not stinging on the palate, resulting in an overall mouthfeel being crisp and smooth, very lager-like. Finish is wet, not dry at all.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 01:54:01 | More by falloutsnow

tugdriver7

Maryland

4.33/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500 ml bottle hand-carried just a day ago from Germany by C,N & E (Thanks!!). Part of a multi-pack souvenir selection. They got to go to the Andechs Monastery, but this was the next best thing for those of us that didn't go to Oktoberfest. The bottle had a May 2012 freshness date. Yeah, that fresh. Gorgeous brown in the glass with a nice tan foamy head. Light carbonation. A hint of sweet biscuity malt with a hint of caramel in the nose. Initial taste was incredibly smooth, balanced, a touch sweet (but definitely in balance), with a very subtle roast malt flavor--the classic "Dunkel" taste. What I didn't taste were any of the off flavors that sometimes accompany older, imported Germans (not referring to myself there). I see why they raved about the drinkability of the local beers on tap in country. They are incredibly fresh tasting and go down oh so easily. Looking forward to the other bottles in the selection. Thanks again C,N & E (and K too).

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 03:02:47 | More by tugdriver7

crnipeter

Slovenia

3.68/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

500 ml bottle slightly over its freshness date (27. January 2011), into tulip. Deep coppery, clear body is topped by rather low yet well-sustained creamy, light tan head that sticks to the walls and leaves only a bubbly patch of lace as it slowly dies out. Nose lacking any overt hop aroma is rich Munich malt sweetness with melanoidins reminiscent of a bread crust, hint of chocolate and nutty notes. Medium bodied with moderate carbonation and creamy mouthfeel. The beer is moderately sweet from unfermentable sugars but not cloying or sticky, with bread crust flavor (from the melanoidin-containing Munich malt) and mild roastiness in the background. The balance is leaned towards the malty side and hoppy bitterness remains hidden until the semi-dry finish when it shows up.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 23:34:23 | More by crnipeter

ecoastman

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap while in Germany at the Wiesbaden Rathaus.

A nice dunkel with plenty of malt, roasted nuts, chocolate and coffee.

The taste was similar to the aromas and the mouthfeel was very smooth and creamy. Very drinkable.

I wish I could have tried all the Andechser beers at this place but unfortunately could only get through three. Next time...

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2010 01:24:10 | More by ecoastman

Absumaster

Netherlands

3.48/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A dark copper beer with a big head.

Smell is malty with a dark crystal malty smell and whiffs of sulfur. A very interesting smell, which comes out after warming up.

Taste is malty with very light roasted notes. The yeast adds a nice sulfuric taste which adds to complexity. The beer has a slight wort taste. A very drinkable beer with a light aftertaste that is a bit lingering bitter.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2010 20:16:01 | More by Absumaster

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

4.22/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Brown half-litre bottle, best before 20 Oct 2010, drank during my German tasting evening 2 July 2010. Poured into my tall Wolnzacher Brauhaus (Hopfenperle) glass.

Very suprised to find I've never reviewed this beer before!

The beer has a redwood tree, brown hue to it, the head is a healthy cream coloured crown.

Malty aromas rise from the glass and a sweet malty brew hits your lips as you dive into the beer, to be completely engulfed by its charms.

This is a very drinkable beer, a little on the sweet side for some, but I really like it and have one whenever our paths cross.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2010 18:06:01 | More by BlackHaddock

jmhart

Georgia

3.38/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Had a bottle, poured into pilsner glass at Café Abseit in Bamberg.

A- Deep amber-brown, no sediment but a slight haze. Head was a long lasting toasted almond in color, one finger thick, and left a really intricate lace.

S- Pretty standard: roasted malt with hits of molasses and nuts. A decent sweetness on the smell, with a bit of plum.

T- The flavors on the nose were pretty standard and average, but the taste really exemplified all of those flavors and the style. Rich toffee, brown sweet fruits like prunes and figs, and a great earthy hop finish. The tastes starts sweet and finish with a perfect hobby bitterness that leaves your mouth ready for the next sip.

M- Firmly medium bodied, bubbly. Silky.

D- I really enjoyed this beer, but I'd have to say pretty average drinkability. It was really tasty, but by the time I finished the bottle (33 cL), I was ready for something else. I'd be happy to have a six pack in my fridge, but would only have one per sitting. I guess I'm saying this is far from a session beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2010 23:13:13 | More by jmhart

seanyfo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.95/5  rDev -1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

50cl bottle poured into a shaker pint glass BB July 2010

A - Dark ruby colour, when held up to the light, the red coppery colours are apparent. 3 finger creamy tan head that disappates relatively quickly to a crown. Lacing is average to minimal.

S - Lots of nutty munich malts in here. Roasted bready nuttiness. Metallic note

T - Very tasty and smooth, Starts with lots of roasted bitter munich malts that balance into a sweeter malt in the finish, nuttiness in the aftertaste lingers on.

M - Moderate carbonation, full on the tongue, nearly creamy

D- A very pleasing munich dunkel. I found some other examples very bitter in the malt, nearly abrasive! This is very smooth with lots of malty character, i would drink this again quite happily.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2010 21:38:02 | More by seanyfo

mtstatebeer

West Virginia

3/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

0.5l bottle, best by 11 May 2010. Pours a completely clear copper color with a decent creamy off-white head, good lacing. Aroma is pale and caramel malts, bread, roasted, and a little spicy. Flavor is sweet caramel malts, roasted, a little bit of fruits, and a bit metallic. Mouthfeel is light to moderate, oily, slightly acidic, and a touch of bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2010 03:33:40 | More by mtstatebeer

FreshHawk

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Deep redish brown with an average sized off-white foamy head. Decent retention and a little bit of lacing.

S - Lots of bread and caramel malt. A little nutty roasted smell. Pretty faint smell.

T - A lot like the smell. Good amount of sweet caramel, bread malts. Toasted malt and some mild sugar. Some dark fruit (mostly cherry). A bit of grassy and floral hops provide a bit of balance to the sweetness.

M - Medium body and a good amount of carbonation. Pretty creamy and smooth.

D - Easy to drink and goes down smooth. Really nice, malt forward beer with enough balance that it doesn't get too sweet.

Notes: Good darker malt beer. Good filing bread like taste and smooth mouthfeel make drinking this quite pleasurable.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2010 18:29:05 | More by FreshHawk

MasterSki

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks Matt for another Andechs brew. Served in a pilsener glass. Best before February 26th, 2010. My bottle says 4.9%

A - Nice two fingers of tan foam that dissipates slowly and leaves nice splotchy lacing. Golden nut brown body with lots of bubbles lazily rising upwards.

S - Clean, fruity, and loads of nutty caramel malt. There's also some light spiciness and bread. Almost a little natural cola-like. As it warms it picks up a little lager twang and notes of chocolate.

T - The taste is a little more roasted malt, with some chocolate and nuts as well. There's some earthy bitterness in the finish, and some clove as well.

M - Carbonation is quite soft, but still present and slightly tingly. Residual stickiness is moderate. Medium body that's quite chewy.

D - This was quite the surprise. I wasn't expecting much, but this is an excellent session brew. The residual bitterness gets a little intense, but otherwise it was super-easy to put down the half-litre.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2010 17:29:43 | More by MasterSki

MuenchenerKindl

Germany

4.18/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a .5L bottle to a pint glass the liquid is dark caramel and semi cloudy with good carbonation. It seem to be darker then most Dunkels Weizen I have had. The head is 3 fingers light off white and leave some lace.

The smell is light toasted bananas and a hint of cloves and some other spice.

The taste is nice ripe banana, pepper and cloves.

The mouthfeel is very vice as well, good carbonation and great body.

Prosit MK

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2009 22:07:00 | More by MuenchenerKindl

germanbeer1

Maine

4.38/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

As any true Bavarian-beer loving person knows, the best beer from Munich is outside the city limits in small towns like Aying and Andechs. My roommate whom I studied with in Bamberg, Germany invited me to check out the Andechs Kloster and it was by far one of my best beer-drinking experiences I've ever had. The beer garden overlooks the tiny town of Andechs at the top of a large hill. The beer is a dark brown with a very small, light-colored head. The smell of the beer is consistent with its taste, as it gives off scents of nuts and chocolate. The beer is very friendly to the palate and does not leave any undesired after-taste like many German Dunkels. Great beer and great environment.

Serving type: on-tap

11-24-2008 03:02:23 | More by germanbeer1

dasenebler

Maine

3.55/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

No real head to speak of, just a ring, but it poured a beautiful ruby-brown. Tart aroma, the slightest hint of soy sauce and malts.

Tart, tangy taste as well. Nice mouthfeel, slightly creamy. Good roasted malt aftertaste. Not sweet; barely bitter. It has a good drink, and, as one of the lighter dunkels I've tasted, it is quite refreshing. Neither extraordinary nor problematic traits with this brew. Good.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2008 21:52:15 | More by dasenebler

TKempe

Netherlands

4.43/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This one has an attractive brown appearance, bordering on very dark red, with a thin beige head, some lively carbonation and creamy lacing.

The aroma is sour-sweet and dry, very nutty and slightly spicy. Malt profile is strong and nicely balanced out between some dryish, almost chocolate-like notes on the one hand and a slightly burned note on the other. Support comes from a touch of dark fruits and the slightest bit of hops. Kind of a peculiar nose, but a very enjoyable and interesting one.

After a good dose of roasty malts pleases the palate, a fruitiness that is sour initially but deliciously sweet after warming takes over, which then makes way for a very enjoyable bitter and dry finish in which hops and roast flavors shine through delicately. A rather modest taste altogether, but in fact a very rich one full of nuances.

Stingy carbonation adds vitality to the medium body and slightly creamy mouthfeel.

This is a very comfortable and lovely beer, with a bite to it.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2008 20:30:10 | More by TKempe

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

4.22/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Coming in a 500ml slim brown bottle at 4.9%abv.; BB 03/12/08, served chilled in a weizen glass.

A: dark but still bright russet brown in colour, coming with a tight and well-lasting dark beige froth on top of a decent level of semi-lively carbonation.
S: the aroma comes astringently sour, even like marinated black prunes initially, almost like yeasts in the beer?! The sour fruitiness gets a touch of tart cherries as well as a decent lager's natural sour edge, backed by a richer backdrop of Munich malts - lightly roasted, nutty, and burned sugary, rich but just about right - and plenty of jammy prunes and dates... Unlike most other Dunkel I've tried, this beer shows a richer and sweeter profile overall, even a bit like Baltic porter.
T: the initial mouthful of toasted dark malts is balanced with lightly sour-sweet berry fruits, the bitter edge of burned sugar and hops, then the aroma of caramelised sugar expands along with powdered-herbal bitterness (licorice), cocoa, jammy dates, soothing roast nuts, lightly aromatic flavour of dried berry-fruits and raisins, plus a soothing palate of hop bitterness lingering in the end...
M&D: extremely refreshing and soothing in terms of carbonation, this Dunkel is as sour-fruity as toasted-malty on top of a lovely support of hop bitterness, showing a lovely balance in the flavour profile. A very well-crafted, assertively fruity Dunkel that is delicious and quaffable in every sense~~

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2008 18:45:42 | More by wl0307

stcules

Italy

3.33/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Brown-reddish color. Cream colored foam, two fingers, average compactness.
Caramel smell, light, with pleasant touches of lightly burnt. And a light hint of liquorice.
Same in the taste, but more full and rounded, with bitter notes in the back.
Drinkable and pleasant.
A bit of burnt again in the aftertaste, and bitter in the back.
Well balanced.
After all, pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2008 18:12:07 | More by stcules

CharlesDarwin

Rhode Island

3.7/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle. Thanks for sharing Chris! Aroma percolate of soft, supple caramel and toasted german malts. Plenty of earthy sugars, yet subdued in a lager fashion. Sweet. Clear mahogany with gold edges and a rim of off-white. A well, attenuated dunkel, brimming with woody grain sugars, baked cookies, light chocolates and toothy candy. A bit of peaches, plums and sweet sheeting. There’s some sense of flavor reduction through heavy filtering.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2007 13:08:38 | More by CharlesDarwin

BrotherJon

California

4.1/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had the pleasure of enjoying this brew in a Irish pub called Shamrocks in Munich. Prost to Jackson the bar tender.

Initially the aroma indicated notes brown toasty malts. A delightfully quenching dark malt flavor (chocolate) balanced excellently with an appropriate bitternes no doubt imparted by subtle german hoppiness. Had an overlying essence of smokiness. Rich in a very good way.

My first dunkel tasted in Munich (I'm not counting the one I guzzled at Hofbrauhaus due to inebriation) and one that I was quite pleased with!

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2007 21:55:16 | More by BrotherJon

ischer

Germany

3.23/5  rDev -19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

the beer has a very nice, nearly white foam.
the color is ruby to reddish brown.
it has little to no smell, like the most dunkel, if you really search for it, you can sense a light smell of bananas.
the mouhtfeel is good, not too sparkling, not too moldy, a bit creamy perhaps.
the taste is malty, for a south-german beer relatively much hop.
bits of chocolate and lemon, but overall to little sophisticated.
all in all, it is a viable dunkel with no surprises if you already drank one.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2006 16:34:09 | More by ischer

Andreji

Colombia

3.98/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The Dunkel I tasted right after the helles on the very same train from Liege to Brussels.

The pour was fairly dark toned but lacked that thick body that, for me (and this is just my hunch, nothing factual), makes an ale. but for a lager, this was pretty impressive.

The smell was fairly complex, roasted, with a slight chocolatey feel to it. like the only other andechser I've tried, it was quite soft, so it requires quite a bit of concentration to pinpoint only a few of the notes. (thank god trains are becoming more and more smoke-free nowadays).

The taste was pretty decent, predominanty sweet but that roasted feel, combining very slightly with chocolate and coffee was there again, a milky feel in the mouth.

very decent beer, nothing too pompous but it's quite tasty.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2006 23:08:41 | More by Andreji

Domingo

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Another winner at Andechs, and from a style that doesn't get a lot of recognition over here in the US, but likely should. Dunkel Lager is my default brew of choice in most situations where it's available.
Came out a nice dark color with a little bit of reddish highlights, but fewer than most. Head was a perfect 3/4 inch.
Smell is caramel, cola, chocolate, grain, and even a little hops buried in there.
Flavor is rich and malty. Some dunkel's seem to taste just like an overmalted helles lager, but not this one. This is a bold brew that can take on bock-like flavors.
Mouthfeel is a little thicker than I'd like (this is the only flaw from Andechs, IMO...they tend to go against the grain with the thickness/thinness of their brews), but it's still nothing to complain about.
Drinkability is limited only by the hours the Monastary or hall in Munich are open!

EDIT: I think I was being a little too kind to this beer in my first review. It's really good, but there are better dunkels out there. Augustiner and Ayinger in particular come to mind.
After my 4th visit, I definitely think I overstated this one a bit...BUT it's still a great beer and one of the better ones around. It's probably worth noting that this beer is usually only available at the smaller biergarten about halfway up the hill at Andechs. It's not available in the bierhall on top of the hill or at Am Dom at all.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2006 19:00:45 | More by Domingo

Sigmund

Norway

3.98/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

500 ml bottle, bought in Bier Spezi Hamburg. ABV is 4.9%. Typical dunkel clear reddish brown colour, very good and lingering light tan head. Very nice aroma of moderately roasted malts, flaked nuts, caramel and bakery. Flavour is malty and nutty with notes of dark bread and caramel, not too sweet. German dunkels are not "big" beers, but are, when well made, a truly enjoyable drinking experience. This is one of them.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2005 19:43:21 | More by Sigmund