Munich Dunkel
A dark, malty Bavarian lager rich in bready, toasty Munich malt but smooth and clean.
About the Munich Dunkel style
The Munich Dunkel is the traditional dark lager of Bavaria and one of the oldest surviving lager styles, the everyday beer of Munich before the pale Helles arrived.
It is above all a showcase for Munich malt, giving rich bready and toasty flavours with hints of chocolate and crust, all kept smooth and clean by cold lager fermentation.
Dunkel, or Dunkles, is a word used for several types of dark German lager. Dunkel is the German word meaning "dark", and dunkel beers typically range in color from amber to dark reddish brown. They are characterized by their smooth, malty flavor.
Grain, hops and yeast
Malt and grain: A large proportion of Munich malt for deep bready, toasty, lightly chocolate malt character.
Hop character: Low noble hopping in balance, behind the malt.
Yeast and fermentation: A clean lager yeast, cold-fermented and lagered.
A typical Munich Dunkel runs 4.5 to 5.6% alcohol by volume, with a bitterness of about 18 to 28 IBU and a colour of 14 to 28 SRM. It is traditionally served in a willi becher or mug. These figures describe the usual range for the style; a given example may sit a little outside them.
Yeast and fermentation notes
A clean lager yeast fermented cold, around 9 to 12 degrees Celsius, then lagered for weeks, gives the smooth malt-forward profile. The rich flavour comes from Munich malt, so the fermentation itself stays clean and neutral.
Serving in brief
Serve a Munich Dunkel cold, around 5 to 8 degrees Celsius, with a moderate carbonation. It is a smooth, malt-rich lager best served fresh and well lagered, showing its deep Munich malt.
Classic examples
Well-known commercial examples of the style include Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel, Weltenburger Kloster Barock-Dunkel and Hacker-Pschorr Alt Munich Dark. Tasting a benchmark example is the best way to understand what a style should be before brewing your own.
| Vital statistic | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Origin | Germany (Bavaria) |
| Strength (ABV) | 4.5 to 5.6% |
| Bitterness (IBU) | 18 to 28 |
| Colour (SRM) | 14 to 28 |
| Traditional glass | Willi Becher or mug |
Typical published ranges. Individual examples vary.
Pick the yeast for a Munich Dunkel
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Sources: BJCP Beer Style Guidelines · Wikipedia