Warsteiner - Dunkel Review
There are a few brands and styles that make me stop and buy; one of the brands is Warsteiner, and one of the styles is a Dunkel. Both can be rarities in my part of the world, but luckily, I found them both in a four-pack of tall cans.
Warsteiner is a German beer legend that was founded in 1753. So while our Founding Fathers were rounding out the Declaration of Independence, the Germans were getting drunk on Warsteiner. They have since solidified themselves as one of the German brewing giants that pretty much taught us everything we know about beer.
We’ve tried a few of Warsteiner’s offerings, but the Dunkel has eluded us, which is odd considering how it seems to have popped up everywhere recently. Anyway, a Dunkel is one of our favorite beer styles, offering malt-forward roasted flavors with hints of chocolate and caramel all in a very clean and moderate ABV lager (4.8% ABV for Warsteiner).
Dunkels truly are one of our favorites, and we have high expectations for Warsteiner’s, possibly too high, so let’s get after it.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Deep copper, clear, and topped with a beige head that maintains well.
On the Nose--Rich, roasted, and very clean. Looks like a Dunkel and smells like one too!
On the Palate--Rich, roasted, and clean indeed. This is a Dunkel for sure with the roasted Munich notes fitting nicely in a full body for a lower ABV (4.8%) beer. The roasted character is dominant, but not numbing, and it gives way to lighter chocolate and caramel flavors smoothly. It finishes clean and quite dry with just an essence of malt lingering.
Beer Note: If you struggle to get your hands on Dunkels in your area, Modelo Negra is actually a Dunkel-style beer, and it’s not a bad one if you’re in a pinch or eager to try the style for the first time.
Final Thoughts:
Dunkels fit into the category of beers that fascinate me. They are ancient, they are loaded with flavor and malt complexity, they are clean and crisp, and they have a moderate ABV usually falling between 4.5-5.5%. Anyone who has ever tried to brew a Dunkel (or stout) knows how challenging it is to achieve all of these things (ancients excluded), but Warsteiner is proving why they are respected the way they are.
Warsteiner’s Dunkel is a true, honest, and wonderful beer. It’s attractive, approachable, malt-forward, and clean. It hits all the notes from roasted, to chocolatey, to a hint of caramel before the dry finish leaves just an essence of malt that will always keep me coming back to a beer.
Dunkels are true to what they are, which is a roasted and satisfying lager, and it’s hard to beat a well constructed and historic German beer. And if you can’t tell, we’re huge fans of the Dunkel, and Warsteiner’s is a great example to compare all other Dunkels to.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew
Looking for another classic Dunkel? Check out Hofbrau’s Dunkel. And if you’re in Texas and see this seasonal beer on the shelf, check out Karbach’s Dunkels and Dragons. We love it.