Spaten Dunkel is a Dunkel (dark) Lager brewed by Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu (Spaten Brewery) in Munich, Germany. It is a traditional Munich Dunkel, and boasts an ABV of 5.5%. The follow is our team review of this beer:

Tom: Spaten Dunkel…so smooth, so good! The malt is toasty and the lager strain clean and soft on the palate. The aroma has minor hints of sulfur and the malts used give off a mellowed grape or prune nose and taste. With a clear, dark brown body and tan head it’s fit for any beer stein/mug. I enjoy Spaten’s entire line of beers and this one comes it at #2 for me (right behind their Marzen). Crisp lager characteristics are present throughout each sip. The hops are muted to say the least. If there is any indication of them you would probably find them in the earthy aftertaste. Grade: B

Taylor: I am not a pro on Dunkels, but this classic German brew from Spaten took me right home. My strong German roots seemed to extend themselves vicariously through my arm, towards the glass, and into my mouth and belly. Pours a deep reddish brown, with a slight tan head that went away gingerly in a couple of minutes. Smelled excellent: bready, malty, and sweet. I’m told the Dunkel style is like a toned-down Dopplebock, and that seemed to fit the bill. Taste was not very alcoholic, nicely carbonated, and warm to the palate with its Munich malt backbone. Nice and sweet, super sessionable. There was hardly any hop bitterness. Next time I enjoy one of these I will be sure to have some bread, stewed meat, potatoes, and perhaps Bavarian pretzels? Grade: B+

Matt: The pour was a bit too gentle and culminated with a fine head maybe a centimeter thick that dissipated quickly. I know when poured from the tap, that is not true. Color is burnt amber, with a definite dark hue to it, I looks very intriguing. Rich, deep, fruit aroma, some caramel notes, and even some roast, which makes for a very good mix. The carbonation causes this to actually come off a bit spicy right at the front, but then the wide range of flavors has no trouble shining through. I don’t know what exactly is in this beer, but it is very well done. It fascinates me, keeps me coming back for more sips, and the experience is very enjoyable. Recommend coupling with food. My first time was on tap with a some spicy buffalo wings – it was a perfect combination for my taste buds. Grade: A

Noel: My first dunkel, but I have only myself to blame for not trying one sooner; I’m quickly realizing no one does lagers quite like the Germans. Spaten’s brew struck me as being very similar to another solid Munich lager I had recently, Paulaner’s Salvator doppelbock. Both have the same dominant taste: rich, bready caramel…an ode to malt (Munich malt, to be exact). But Spaten Dunkel has a subtle difference that makes it a cut above in my book. The addition of dark malt creates a roastiness–not unlike a brown ale–that lingers in the background, and provides a touch of coffee to all the caramel sweetness. YUM. The beer is nicely carbonated, and finishes with a touch of alcohol. If you thrive on hops, you’re going to want to look somewhere else…although I’m surprised anyone would turn down something this tasty. Grade: A-

ABV: 5.5%

Final Grade: B+