Hofbrau Dunkel

Review Date 10/23/2018  Last Updated 8/17/2023 By John Staradumsky

           

All good things must come to an end, and so it was with Helen Oktobefest (for me anyway). The festival itself runs through the end of October, but my evening in the Festhalle was capped off with a delicious mug of Hofbrau Dunkel. This is a tasty Munich Dark Lager that made the perfect grand finale to the assortment of bocks, Marzens, pilsners and wheat beers I had been enjoying.

The brewery says the following on their website:

Bavarian tradition, the archetype of the Munich beer, you can taste its history – this is Hofbräu Dunkel. Long before wheat beers and lagers wetted the throats of Germans, the bottom-fermented dark beer was quenching the thirst of Munich residents. The first beer, which was served in the "Braune Hofbräuhaus", still satisfies to this day with its roasted, hoppy taste and the subtle malty finish.

Hop varieties Herkules, Perle

Brewing method decoction method

Malts Munich malt, light barley malt, caramel malt

Hofbrau Dunkel has an alcohol content of 5.5% by volume with 23 EBC per Hofbrau. EBC stands for European Brewery Convention and their measurement of bitterness is called EBU. They equate to IBUs, so this beer has 23 IBUs as well. I paid $6.60 for a 20-ounce draft mug and it sells for $10.99 a six-pack in bottles.

My mug of Hofbrau Dunkel was a light mahogany in color with a thick fluffy tan head and a nutty cookie malty nose. Soft chocolate chip cookie notes emerge in the palate along with nutty notes from the Munich malt and decoction. Finishes balanced with gentle hop bitterness.

This is truly delightful, and a great way to wind up another year at Helen Oktoberfest.

Update 10/22/2019: I'm back! And so is Hofbrau Munich Dunkel, we're both back at Helen for Oktoberfest. They were out of the 2019 edition souvenir mugs, but they did have the 2006, which was right about the first time I ever went to Helen for the festival. This mug (half price at $10) holds 24 ounces, and just $7 refills it with glorious German beer.

Update 8/17/2023: It's August, and tha has me thinking about German beer. Soon it will be time for all those wonderful Oktoberfest beers, and time again for me to make my annual trip to Helen. In the meantime, I am sipping a delightful bottle of Hofbrau Dunkel. It is toasty nutty, a little chocolaty, and packed with decoction mashed goodness. This was part of a German eber box that my wife ordered for me from Half Time Beverage at Father's Day.

From the label:

Dark specialties were being made in Bavaria long before the advent of pale beers. Over the years, Hofbrau Dunkel lost nothing of its popularity. with the rich flavour, it remains a refreshing beverage, suitable for all occasions. A traditional Munich delciousness.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??

 

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled, Canned

(D)=Draft





 

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