A Bavarian fixture for 150 years, Privatbrauerei Ayinger is one of the world’s classic breweries. The extensive lineup of traditional Old World beers includes the lightly chocolaty, faintly herbaceous Altbairisch Dunkel, a beer of exceptional depth and complexity. Swirling notes of figs and sweet toffee punctuate the nose’s tantalizing fresh-baked bread aroma, all topped by a passing waft of spicy German hops. The aroma’s hop spiciness drew Tim in, and he found subtle hints of milk chocolate and warm toast riding beneath the surface. He offered high praise for the “exceptionally clean, lightly sweet malt.” The deep, inviting amber pour is brilliantly clear. Sparkling in the glass, a fluffy white head leaves lace trails all the way down. Full of nutty, toasty, and faintly caramel hints, the flavor is a malt showcase. The beer’s “clean, bright malt and sweet toffee flavors” pleased Tom, but he felt the bitterness was just a touch low. Rick, however, enjoyed the “firm bittering” that balanced out a “mélange of toffee, caramel, and toasted coconut.” Rick and Tom both enjoyed the profusion of exceptionally balanced malt flavors, leading them to pronounce it “perfectly quaffable.” Its “dark beer” status notwithstanding, Altbairisch Dunkel should be an absolute “go to” beer for any occasion.
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Altbairisch Dunkel
Description
Up until the Second World War, dark beer was the predominant beer type in the Munich area. The hard water found in the region played a special role in producing this specialty. In his book “Beer International”, the world-renowned English beer writer, Michael Jackson, accurately describes the Ayinger “Altbairisch Dunkel” as: “A good example of its kind. Impenetrably dark with a golden-brown gleam when held up to the light, and with a warm aroma and malty taste, while summoning up coffee taste sensations on going down. It is brewed from five types of malt (two of which are torrified dark), and it is only lightly hopped.” It is produced using the traditional double fermentation process.
Judges Review
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20