Judge’s Review: 95 Rating – Barock Dunkel by Weltenburger Kloster

Munich Dunkel | Year-Round | Germany

By John C. Tull

Judges Rating: 95.00
Aroma: 23.00
Appearance: 6.00
Flavor: 38.00
Mouthfeel: 9.00
Overall Impression: 19.00

This beer is judged as a 2021 BJCP Munich Dunkel (6A).
The aroma is rich, malty and bready with no fruity, hoppy or other unexpected notes. The malts are well-developed and very forward with just a hint of caramel character. Its color is dark copper and very clear with a fine, tan head on the edge of the glass and some lacy wisps across the surface. The flavor is malty with caramel dominating the finish, but still quite dry and crisp on the palate.
Bitterness is notable, probably both from hops and dark grains lending some light astringency, though water may be playing a role in the bitterness as well. Hop flavors are restrained and very much playing a background role to the malts. The balance is decisively on the malt side with the bitterness and mild hop flavors lending a nice balance to the beer. The mouthfeel is medium with the above noted astringency lending a little bite, but in balance with the expectations for the style.
Overall, this is a delightful Munich Dunkel, and one that really showcases the rich malt complexity that characterizes this style. This makes for a welcome break from the plethora of heavily hopped beers at our fingertips, portraying the masterful use of dark malts and lager yeast to produce an exceptional example of one of the great classic beer styles. I highly recommend finding and trying this as a break from the routine and a return to tradition.