It wouldn’t be an October beer club pack if we didn’t include a classic German beer, and it is great that I could get my hands on this beer from the Weltenburg Monastery.
This stunning monastery set on the banks of the Danube in Bavaria dates back to 45AD, though the brewery is considered only the second oldest in the world as records show this started in 1050, 10 years after their compatriots Weihenstephan. It is considered the oldest Monastic brewery in the world, and this particular beer is believed to be the world’s first ever dark beer.
A ‘dunkel’ is quite simply a dark lager – the word simply translates as dark. With German breweries being the masters of lager, dunkels were the most common style of lager produced in Bavaria until the late 19th century.
It pours a lovely mahogany brown, with a foam that collapses quite quickly. Aromas of dark malt, dark chocolate, nuts and a hint of smoke invite you in.
Lighter in body than the colour might suggest, this beer is so smooth. Sweet at first with some caramel malt, dark chocolate and some dark stone fruits, the subtle bitterness quickly balances out the flavour with the hops introducing an earthiness that seems to accentuate that nutty character finishing slightly spicy with a lingering roasted malt bite.
A delightful dopplebock from the world's oldest monastery brewery
The beer brewed to celebrate the anniversary of the Weltenburg monastery brewery
The special Oktoberfest offering from the Weltenburg Abbey brewery
