Toasty, smooth, and clean. This Munich Dunkel delivers rich malt flavour with a crisp lager finish.

Munich Dunkel is a classic German dark lager that traces its roots back to the breweries of Munich in the 19th century. Dunkel, meaning “dark” in German, was developed as a malt-forward, easy-drinking beer designed for everyday enjoyment, combining the rich, toasty character of dark malts with the clean, crisp finish of a lager. 

Expect a red colour with soft carbonation and a medium body. The flavour profile is dominated by roasted and toasted malts, with notes of caramel, bread crust, and a hint of chocolate. Unlike heavier dark beers, a Munich Dunkel is never cloying or overly strong. Classic examples to use as a good reference include Munich include Hacker-Pschorr Münchner Dunkel, Augustiner Dunkel, and Pauliner Münchner Dunkel.

This beer really comes into its own with a bit of patience. Leaving it to condition for a month or two allows the beer to brighten and the flavours to settle, giving the malt character a fuller, richer expression. 

Vitals

Original Gravity: 1.051
Final Gravity: 1.014
IBU (Tinseth): 20
BU/GU: 0.40
Colour: 32 EBC 

ABV: 4.9%
75% efficiency
Batch Volume: 23 L
Boil Time: 60 min

Mash Water: 18.29 L
Sparge Water: 12.53 L
Total Water: 30.82 L
Boil Volume: 28 L
Pre-Boil Gravity: 1.045

Mash

Sacc Rest — 65 °C — 60 min
Mash Out — 75 °C — 10 min

Malts (4.93 kg)

2.21 kg (44.8%) — Weyermann Munich I — Grain — 15 EBC
1.68 kg (34.1%) — Weyermann Munich II — Grain — 23 EBC
720 g (14.6%) — Joe White Maltings Pilsner, Malt Craft Export — Grain — 3.2 EBC
180 g (3.7%) — Weyermann Caramunich I — Grain — 101 EBC
140 g (2.8%) — Joe White Maltings Chocolate Malt — Grain — 750 EBC

Hops (50 g)

25 g (12 IBU) — Tettnang 4.5% — Boil — 60 min
15 g (6 IBU) — Tettnang 4.5% — Boil — 30 min
10 g (2 IBU) — Tettnang 4.5% — Boil — 15 min

Miscs

2.11 g — Gypsum (CaSO4) — Mash
0.5 ml — Lactic Acid 85% — Mash
1 items — Whirlfloc — Boil — 15 min

Yeast

1 pkg — Bluestone Yeast Co. BSY-L005 Pilsen (Bluestone) 72%

Fermentation

Pitching Temp — 12 °C — 1 days
Main Ferment — 12 °C — 3 days
Main Ferment — 13 °C — 2 days
Main Ferment — 14 °C — 2 days
Main Ferment — 14 °C — 2 days
Diacetyl Rest — 19 °C — 1 days

Carbonation: 2.9 CO2-vol

Water Profile

Ca2+: 16
Mg2+: 0
Na+: 8
Cl-: 4
SO42-: 38
HCO3-: 16

If you don’t have Bluestone Pilsner or prefer to use dry yeast use M84 Bohemian Lager Yeast.