Warsteiner Premium Dunkel
Review Date 9/28/2007 Last Updated 4/23/2023 By John Staradumsky
Warsteiner was in need of a new beer. They were, for
the most part, a one-beer operation, with the lion’s share of their sales
coming from their
Premium Verum (true reward). At least in the United States, that much
was true. When you think of the world’s best selling German beer, what name
pops into mind? Beck’s? St. Pauli Girl? You’d be wrong on both counts. That
title goes to Warsteiner, and I am of the opinion that their beer has a tad
more character than the first two candidates mentioned.
So, they turned to the Dark Side. After all, Beck’s and St. Pauli Girl each
had a dark beer; even Heineken did for that matter. So why not Warsteiner?
At first, they brought in Isenbeck Premium Dunkel.This, however, was
a violation of one of the cardinal rules of business: when you have a
premium, well-regarded brand name, use it. And so they did, renaming
Isenbeck to Warsteiner Premium Dunkel.
Dunkel is, of course, the German word for dark. But it’s also a German style
of beer. A Munich Dunkels is a soft, malty lager, dark in color from
the use of a bit of chocolate or Munich malt. These beers are not harsh in
their roasty character, but remain smooth and drinkable with a balanced
finish. Such a beer is Warsteiner Premium Dunkel. Many people are put
off by the notion of dark beer, but a beer like Warsteiner Premium Dunkel is
not like anything they might expect.
Warsteiner also wins kudos for their impressive and rather utilitarian
website (www.warsteiner.com, of course). Here you can find information on
their beers, where you might find it, and stuff to buy. There’s lots more
available too, everything from desktop themes to graphics to screensavers.
You can even send an e-postcard to a buddy.
Warsteiner Premium Dunkel pours to a dark caramel-chestnut color with
a creamy head formation and a pleasing malty nose. The palate is a fresh-malty
delight, slightly nutty, with hints of chewy caramel, a touch of chocolate,
fresh malt, and a light roast character. The roasted malt flavors are, as
previously stated, not as harsh as one might find in a porter, stout, but
they do add much flavor and character.
The beer is creamy and smooth, and very, very drinkable. The finish is
nicely balanced with a subtle touch of hops, just enough to balance.
Warsteiner Premium Dunkel is also brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot,
or German beer purity of law, of 1516. That makes this an all-malt beer.
Meaning mo adjuncts or coloring are used in the brewing process.
This is a perfect beer to match with German food, as I did tonight. A plate
of Weisswurst (white sausage made with pork, veal, and spices), Spatzels
(German egg noodles served swimming in butter and seasoned with salt and
pepper), and Rotkohl (pickled red cabbage) along with a slab of fresh baked
rye bursting with caraway seeds were washed down nicely by this tasty brew.
It’s also a great beer just for casual sipping on its own, and one beer
enthusiasts and novices alike can enjoy. It’s available in 12-packs for
around $13 or so, which is a pretty good deal indeed. So don’t be afraid of
the dark. Try one today, and see just how alluring the dark side can be.
Update 9/7/2017: For September of 2017, Warsteiner beers are featured as Beer of the Month at Taco Mac! That means you can enjoy a delicious Warsteiner Oktoberfest, Pilsner, Dunkel or Konig Ludwig Hefeweizen and on Thursdays get a free logo glass. I first enjoyed a Warsteiner Dunkel and it was better than I remembered, bursting with fresh malt flavor, like chewing a handful of biscuit chocolate and Munich malt. It's normally $6.25 and would be well worth that, but for just $12.99 I enjoyed a 23-ounce Chancellor mug of this delicious beer with 3 mini-brats with caramelized onions and spicy mustard, a side, and got the glass to boot! Adding a half star on because this is so incredibly good.
Update 4/23/2023: Today is the Tag Des Deutschen Bieres! This celebrates the Reinheitsgebot of 1516. To commemorate, I am drinking a Warsteiner Dunkel, which I think is an underrated brew. It is nutty, chocolaty, roasty, smooth, creamy, with delightful cookie malts. It is indeed an exceptional Dunkel, and one of which I do not partake often enough. The bottle I am enjoying tonight was part of a birthday present from my wife, a box of 12 German assorted beers from Half Time beverages. It is marked as 4.8% alcohol by volume, just under the 4.9% I have this beer pegged as in the past. My bottle is labeled best before 28,JUN.23. Warsteiner Sunkel is also a great value. In my neck of the woods, Total Wine sells it for $9.48 the six-pack of bottles or, better yet, $13.99 for a 12-pack. Hard to beat that these days.
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