Friend Beer Sapiens , we continue with our journey through the recipes for Central European craft beers. Today we want to talk to you about the Dunkel Bock , a specialty that is not very well known in our country, but which has centuries of tradition in Germany. And some story that will leave you speechless!
Origin and history of the Dunkel Bock style
At the end of the Middle Ages, the town of Einbeck was part of the Hanseatic League. This cool name was how a federation of cities in northern Germany was known, which had come together for defensive purposes, but above all to trade with the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Russia and some regions of the current Baltic republics. Imagine the power of this market, where Einbeck's powerful dark beers became very popular. So much so that his fame spread to other countries such as France, England and other lands belonging to the Holy Roman Empire.
The recipe or life
And the usual thing happened, that they wanted to copy his recipe for success. Especially the Bavarian brewers, who were not happy that this style of beer was only made at Einbeck. So they started hiring brewmasters from the region, but they couldn't get the same quality. In 1612 Duke Maximilian took matters into his own hands: he brought Elias Pilcher, the main brewer, to court and arrested him until he "shared" with him the exact recipe and manufacturing methods. At the Royal brewery they began to brew Dunkel Bock ethyl and this dark beer was an immediate success.
This original dark version was the most popular and consumed until the mid-20th century and thus became a prized local specialty.
sensory profile
Dunkles (or Dunkel) Bock are strong, malty lager beers. Their color can range from copper to dark brown, and sometimes they have a reddish sheen. They have good transparency and a persistent and creamy off-white or beige head.
Malt is the dominant ingredient, imparting rich nuances of toast, dried fruit, molasses, or caramel. It can include a discreet fruity touch, such as raisins or black fruits, which comes from the cereal rather than from fermentation. The hops serve as contrast and balance, without having a noticeable presence. They are beers with a dry finish, although they can keep a slight sweetness.
The touch is smooth, the body is medium or medium-full, and the carbonation is moderate or somewhat low. A slight sensation of alcohol may be present, but always very subtle.
Which Dunkel Bock to choose?
The answer is easy: all of them! In Spain it is a recipe that has been less popular than other styles of craft beer (such as IPA or Stout). That is why we advise you that whenever you find a Dunkel Bock … you drink it! Here we leave you 2 delicious suggestions that you can find in our store:
- Lluna Trònix Dunkel Bio : an interpretation of the wheat Dunkel style. With an aroma and flavor of banana, cloves, spices and hints of fruit and caramel, this dark beer is also certified organic.
- SanFrutos Vikingathor Indian Dunkel: An original recipe from the internationally recognized Master Brewer Boris de Mesones and brewed by SanFrutos Beer. Roasted, intense and very hoppy, it won a Gold medal at the Barcelona Beer Challenge 2017.