Munich Dunkel Recipe (All-Grain): 5 to 30 Gallons
An all-grain Munich Dunkel recipe you can brew at 5 to 30 gallons: 4.7% ABV and 19 IBU, with the grain bill, hop schedule, yeast and step-by-step process.
In this post
Munich Dunkel at a glance: 4.7% ABV, 19 IBU, OG 1.048. A Munich dunkel: a dark, smooth, malty lager built almost entirely on Munich malt, with bread-crust and toffee flavours and a hint of chocolate from dehusked black malt. Rich but not heavy at 4.7%.
Bräu Supply recipe · All-grain
Munich Dunkel
Grain · for 5 gal into the fermenter
| 10 lb (4.54 kg) | Munich malt | 95% |
| 0.25 lb (0.11 kg) | Caramunich | 2% |
| 0.3 lb (0.14 kg) | Dehusked black malt (Carafa Special II) | 3% |
Hops
| 1.5 oz (43 g) | Hallertau Mittelfrüh · 4% AA | 60 min |
Yeast and water
| 2 pkg | German lager yeast (W-34/70, WLP830 or Wyeast 2124), 2 packets or a starter | |
| Water | Moderately alkaline water suits the darker malts. | |
Process
- Mash: 152°F (67°C) for 60 minutes, then mash out at 168°F (76°C)
- Boil: 90 minutes
- Ferment: 50°F (10°C) for 10 to 14 days, then a diacetyl rest at 60 to 62°F (16°C)
- Condition: Lager near 34°F (1°C) for 4 to 6 weeks
- Carbonate: 2.4 volumes of CO₂
Brew it on
Based on 72% brewhouse efficiency and about 5.5 gal after the boil for a 5 gal batch. Adjust the base malt if your system runs higher or lower. Hops scale in a straight line; larger kettles extract a little more bitterness.
How to brew it
- Mash at 152°F (67°C) for 60 minutes, then mash out.
- Boil with the lid off, adding the hops on schedule.
- Chill to 48°F (9°C), oxygenate well and pitch plenty of healthy lager yeast.
- Ferment at 50°F (10°C). When the gravity is about three quarters of the way down, let it rise to 60 to 62°F (16°C) for a 2 to 3 day diacetyl rest.
- Cool it a few degrees a day, lager near 34°F (1°C) for 4 to 6 weeks, then package at about 2.4 volumes of CO₂.
Tips
- Munich malt has enough enzymes to convert itself, so it can be almost all of the grain.
- A traditional decoction mash deepens the malt flavour; see is decoction mashing worth it.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between dunkel and schwarzbier?
Dunkel is maltier and sweeter, with bread and toffee; schwarzbier is darker, drier and roastier. Try our schwarzbier recipe.
Is dunkel the same as dunkelweizen?
No. Dunkelweizen is a dark wheat beer fermented with a hefeweizen yeast.