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Bärni Spezial Dunkel

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Chestnut-brown and malty, with subtle roast notes, bread and toast aromas and a hoppy-bitter edge before a slightly sweet finish. Bärni Spezial Dunkel is a bittersweet dark special beer at 5.2% ABV and 22 IBU. Distilled twice, it becomes SWAF, the Felsenau's own spirit. Colour 35 EBC, from 12.4% original gravity.

ABV
5.2%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter22 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber18
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltytoastyhoppy
malty
toasty
hoppy
roasted
bready
clean
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced toasted bread and subtle roast character, underscored by a malty foundation of caramel and light grain sweetness.
also:caramel,dark fruit
not found:juicy,chocolate,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Bärni Spezial Dunkel

◎ Appearance

Bärni Spezial Dunkel presents a deep chestnut-brown hue, clear and bright with excellent transparency. The head forms a dense, tan-coloured foam that clings persistently to the glass walls, demonstrating strong protein structure and fine carbonation.

chestnut brownclearpersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced toasted bread and subtle roast character, underscored by a malty foundation of caramel and light grain sweetness. Noble hops provide a restrained herbal and floral backdrop, adding complexity without overwhelming the warm, biscuity centre.

toasted breadcaramel maltnoble hopsbiscuit

◐ Taste

The palate is led by a full, malty body with bready and lightly roasted grain notes developing in the mid-palate. A measured bitterness from Edelhopfen emerges cleanly, balancing the residual sweetness without becoming aggressive, while a faint dark fruit character adds depth.

bittersweet balanceroasted grainclean bitter edge

◑ Finish

The finish is smooth and gently lingering, with the hop bitterness gradually fading to reveal a subtle caramel sweetness that persists into the aftertaste. The departure leaves no harshness, only a refined dryness.

smooth aftertastecaramel sweetness
79
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
80
Appearance
85
Finish
76
Serve at 7–9°C

Serve at 7–9°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Stein

The sturdy German stein maintains temperature and keeps carbonation intact. Built for long, convivial drinking.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Bärni Spezial Dunkel

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About Dunkel

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Dunkel?

Dunkel is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Dunkel

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same malty, toasty, hoppy character as Bärni Spezial Dunkel will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Dunkel beers in hopIQ →Browse Switzerland beers →