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Karlsberg Nachtschicht

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The beer that won the visitors' vote at Karlsberg's Braunacht events in 2026. It is dark brown, with sweet caramel notes at the centre, and it contains caffeine. Strength is a moderate 4.5 %. As the winner it is in line to join the regular range the following year.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
caramelcoffeemalty
caramel
coffee
malty
clean
roasted
bready
Aroma
Sweet caramel and toasted malt tones dominate the nose, with subtle notes of bread crust and slight cocoa undertones.
not found:hoppy,chocolate,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Karlsberg Nachtschicht

◎ Appearance

Deep brown with a reddish undertone, presenting a clear and polished appearance. The head forms dense and white, settling to a fine collar that clings steadily to the glass walls. Carbonation is moderate, creating a soft and even bead throughout the body.

deep brownclearpersistent head lacing

◌ Aroma

Sweet caramel and toasted malt tones dominate the nose, with subtle notes of bread crust and slight cocoa undertones. Noble hop character remains restrained, offering a quiet herbal presence that does not overpower the malt-forward profile. A faint note of caffeine's characteristic earthiness rounds out the bouquet.

caramel sweetnesstoasted maltsubtle herbal notes

◐ Taste

Entry is soft and approachable, with pronounced sweet caramel flavors settling into the mid-palate alongside bready, slightly grainy malt character. Bitterness is restrained at 22 IBU, providing balance without assertiveness. The body is light to medium, with a clean finish that allows the malt sweetness to linger without cloying.

sweet caramelbalanced bitternesslight body

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately short, trailing off with residual caramel notes and a whisper of herbal dryness. The caffeine addition provides a subtle mineral quality that prevents the aftertaste from becoming overly sweet.

dry finishmineral edge
76
hopIQ score
Aroma
75
Taste
76
Appearance
78
Finish
75
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 Karlsberg Nachtschicht

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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 caramel, sweet, coffee character as Karlsberg Nachtschicht 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 Germany beers →