-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
DAB Original
Dortmunder Actien Brauerei / DAB
- From:
- Dortmunder Actien Brauerei / DAB
- Germany
- Style:
- European / Dortmunder Export Lager
Ranked #72 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 75
Ranked #27,506 - Avg:
- 3.26 | pDev: 16.56%
- Reviews:
- 369
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 24, 2024
- Added:
- Feb 20, 2002
- Wants:
- 21
- Gots:
- 83
Following the introduction of the bottom-fermented brewing process in the mid-19th century, a new beer type became popular and shaped the consumption habits of beer drinkers. The fresh, pale brew with its mildly hoppy flavour became one of the star products of its age. That is why Dortmunder style is considered a milestone in the development of beer culture in the world and became a synonym for superior quality. DAB Dortmunder Export is the finest example of the special bottom-fermented blond lager. It is a harmoniously balanced, crisp and easy-to-drink beer with pleasingly gentle notes of hops and malt. A very well-rounded taste profile with a soft and elegant texture.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by aussielars:
Reviewed by aussielars from Australia
3.63/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 5
3.63/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 5
Pale straw-colour with a firm long-lasting head. Effervescence is unremarkable. Smells of sweet malt, grass and a hint of bread. Tastes of hay/grass and malt. Mouthfeel is average. This beer has all the characteristics a typical eurolager. It came in a 660 ml bottle which was a good size. Very pleasant for a mass-produced beer.
Feb 04, 2007More User Ratings:
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York
3.69/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.69/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
This one pours a clear golden yellow color, with a small head, and lots of lacing.
This smells vaguely sweet, but not overwhelming, with honey, bready malt, and a touch of grassiness.
This is pretty solid, but a little grainy and sweet. There’s a nice floral and grassy hop character, though, with a pleasant doughiness.
This is light bodied, crisp, clean enough, and pretty drinkable.
This feels pretty “industrial” so to speak, but not bad in the end.
Dec 20, 2023This smells vaguely sweet, but not overwhelming, with honey, bready malt, and a touch of grassiness.
This is pretty solid, but a little grainy and sweet. There’s a nice floral and grassy hop character, though, with a pleasant doughiness.
This is light bodied, crisp, clean enough, and pretty drinkable.
This feels pretty “industrial” so to speak, but not bad in the end.
Rated by USArmyRangerVet from New York
3.88/5 rDev +19%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev +19%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Good stuff. Tastes here in the US just as it does in Deutschland.
Mar 08, 2023Reviewed by qazzaq from New Hampshire
5/5 rDev +53.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +53.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Probably the best large brewery beer ever made. Hard to find in the USA, and I haven't had one in several years, but this was the best. Only better I ever tasted was Tuborg (brewed in Denmak) back in the sixties.
Jul 13, 2022Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.07/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
3.07/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
500 ml can, bought in Spain. ABV is 5%. Crystal clear pale golden colour, big white head. Sweetish and grassy aroma, some floral notes too. The flavour has a very moderate malty sweetness, with a tolerable hoppy bitterness throughout. Not exceptional, but decent.
Apr 19, 2022Reviewed by joeagain from New Jersey
3.67/5 rDev +12.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.67/5 rDev +12.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This was a much better beer years ago. Like so many other beers out there, hop extract seems to be replacing a percentage of whole hops and/or hop pellets. The use of extract is evident in DAB Export, and it stands out like a sore thumb.
Other than that, it has a nice deep golden color, perfect for the style. A nice, yeasty fluffy head stays pretty much afloat to the bottom of the glass. Nose is mostly malt.
Decent malt flavor, but the hop bitterness is front and center, and is a bit harsh. Would love to give this beer a higher rating, but that hop extract bitterness is too harsh.
Apr 19, 2022Other than that, it has a nice deep golden color, perfect for the style. A nice, yeasty fluffy head stays pretty much afloat to the bottom of the glass. Nose is mostly malt.
Decent malt flavor, but the hop bitterness is front and center, and is a bit harsh. Would love to give this beer a higher rating, but that hop extract bitterness is too harsh.
Reviewed by chum_husk from Minnesota
3.93/5 rDev +20.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
3.93/5 rDev +20.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
500ml with both a production and expiry date. Consumed about 4 months after birth, 11 months before it "expires"
Clear, bubbly, piss-yellow. Smells like an above average Euro lager, more hop than usual. It tastes kinda flat, not under carbonated, just a dull flavor where the hops, yeast, and malt character are all muddled together. Pretty clean though: doughy bread, mild fruit flavor in the dusty yeast, some hop tang.
It's very easy to drink, and me and my brother shared a laugh over riffing on the name, but at $5 a can, total wine can keep their stock and I'll buy it up when it's dusty and near expiry.
Nov 28, 2020Clear, bubbly, piss-yellow. Smells like an above average Euro lager, more hop than usual. It tastes kinda flat, not under carbonated, just a dull flavor where the hops, yeast, and malt character are all muddled together. Pretty clean though: doughy bread, mild fruit flavor in the dusty yeast, some hop tang.
It's very easy to drink, and me and my brother shared a laugh over riffing on the name, but at $5 a can, total wine can keep their stock and I'll buy it up when it's dusty and near expiry.
DAB Original from Dortmunder Actien Brauerei / DAB
Beer rating:
75 out of
100 with
690 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!