Dortmunder Export Lager
The Commons Brewery

 

Appearance- Received with almost two fingers' worth of head which has decent retention. The head is a pure cotton white while the body is a light golden amber which appears as a weak and pale straw in the light. No lacing is left behind.

Nose- This is definitely dominated by the malt. The baked bread smell is quite evident, along with similar notes of grain and crackers. Undertones of white grape sweetness. Subtle but nice. Definitely more promising than the last Dortmunder I had. Swirling shows even stronger cracker and biscuit notes. Almost buttery.

Taste- Reflects the nose with big notes of baked bread followed by grain, biscuit, cracker, and some corn flakes. Finishes with a light woodiness and slight chalk/mineral taste from the mild hops used. It may be on the lighter side of flavor profiles but still manages to feel full and flavorful. It's rather simplistic but this is not supposed to be a complicated beer. White grape starts to come out after it opens up a little bit. Hints of apple. Definitely a good, solid beer that shows that lagers don't have to be boring or lack flavor. The sweetness never suggests cloying notes; it simply gives the grain presence of the malt some balance and a little more complexity. Very good representative of the style.

Mouthfeel- Light to medium bodied with fairly light carbonation. Borders on smooth and rich and the mouthfeel really provides the flavor profile with a lot of depth. Soft and approachable with a dry finish.

Drinkability- Very easygoing and very sessionable. Even manages to stay somewhat interesting. $4.50 seems reasonable for a pint of a solid beer.

Overall- Solid, good beer that is a strong example of the style. Far superior to DAB. I'm glad I got a chance to try a good Dortmunder. Definitely worth a try and something I might drink again.