DAB Original
Dortmunder Actien Brauerei / DAB

DAB OriginalDAB Original
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Dortmunder Actien Brauerei / DAB
 
Germany
Style:
European / Dortmunder Export Lager
Ranked #71
ABV:
5%
Score:
75
Ranked #27,530
Avg:
3.26 | pDev: 16.56%
Reviews:
369
Ratings:
690
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.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BuckeyeNation:
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

3.45/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Before even popping the cap, I'm struck by the humdrum nature of this beer. Its name and visual presentation are about as boring as it gets. The actual beer has some work to do to capture my interest because as I gaze at the generic looking label plastered on the green (of course) bottle, I find myself slipping into a stupor.

Minutely hazed lemony amber beneath a surprisingly large cotton white head of bubbly froth. The head receded rapidly at first, but has now slowed considerably, as if to say 'what's the hurry, die freundin?' It stays at a rumpled, one finger disk for a good bit and leaves a small, but acceptable, amount of lace in its wake.

The nose is of untoasted grain and noble hops. I'm grateful for the fact that there's no trace of skunk. DAB Original isn't bad beer; it's fairly innocuous and goes down easily enough. It doesn't stand out though and I'm having a hard time finding much to really sink my teeth into. The amount of flavor is on the low end, which is probably why my taste buds haven't sounded the retreat.

An understated amount of noble hoppiness rounds out the flavor profile, with the beer managing to avoid that sharply pungent bitterness that less accomplished pilseners can sometimes display. It's lightly sweet early, lightly bitter late and has a light body that is even lighter on the swallow. If I had to pick one word to describe this beer, that word would be...

Just like the appearance of bottle and beer, aroma and flavor are on the mundane side. However, having been burned by more poorly brewed pilseners than I'd care to recall, I refuse to be too hard on DAB Original. It doesn't set my world on fire, but somewhere in Dortmund a brewer has struck a match.
Dec 09, 2004
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.38 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

Feb 24, 2024
Photo of GreesyFizeek
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
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, 2023
 
Rated: 3.61 by Kgharv from Sweden

Nov 15, 2023
 
Rated: 3.4 by yungsimba34 from Canada (ON)

Oct 19, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by RochefortChris from North Carolina

Jul 29, 2023
Photo of USArmyRangerVet
Rated by USArmyRangerVet from New York

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, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by Thunderduck22 from Ireland

Feb 18, 2023
 
 
Rated: 4.28 by Wattstriker from Zimbabwe

Nov 07, 2022
 
Rated: 3.28 by Rukeli76 from Canada (ON)

Oct 17, 2022
 
Rated: 3.53 by Shiredave from New York

Jul 26, 2022
Photo of qazzaq
Reviewed by qazzaq from New Hampshire

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, 2022
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

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, 2022
Photo of joeagain
Reviewed 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
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, 2022
 
 
Rated: 3.48 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Nov 15, 2021
 
Rated: 3.12 by Hazey92 from New York

Nov 10, 2021
 
Rated: 3.9 by JanglezB19 from Canada (ON)

Feb 06, 2021
Photo of chum_husk
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
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, 2020
DAB Original from Dortmunder Actien Brauerei / DAB
Beer rating: 75 out of 100 with 690 ratings