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Dortmunder Gold
Great Lakes Brewing Co.


- From:
- Great Lakes Brewing Co.
- Ohio, United States
- Style:
- European / Dortmunder Export Lager
Ranked #1 - ABV:
- 5.8%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #7,939 - Avg:
- 4.06 | pDev: 11.33%
- Reviews:
- 1,201
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 13, 2023
- Added:
- Sep 18, 2001
- Wants:
- 230
- Gots:
- 780
Yes, it's known for winning medals worldwide. But locally, it's known as "Dort," our flagship lager that humbly maintains its smooth, balanced (and charmingly unpretentious) ways.
A smooth, award-winning (and deceptively unassuming) balance of sweet malt and dry hop flavors.
World Beer Championships
16-Time Medal Winner Since 1994 (World Champion, Gold, Silver)
Great American Beer Festival Awards
1990 Gold Medal Winner
A smooth, award-winning (and deceptively unassuming) balance of sweet malt and dry hop flavors.
World Beer Championships
16-Time Medal Winner Since 1994 (World Champion, Gold, Silver)
Great American Beer Festival Awards
1990 Gold Medal Winner
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by ElijahLep from Ohio
4.76/5 rDev +17.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
4.76/5 rDev +17.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Amazing lager. Really nice wheaty taste and smell. My favorite lager of all time by far and one of my favorites from Great Lakes.
Nov 06, 2023Reviewed by Brook82 from Ohio
3.96/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Got a pint on tap. Honey gold color, a bit hazy with moderate carbonation. Mild aroma, smooth easy drinking, well balanced. Good beer and would not hesitate to purchase again.
Oct 28, 2023Reviewed by AGU313 from Maryland
4.36/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.36/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: beautiful bronze, sexy orange- tiny head, tiny bubbles, crystal clear
S: sweet and floral and fruity, biscuity,
T: balanced hops, simple and legible
M: smooth and gently carbonated
O: crushable easy drinking
Oct 18, 2023S: sweet and floral and fruity, biscuity,
T: balanced hops, simple and legible
M: smooth and gently carbonated
O: crushable easy drinking
Reviewed by bluejacket74 from Ohio
4.17/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
12 ounce can, best before date of 11/14/23 stamped on the bottom of the can. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours a clear amber color with about an inch and a half off-white frothy head that stuck around a long time. Good amount of lacing. I like the aroma, the brew smells like toasted malt, caramel, and some spicy/earthy hops. Taste is pretty much just like the aroma, but there's also some grainy malt and earthy hop flavors noticeable too. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's smooth, slick and easy to drink with a good amount of carbonation. A pretty good overall Dortmunder style brew, not the first time I've had this so I'm really not sure why I haven't reviewed it until now. Always a good choice and try this one if you're into Dortmunders!
Oct 13, 2023Reviewed by ClevelandCowboy from Ohio
4.06/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
My first review had to be a Cleveland classic! Served in a plastic cup at Progressive Field
L: Deep Gold with a thin white head.
S: Complex toasty malt with an almost "dusty" note, something akin to peanut shells. Faintest bit of crisp hops on the end.
T: Nice carbonation that isn't overwhelming at the tip of my tongue. As it moves towards the back of my mouth I go from bright hops that aren't too bitter to that nice toasty malt that I got on the nose.
F: Very nice feel for a lager, almost thick in comparison to beers of similar styles.
Overall this is a wonderful step up from the standard domestic lager and it's easy to see why it's a local favorite that's even gained national recognition
Sep 27, 2023L: Deep Gold with a thin white head.
S: Complex toasty malt with an almost "dusty" note, something akin to peanut shells. Faintest bit of crisp hops on the end.
T: Nice carbonation that isn't overwhelming at the tip of my tongue. As it moves towards the back of my mouth I go from bright hops that aren't too bitter to that nice toasty malt that I got on the nose.
F: Very nice feel for a lager, almost thick in comparison to beers of similar styles.
Overall this is a wonderful step up from the standard domestic lager and it's easy to see why it's a local favorite that's even gained national recognition
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut
4.38/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.38/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Sampling a 12 oz bottle poured into my .5L dimple mug at cellar temp. 6/17/2023 date stamp on the label.
The beer pours a clear copper color with a few lazy streams of carbonation rising to the surface. There is a foaming soft eggshell white head of 2 cm. This foam fades quickly to a thin edge layer and leaves very scattered lattice when I take a sip or swirl the mug.
Aroma is a big of caramel and toasted bread with hints of biscuit as well. I do get some spicy hops and maybe tea note as well. Overall the nose is kind of mild but also complex.
First sip reveals a light to medium body with smooth texture and gentle carbonation. Very easy drinker as would be expected for the beer and this style.
Flavor is toasted grains and biscuity malt with some spicy hop and black tea again, this lingers briefly after the swallow.
A nice easy drinking yet flavorful beer. Glad to have finally posted this review!
Jul 11, 2023The beer pours a clear copper color with a few lazy streams of carbonation rising to the surface. There is a foaming soft eggshell white head of 2 cm. This foam fades quickly to a thin edge layer and leaves very scattered lattice when I take a sip or swirl the mug.
Aroma is a big of caramel and toasted bread with hints of biscuit as well. I do get some spicy hops and maybe tea note as well. Overall the nose is kind of mild but also complex.
First sip reveals a light to medium body with smooth texture and gentle carbonation. Very easy drinker as would be expected for the beer and this style.
Flavor is toasted grains and biscuity malt with some spicy hop and black tea again, this lingers briefly after the swallow.
A nice easy drinking yet flavorful beer. Glad to have finally posted this review!
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts
4.21/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Great Lakes
While visiting Cleveland for my first time, I couldn’t pasa up the opportunity to come to the legendary Great Lakes. And naturally I had to start off with the world’s highest rated Dortmunder Lager. Let’s see what it’s all about
Pours a mostly clear copper gold with 2 fingers of soapy white head that slowly fades to a thin cap and leaves minimal lacing
The nose is gentle but very well balanced. I’m picking up on aromas of biscuity malt, earthy hops, black tea, black pepper, toffee, light honey, and raw grain
And it’s very similar in taste, but that’s fine by me. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting bready malt, black tea, herbal hops, toffee, raw grain, and light white pepper. The swallow brings notes of biscuity malt, herbal hops, toffee, black tea, black pepper, raw grain, and light orange zest
A light medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a smooth and crisp beer. Finishes mostly dry with a firm bitterness
This is damn solid. I haven’t had a Dortmunder in a while so I’m goad to have this one of all of them
Jul 02, 2023While visiting Cleveland for my first time, I couldn’t pasa up the opportunity to come to the legendary Great Lakes. And naturally I had to start off with the world’s highest rated Dortmunder Lager. Let’s see what it’s all about
Pours a mostly clear copper gold with 2 fingers of soapy white head that slowly fades to a thin cap and leaves minimal lacing
The nose is gentle but very well balanced. I’m picking up on aromas of biscuity malt, earthy hops, black tea, black pepper, toffee, light honey, and raw grain
And it’s very similar in taste, but that’s fine by me. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting bready malt, black tea, herbal hops, toffee, raw grain, and light white pepper. The swallow brings notes of biscuity malt, herbal hops, toffee, black tea, black pepper, raw grain, and light orange zest
A light medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a smooth and crisp beer. Finishes mostly dry with a firm bitterness
This is damn solid. I haven’t had a Dortmunder in a while so I’m goad to have this one of all of them
Reviewed by jjamadorphd from Florida
3.44/5 rDev -15.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.44/5 rDev -15.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Great looking beer with little head staying power is about the best I can say about this brew. Now, it's not that the rest of it was bad, it was just mostly also-ran. I just found it to be a bit metallic tasting and the smell was just not there. Still, a decent brew, not one I will go out of my way for.
Jun 19, 2023Reviewed by AdmiralOzone from Minnesota
4.1/5 rDev +1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a crystal-clear amber/gold with a thick white cap. Nice lacing. Aroma is roasted malt, biscuit, grassy hops. Flavor follows the nose, sweet up front with a bit of noble hop bitterness in the finish. Feel is medium bodied, with good carbonation. Overall, a fantastic beer.
Jun 16, 2023Reviewed by Bluerabbitbell from Pennsylvania
3.84/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
5/1/23 Ford from a 12 oz can purchased from the Washington beer store.
Very little lacing or much head.
Aroma is sweet malt right up front. Slight citrus as well.
Taste is definitely lager. Sweet. Cracker. Dry hoppiness comes through.
May 21, 2023Very little lacing or much head.
Aroma is sweet malt right up front. Slight citrus as well.
Taste is definitely lager. Sweet. Cracker. Dry hoppiness comes through.
Dortmunder Gold from Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
3578 ratings
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