Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold - Great Lakes Brewing Company

jdense

Oregon

4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

At Pizzeria Paradiso DuPont Circle DC.

1/2 finger white head small bubbles, medium dissipation with above average lacing. Clear deep gold body with some rising carbonation. Nose is malty, mostly bready, some caramel, little hop aromas, mainly mild grassiness. Taste is sweet and clean, some dry breadiness up front, sweetish in the middle, some floral hops on backend. Medium mouthfeel, good effervescence, a slight bit of stickiness. Good drinkability, clean but not too heavy, a bit sweet for me but very nice, though I prefer the Elliott Ness to this.

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2010 00:21:37 | More by jdense

brewnic

Minnesota

3.8/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Great clean gold just slight red color good head retention. Nice big body full and malt taste. Good beer if you are looking for the biscuit or bread taste. Didn't get as much of the hop flavor that others talk about but that didn't wreck the taste. Good beer just after two or three it starts to seem like a meal.

Serving type: on-tap

10-18-2010 21:12:05 | More by brewnic

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Got this at TGI Fridays, I'm assuming the keg was still in decent condition.

A - Pours a deep, vibrant gold color with a thin, creamy top that sticks to the sides of the glass like cotton candy. Carbonation is mild and the bubbles are quite large. 'Would like to see smaller, tighter bubbles.

S - Smells mildly herbal with a touch of lemon grass. The malt smells a little grainy.

T - Matches what was going on in the nose: lemon grass, mild herbal presence, a little bit of caramel malt, and a moderately hopped finish. However, the hop finish is mild compared to the IPA's but pretty hoppy for this particular style. Leaves a really nice pine bitterness in the mouthy that lingers.

M - There's a touch of harsh graininess to the body and is on the light side of medium.

D - Decent. If it weren't for the bold hopping, I'd rate this beer lower. There's other things from Erie that are much better, but overall, decent...not memorable.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2010 04:45:02 | More by jzeilinger

GregoryVII

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

An intense brown gold in the glass with a nice, durable white head. The smell up front is malty sweet, just a little grainy along with floral hops blowing soft like a breeze through a spring field.

The flavor is sweet, malty and with just a dash of nut. The hop flavor is upfront, yet compliments the malt well. Very refreshing, very well balanced. This is the kind of lager that makes lagers worth it

The body and carbonation are both medium and the drinkability of this beer almost defines drinkability in the best possible way. Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

07-06-2010 19:04:30 | More by GregoryVII

americanbeerbuzz

New York

3.98/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer is a nice golden color. It carries virtually no head or atleast in the last two pours it has not.

It does not have a tremendous vitality, it is still and gold.

The beers taste is excellent though and fits the style well, atleast what I know of Dortmunder golds. It has a bold fresh hop flavor, though not the bitter flavors so common in an IPA, the more traditional hop flavors of classic beers like this one.

Mouthfeel- ah who cares.

This is my second beer so yea it is drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

07-01-2010 01:40:26 | More by americanbeerbuzz

Beerfayce

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Drank on tap at Von Trier
A: hazy golden served into a snifter. Nice head with substantial lacing. Head fades eventually.
S: malty sweet and grainy, very appetizing.
T: sweet malt with a nice hoppy back, this beer has substantial body and a balanced bitter finish. I enjoyed it very much.
M: medim body with nice malt character and good carbonation
D:This was an excellently crafted beer (based on my experience with Dortmunder beers) and I will drink it on draft whenever possible. It has a pleasant finish that balances the malty front.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2010 00:51:16 | More by Beerfayce

Imsothirsty

New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Color is definitely gold, and it is very clear. leaves light white lacing. 1/2 finger of head recedes quickly.

Smell is a little lemony and a little biscuity

Taste: Lemon citrus hops, a taste of yeasty malts, and just a tinge of alcohol in the background. Very crisp, I would say it has high clarity.

Mouthfeel is good, medium to light with nice carbonation, very refreshing, a pretty crisp finish.

Drinkability is very good, feels like it cleans the palate everytime you have a sip. Alcohol is very light. Normally I say the more hops the better, but I think this brew really fits the style well, and I will most likely seek out more.

Serving type: on-tap

06-14-2010 14:18:12 | More by Imsothirsty

drtth

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a standard shaker Glass. Glass of cold water on the side to sip from periodically.

Appearance: As served the beer is golden bronze color with an ivory ¼" head filled with tiny bubbles. The head recedes fairly soon to a thin layer of foam and a ring around the glass. Sipping leaves scattered speckles of lacing, some of which stick to the sides of the glass and some of which slide slowly back into the liquid. By about half way through the beer there is only the ring, a very thin patch of foam and the scattered speckles of lacing are fewer and farther between.

Smell: The aroma is gentle and balanced with both some malt character and some fresh, lightly floral and grassy hops.

Taste: At first the flavor is faintly metallic, sharply bitter and earthy but as the beer warms I no longer pick up any metallic character and am enjoying greatly the hop flavors. While the honey sweetness and the breadiness of the malt backbone is ever present here it never dominates as the hops remain forward and determine the character of the beer.

Mouthfeel: The mouth feel is medium bodied and smooth with faint prickly carbonation. The finish is moderately long and tapers off to bitter yet malty dryness in the back of the throat.

Drinkability: The operative word for this beer is "balance." This is a very well made beer that I've enjoyed drinking and would be happy to have a second. I will most certainly have this beer again in the future and look forward to the chance to set up a side by side tasting with this beer, a good helles lager and a tasty pils style.

Serving type: on-tap

06-05-2010 11:53:00 | More by drtth

samie85

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had this on-tap at the Bad Apple, 05/07, reviewed from notes.

A- Served in a standard shaker pint glass, Dortmunder Gold pours a dark reddish golden hue with a one finger white head.

S-I'm getting some dry smelling malt aromas upfront with some floral hop notes.

T-Sweet, bready malt notes are the first thing I taste, this is balanced by a nice crisp, bitter noble hop finish.

M-It's on the lighter side of medium-bodied with medium carbonation and smooth, slick feel to it.

D-Wow, I remember hating this beer about 5 years ago. Thought it was so bitter, oh how tastes change. This is a super easy drinking, light bodied, flavorful beer that I could see myself having a number of in the upcoming warmer months.

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2010 05:11:31 | More by samie85

ben68cat

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

if i am going to drink a lager this is the one for me!pours dark amber ,nice head , drinks real well,smooth and deliscious!it doesnt surprise me it is gold medal winner. said it before and will say it again cant go wrong with great lakes!this is not too bad in a bottle either.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2010 00:52:23 | More by ben68cat

bamadog

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I freaking love GLBC and I'm always happy to get their beers. Dortmunder Gold is one of my go-tos in the summer time, but to come across it on tap is something that I haven't seen for a while. Glad to give a review from the tap as well! Poured from the tap to a pint glass and review is from notes taken on 4/3/2010.

Appearance: Pours a near perfect coppery color and starts with a 1/4 finger head that fades to a thin and uneven island in the center of the surface with a thin ring that surrounds it; body is very clear and shows light carbonation; no lacing to speak of, but loose spotty washes try to hold on.

Smell: A nice light toasty graininess with a sweet malty backing; I love the simplicty, but it could be a little stronger.

Taste: Love it - one of my favorite lagers; has a VERY light bittering hoppiness that is just slightly overpowered by the wonderful toasty graininess and a very solid matly backing (perhaps it reminds me of LME?); I really appreciate the simplicity of this beer.

Mouthfeel: Pretty clean and refreshing overall, but it provides a light stickiness; body is moderately light and has great carbonation that fits the style and body as it's just lively enough; finish is just a tad sticky and dry and holds that grainy aftertaste long after the glass is empty.

Drinkablity: I love this beer and it's one of GLBC's staples -- nice, solid, simple and straightforward, love the flavors and it's not too heavy and the ABV is more than manageable at just under 6%; great all year but I tend to prefer it in the summer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2010 05:21:53 | More by bamadog

MacDaddyJ

North Carolina

4.72/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had this great beer on tap at the Flying Saucer in Charlotte, NC

This German style Dortmunder pours a bright clear gold with a nice frothy white head that leaves nice lacing down the sides of your glass. The aroma gives off plenty of sweet malt, with some light breadiness on the end. Dortmunder has a nice medium body with a light amount of carbonation that works perfectly with the heavy amount of malty sweetness. Great Lakes did a great job of balancing this Lager with a near perfect amount of herbal and citrus hops. The brew dries up fairly quickly, although there is a little remaining sweetness. This is an excellent, light sessionable Lager weighing in at a drinkable 5.80% abv.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2010 22:53:42 | More by MacDaddyJ

MrDanno96

Ohio

4.28/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed this a while ago, but the review was erased in one of October's server crashes. So here goes again!

A: Pours a nice orange-amber color with about a finger of creamy off-white head. Lots of lacing coats the sides of the glass.

S: Lots of sweet malt mixed with some feint floral hops. Touches of freshly baked bread as well.

T: Lots of pleasant sweet malt, biscuits, and some tropical hops that add a touch of bitterness on the back end. Hints of orange and lemon result in a fairly sweet and refreshing finish. This is really well put together.

M: A light to medium body that's clean, crisp, and refreshing.

D: A highly drinkable session brew. For me, this ranks right up there with SN Pale Ale as an elite session beer. I'm amazed again and again by the quality of Great Lakes' flagship beers. All 5 of them are truly great brews and Dortmunder Gold is no exception. Germany should be proud.

Serving type: on-tap

02-26-2010 06:17:46 | More by MrDanno96

drabmuh

Maryland

4.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My second dortmunder ever, the other was also from this brewery. Served in a Great Lakes shaker pint glass. Beer is yellow and clear with absolutely no carbonation that I can see in the glass. There is a thin white head of really tiny bubbles, its broken and on the edges of the beer, leaves behind a lot of lacing.

Aroma is very slight, minimal malt and no hops or anything else.

Beer is really smooth and finishes cleanly. Lots of malt in the character, clean and finishes really nicely. Mouthfeel is great, there is a very mild sweetness and then some malt flavors come through, slightly (very slightly) bready overall. Drinkability is high and my overall impressions are positive.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2010 18:38:50 | More by drabmuh

uberabr

California

4.47/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap this Christmas at a restaurant in the Cleve. There seems to be really good beer around that area. Some of the supermarkets have illusive Stone ales that I've ironically had a hard time finding here in California.

I was happy to stumble upon this brew. Poured a dark amber with a frothy head that left good lace. Aromas of pine and citrus, and that distinct aromatic lager hop. What struck me about this brew was the hybrid of crisp european lager flavors with the more aggressive, hoppy American micro-brew ones. Accenting the buttery malts with a sharper hop really kicks this one up from just another German-styled American lager to a unique craft brew. The malts are very true to their heritage and the hops are refined enough to not wear out their welcome.

A highly drinkable choice, with tons of flavor at that ABV. It might come on strong for a session beer but it could certainly do as one. It's really fun to find a lager with the flare and craft of some of the better American ales. Definitely worth a try if you find it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2010 08:13:16 | More by uberabr

smibroncos

New York

3.98/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A. Poured a clear amber with a short disapating creamy white head. Excellent lacing on the glass.

S. Citrus, pine, bread dough, cracked pepper

T. Light sweet malt, with a nice bitter finish. Citrus, esters, carmel, cereal, with some pepper spictness, and some citrus peel tartness.

M. Medium bodied, lightly carbonated, decent duration

D. A good brew, nice balance, with plenty of hops. Refreshing and I liked the lasting bitterness, and the citrus peel tartness.

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2009 01:56:01 | More by smibroncos

thekevlarkid

Maryland

4.55/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Off the tap at the Bluewater Grill in Skaneateles, NY this beer was an orange-gold color with a good amount of rising carbonation. The pint was delivered to me perfectly full so there was no head to speak of but the thin collar of beige lacing did retain well and lace appropriately. The aroma was of caramel malt, dry grains and floral hops. The flavors were just plain outstanding for a lager, displaying a perfect balance of grassy hops and sweet malts, both caramel and toasted. The flavor profile started sweet followed by some light lemon notes in the middle before it proceeded to a bitter, but crisp and dry finish. The body was medium, the carbonation perfect and the mouthfeel smooth. One of the best food beers I have ever encountered. Sessionable, balanced, on-point for the style and easily paired with any food. This brewery is famous for a good reason and I would rate this one up there with their Edmund Fitzgerald as an all-time favorite. Simply put, if you see it, don't miss it.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2009 16:56:17 | More by thekevlarkid

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap, served in a pint glass

Appears a nearly translucent golden yellow with a creamy two finger off white cap. Some heavy streams of bubbles are heading north fast.

Clean, lightly toasted malt with a noticeable earthy, grassy aroma. It's almost like fresh herbs.

Fresh, clean malt up front and throughout with a toasted, lightly bitter finish. A medicinal, herbal quality along with some lemon peel come out midpalate.

Light and crisp. The flavors are ultra clean and really shine.

This is about as easy drinking as you can get. The flavor profile is good, but not great or this category would probably be a perfect 5.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2009 20:46:45 | More by ColForbinBC

Gavage

New Jersey

4.63/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: golden yellow in color with a 1" head that lingers around a while. Some mild lacing shows up on the glass.

Smell: little malt sweetness and some grass are detectable by the nose.

Taste: nice malt profile with some lemon zest, grass, slight breadiness, and a nice bitterness level. Well balanced and very flavorful.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Crisp throughout. Mildly refreshing.

Drinkability: this beer is superbly easy to drink and is a clear session ale during any season, whether sitting alone watching TV, or out on the town. Great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2009 23:00:45 | More by Gavage

AgentZero

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Served on-tap into a pintglass at Hopleaf in Chicago. Yellow/amber with pretty much zero head on it. Not sure if it's the beer or the bartender did a bad poor, which would be surprising for a "beer bar." Clear all the way through.

S - Was expecting more on the nose. Definately get the malts, some straw/grassy smell. Pretty clean.

T - Tastes like it smells. The malts come through strong in the middle and give it a full taste that leaves a little sour at the end.

M - Medium bodied, nice carbonation. Seems the tiniest bit sticky.

D - Definately easy to drink, could be a nice session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2009 23:53:09 | More by AgentZero

dmfrench

Indiana

3.9/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A respectable crisp, hoppy Dortmunder.
___

A: Clear golden hue with a one finger fleeting off-white head.

S: Some sweet, buttery malt, and a hint of hops.. not particulary aromatic, but pleasant.

T: Quite hoppy for a Dortmunder... a bit citrusy. A firm bed of honeybread malt sits underneath, though the overall effect is hops.

M: Nice carbonation, perfect weight, texture a bit grainy.

D: Easy peasy.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2009 01:29:59 | More by dmfrench

mkabull

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- golden color 1/2 to 1 inch head some lacing but does not last
S- bready/doughy aroma some noble hops present but not overpowering
T- nice lager taste bready/doughy/toasty noble hops do come through but it has a good balance
M- medium to light body but good for style
D- good drinkability almost sessionable but at almost 6% alittle strong for that

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2009 03:39:08 | More by mkabull

minterro

Michigan

4.28/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: bright gold/orange beer, with an off-color white head, that left some lacing

S: grains

T: nice and well balanced.

M: smooth in the mouth very near perfect for me

D: easy going down because of the combination of a great taste and good body.

notes: the keg was changed a few hours before i tried this beer, so i believe it was pretty new and fresh. Liked it more on-tap then in the bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2009 05:38:14 | More by minterro

Brenden

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This one's a coppery gold with a one-finger head that leaves some pretty good lacing.
The smell is a sweet, toasty biscuit malt.
This one has a nice balance of malt and hops that compliment very well. Malt sweetness is at a great level, and not too strong, with a nice backing of grains and toastiness. There's a certain herbal note in the back as well. The finish is a mix of dry hops and sweet malt.
The body is medium and this has a crisp mouthfeel. Carbonation is light to moderate.
This is just a great brew and easily sessionable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2009 14:08:03 | More by Brenden

Rudgers73

New York

4.22/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served at Acme Bar and Pizza in Rochester, NY.

Pours a golden color with a white head. Slight copper hue adds some extra color and a little bit of haze makes it unique as well. Aroma is biscuity and sweet similar to a pilsner. Slight metallic bitterness up front opens up to a more pilsner-like hop flavor. Dry at the end. Not overly bold, but great for sessioning.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2009 13:20:06 | More by Rudgers73