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Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

Lagers

Lagers Get Some Love

Dortmunder

Well-balanced, smooth and refreshing, Dortmunders tend to be stronger and fuller than other pale lagers or Munich helles styles. They may also be a shade darker and a touch hoppier. The style originates from the city of Dortmund in northern Germany. Dortmunder Export came about during the industrial revolution, when Dortmund was the center of the coal and steel industries and the swelling population needed a hearty and sustaining brew. The “export” appendage refers to the fact that Dortmunder beers were “exported” to surrounding regions. Today the term Dortmunder now widely refers to stronger lagers brewed for export, though not necessarily from Dortmund.

Interpreting the 100-point Scale

Consumers can translate the point score to the following quality bands:

Point Range Quality Band
96-100 points Platinum
90-95 points Gold
85-90 points Silver
80-84 points Bronze
Less than 80 Not Recommended
Legend
  • = Brewpub
  • ABV = Alcohol by volume
  • Date denotes the date on which the beer was tasted

93 Dortmunder Gold, Great Lakes Brewing Co. (OH). 5.8% ABV (11/11)
Bright pale amber color. Aromas of citrus egg custard and toasted nut bread with a crisp, frothy dryish medium-to-full body and a salty roasted root vegetable and lingering peppery radish-like hop finish. A rich, tasty go to lager.

90 Longboard Island Lager, Kona Brewing Co. (HI). 4.6% ABV (11/11)
Pale golden yellow. Interesting and fun aromas of coconut custard, roasted corn and nuts with a crisp, dryish medium body and a toasty, refreshingly snappy, leafy greens-like hop finish. Very nice and super clean.

87 Birra Cruda di Sardegna, Birra Jennas (Italy). 4.9% ABV (5/11)
Bright golden color. Slightly dank linen, bruised lemon and peach, and nut bread aromas and flavor with a tangy dryish medium body and breezy ripe yellow apple, dusty nutshell and arugula finish. A nice a food beer, especially cheese and sausage.

87 Labrador Lager, Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. (OH). 6% ABV (11/11)
Minutely hazy golden amber color. Aromas of toasted orange bread and earth with a supple, dryish medium body and a tangy, citrus custard pastry and cucumber-accented finish.

86 Lhasa Dortmunder, Tibet-Lhasa Brewing Co. (China). 4.6% ABV (11/11)
Slightly hazy pale golden yellow color. Mild aromas of lemon powder candy and pudding and pine with a soft, light body and a wisp corn silk and waffle-accented finish. Not really a Dortmunder, but nice.

85 Tyskie Gronie Dortmunder , Kompania Piwowarska (Poland). 5.6% ABV (11/09)
Bright golden color. Toasted pumpernickel and grain notes have a faint, dried meat and bean edge and follow through on a round, soft entry to a dryish medium body with citrus custard, root vegetable and peppery spice notes. Finishes with a grassy mineral-accented fade.

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