Brewery: Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Style: Golden Lager
ABV: 5.8%
Impression: A proud laborer on a vintage poster.
Description: I moved to Columbus, Ohio a few months back. Leaving the west coast has changed my beer selection substantially. Although I can still find many of the same specialty and imported favorites I’ve held for a while, I’ve really needed to change my go-to beers. Favorite standards are either not available, or not as good because they aren’t as fresh.
Enter Great Lakes’ Dortmunder Gold. I first got this beer as part of a Great Lakes sampler and was taken aback by my first sip. It was a “wow” moment, and this immediately became my go-to beer from then on.
The “wow” of this beer is not about being big. It is about being superbly balanced with a little bit of everything. It has a nutty and toasted malt body rounded out with just the right balance of herbal hops and finished with an impressivel clean and sharp lager fermentation.
I firmly believe that the best beers offer a bit of something for everyone in every situation. Strong enough to give you a buzz before they fill you up, but light enough that you can have one or two out without getting yourself if trouble. Not so big or aggressive to fight with you for your attention, but with enough complexity to reward your palette if you do pay attention. Dortmunder Gold wins on all these counts. It is up there and in the same class with Dead Guy. Which is better? I don’t think there is a clear overall winner. Just whichever is fresher.
I can’t say when the best situation to drink this beer would be. It is so well rounded it really is an any-occasion beer. Pop it at a barbecue or put it in a nice glass with Thanksgiving dinner. If you are heading to a social event and need something good to please everyone, grab a pack of Dortmunder Gold.
Leave a comment