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Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold

Great Lakes Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · Dortmunder Export · One of 12 Dortmunder Exports in hopIQ

Great Lakes' flagship and a multiple GABF gold medal winner. A German Dortmunder-style lager — slightly fuller than a Pilsner, with soft malt sweetness, noble hop spice and a crisp clean finish. Cleveland's everyday craft pint since 1988.

ABV
5.8%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
SRM
pale gold3
See all Dortmunder Export alternatives →

AWARDS

Gold
Great American Beer Festival
Gold — Great American Beer Festival
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Crisp mouthfeel.

A sharp texture drives the beer — a clean, direct pour with room for the palate to fill in.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Dortmunder Export.
Hop character
hoppy
noble hop
Malt character
malty
bready
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
spicy
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best American Lagers

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold

Appearance

A brilliant pale golden hue with excellent clarity and bright luminosity characteristic of the Dortmunder style. The beer presents a dense, creamy white head that demonstrates good retention, with fine carbonation visible throughout the glass.

pale goldenbrilliant claritycreamy headbright

Aroma

The nose leads with clean, grainy malt character reminiscent of European bread and subtle sweetness. Noble hop spice adds complexity without overwhelming, while a crisp, fresh quality suggests excellent brewing technique and fresh handling.

grainy maltnoble hopsbread notesclean

Taste

The palate opens with soft malt sweetness and a medium body that feels substantial yet approachable. Mid-palate reveals grain-forward character with smooth integration, while subtle hop bitterness provides balance without asserting dominance, leading to a remarkably crisp finish.

malt-forwardsoft sweetnesssubtle bitternesssmooth

Finish

A clean, dry finish with excellent clarity and minimal aftertaste allows for easy sessionability. The crisp conclusion reinforces the beer's refreshing character without lingering harshness.

cleandrycrisp finish
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
83
Appearance
84
Finish
81
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold

Serve at 4–7°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 4–7°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold

About Dortmunder Export

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Dortmunder Export?

Dortmunder Export is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Dortmunder Export

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same crisp, malty, clean character as Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Dortmunder Exports in hopIQ

Explore all Dortmunder Export beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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