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Dortmunder Gold

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The brewery's first beer and still its best seller, brewed in the manner of the export lagers of 19th-century Dortmund: fuller in body than a pilsner, drier and more hop-led than a Munich lager. The grist is two-row base malt with Caramel 60, hopped with Cascade and Mt. Hood. It pours a clear deep gold and smells of bread crust, light honey and a faint citrus peel. Toasty malt with a hint of toffee carries the palate, a soft spicy bitterness answers it, and the finish is clean and dry.

ABV
5.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter30 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden5
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Gold Medal · 1990
Great American Beer Festival
World Champion, Gold Medal · 1994
World Beer Championships
World Champion, Gold Medal · 1995
World Beer Championships
World Champion, Gold Medal · 1996
World Beer Championships
World Champion, Gold Medal · 1997
World Beer Championships
Gold Medal · 1998
World Beer Championships
Gold Medal · 1999
World Beer Championships
Gold Medal · 2000
World Beer Championships
Gold Medal · 2001
World Beer Championships
Gold Medal · 2002
World Beer Championships
Silver Medal · 2003
World Beer Championships
Gold Medal · 2004
World Beer Championships
Gold Medal · 2006
World Beer Championships
Gold Medal · 2007
World Beer Championships
Gold Medal · 2008
World Beer Championships
★Gold Medal — Great American Beer Festival
★World Champion, Gold Medal — World Beer Championships
★World Champion, Gold Medal — World Beer Championships
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
toastyhoppymalty
toasty
hoppy
malty
honey
spicy
bready
Aroma
The nose opens with prominent bread crust and toasted grain character, underpinned by delicate honey sweetness.
also:caramel,citrusy
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Dortmunder Gold

◎ Appearance

Pours a clear, deep gold with bright clarity and excellent transparency. The head forms with good initial retention, leaving fine lacing that clings to the glass as you drink. Carbonation is evident and well-integrated, supporting a persistent but not aggressive foam collar.

clear deep goldfine lacingwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with prominent bread crust and toasted grain character, underpinned by delicate honey sweetness. A faint citrus peel note from the Cascade and Mt. Hood hops adds brightness without dominating, while the overall impression remains firmly in the malt-forward camp with subtle, refined hop presence.

bread crusthoneylight citrus peel

◐ Taste

Entry shows toasty malt character with a hint of toffee sweetness from the Caramel 60, creating a fuller body than a typical pilsner. Mid-palate develops a soft spicy bitterness—dry and restrained rather than aggressive—that balances the malt without overshadowing it. The two-row base provides clean grain foundation throughout.

toasty maltsoft spicy bitternesstoffee hint

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and dry, with lingering malt dryness that clears the palate without harsh edges. Bitterness fades smoothly, leaving behind a pleasant, grain-driven aftertaste.

clean drymalt-driven aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
77
Serve at 4–7°C

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

Pint glass

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

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Dortmunder Gold

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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 toasty, dry, hoppy character as Dortmunder Gold will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Dortmunder Export beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →