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Holsten Export

Holsten-Brauerei
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🌍 Germany · Dortmunder Export · One of 16 Dortmunder Exports in hopIQ

Holsten Export is the strongest of the brewery's year-round beers and is drunk above all in the far north of Germany. It is bottom-fermented at 11.8 °P original gravity to 5.2% alcohol with 23 bitterness units and has a straw-yellow colour. The fuller malt body brings bready, lightly sweet cereal notes, backed by a restrained herbal hop character. The brewery describes the taste as pronounced and full-bodied, and the finish comes across rounder and less dry than that of the Pilsener.

ABV
5.2%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter23 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
golden5
See all Dortmunder Export alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Lean body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

The texture leads here, with everything else held in gentle reserve.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Dortmunder Export.
Hop character
herbal
Malt character
bready
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Holsten Export

Appearance

Holsten Export presents a bright straw-yellow colour with excellent clarity and a fine white head that holds well on the surface. The carbonation is visible and steady, creating a lively visual presence in the glass. The beer displays good lacing as it is consumed, clinging to the glass in fine bands.

straw-yellowclearfine headwell-carbonated

Aroma

The nose is dominated by bready, cereal-forward malt character with a light sweetness that suggests grain and biscuit. Noble hop aromas emerge as herbal and restrained, providing a gentle spice backdrop without assertiveness. The overall profile is clean and straightforward, with no yeast complexity to distract from the malt-driven foundation.

bready cerealnoble hopslightly sweetclean

Taste

The palate enters full-bodied and soft, with pronounced malty sweetness and a satisfying biscuit and grain presence that builds through the mid-palate. Herbal hop bitterness arrives with restraint (23 IBU), providing balance without dominance. The finish is notably rounder and less dry than typical Pilsener, with a smooth mouthfeel throughout.

full-bodiedmalty sweetnessherbal hopsround smooth finish

Finish

The finish carries a sustained malty sweetness with gentle herbal hop notes lingering on the palate. The aftertaste is clean and slightly grainy, fading gradually without harsh drying.

malty lingeringgentle herbal
79
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
80
Appearance
82
Finish
76
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Holsten Export

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 Holsten Export

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 full-bodied, bready, malty character as Holsten Export will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Dortmunder Exports in hopIQ

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