Great Lakes Imperial Dortmunder - 20th Anniversary Beer

Brewed by Great Lakes Brewing Company
Style: European Strong Lager
Cleveland, Ohio USA

Orange amber color with a modest off-white head. A few speckles of lace. Heavy caramel, mild resin, biscuits, and hints of alcohol in the nose. Honeysuckle and toasted malt in the front. Middle maintains the toasted malt, but adds a lemon pepper bite which carries into the finish and linger. The light citric flavor hang around a touch in the linger along with some hazelnut flavors. A commendable effort.

Pours dark golden with a mostly receding wispy off-white head. Aroma of lightly sticky malt, herbal hops, pilsner malt. Taste of pale malt, cookie, light resins and herbs. Medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation. This beer is impressive because it maintained its drinkability with a higher ABV. Perhaps I just want a return of the tripel...

Pours a clear, dark, golden-amber color with a small, foamy, off-white head. The foam settles quickly to a wispy film, leaving behind soapy spots that slowly rejoin the body. Aromas of toasty bread, biscuit, candied citrus rinds, and hints of coriander and black pepper all show up. Like the nose, the flavor is sweet and toasty, heavy on biscuit. Lemon and floral, peppery hops add depth, but alcoholic notes lend uneccessary heat. Medium-full and syrupy on the palate, finishing slightly dry. This one does not impress. I prefer the original Dortmunder to this imperial version.

bottle. amber / orange pour with a little head. aroma and flavor... rich and sweet bready malt, lightly toasted like a vienna. pretty good overall, thanks to whoever gave me this.

Pours a dark gold color with a small head. Aroma is light but complex, caramel, citrus, bread. Flavor is sweet, thick. Can notice the alcohol.

Deep golden color with an attractive fluffy white head. Nose of manderin oranges, and a grainy alcohol. Big sweet fruity flavor of peach, apricot, orange juice, alcohol, hair spray, and a doughy underpinning to support the whole thing. It is a little disjointed, but the flavors almost balance the size.

Bottled. Poured clear medium orange with a short dusting of white head. The aroma picked up almost juicy caramel, toffee, and pear sweetness flanked by hay-like hoppage.. warmth brought out some corn and honey-inspired sweetness. The flavor was primarily lighter fruit and honey sweetness at the core with grassy and light citrus bitterness surrounding.. alcohol peaks at inappropriate times, especially when it amplified a not-too-pleasant bitterness at the finish. Heavier-bodied and syrupy across the palate with low carbonation.. never felt bad per se, but it never really felt good either.

Bottle from Capone’s. Pours dark straw with minimal off-white head. Nose is pale malt, lemongrassy citrus, slight sour mashy fruit. Tastes malty, a bit astringent, with apricot and hopcitric notes. As ti warms, it gets a bit discombobulated and abrasive. I had this rated a few tenths higer until the last 4 ounces.