Great Lakes Imperial Dortmunder - 20th Anniversary Beer

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

Rating #86 for this beer.
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7/07/2008: GLBC Imperial Dortmunder is clear, deep gold in color, and has a thick beige head that is long-lasting and provides web-like lacing. The aroma has a good presentation of Noble hops. It is spicy, floral, lightly citrusy and is accompanied by some lightly fruity maltiness. The flavor is very balanced and highlights include citrusy hops, a smooth body, and no detectable alcohol. This beer is pleasing and very drinkable, but I think that the original/regular Great Lakes Dortmunder might be better since the hops seem to stand out more due to the decreased maltiness.

Draught sample (ABV 7.7%; IBU 35) at the Great Lakes Brewing Company Brewpub in Cleveland, Ohio. Rating: 7/4/7/3/15=3.6
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July 2008: Great Lakes Imperial Dortmunder pours a transparent golden-copper color. It has an adequate level of carbonation and a foamy beige head. The aroma contains sweet and fruity grains, light floral and citrus candy hops. The beer tastes lightly fruity and sweet as the malt comes through in the front, but that gives way to grassy and ctirus hops. The beer is quite sweet, almost syrupy. This beer is medium to medium-full in body and feels oily/slick in the mouth. It is strong yet pleasing. However, the high level of sweetness and syrupy body seem to overpower the delicate underlying Dortmunder qualities. Overall this beer seems more like a Helles Bock out of the bottle. I think that it was slightly better when enjoyed on tap at the brewpub.

12 fl. oz. bottle (Enjoy by 10/07/08) from Rozi’s Wine House in Cleveland, Ohio. Rating: 7/3/7/3/14=3.4
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8/23/2008: Great Lakes Imperial Dortmunder pours a nice, clear golden color with a crown of off-white foam. The aroma contains a somewhat sweet bready maltiness with just a suggestion of floral hops. I have had this beer several times previous to this one and I fear that the hops might be fading away already... The flavor is crisp and clean with a mildly doughy malt followed by some lightly citrys and floral hop flavors, a tinge of spice, and a very mild level of bitterness. The palate is clean and this beer has a medium-light body. It might be a touch on the syrupy side... Overall this beer is really drinkable and the alcohol content is nicely tucked away, but my personal opinion is that Dortmunder is just one of those styles that really doesn’t work well in an "Imperial" form. Realistically, this beer is really more like a Helles Bock in all regards, especially the flavor. If I had to choose between the regular GLBC Dortmunder Gold and the Imperial Dortmunder, than I would probably go for the regular one as it is truely a good representation of the style and gives many authentic German Dorts a run for their money! Happy Anniversary to GLBC nonetheless. Prost!

12 fl. oz. bottle (7.5% Alc/Vol; Please enjoy by 10/07/08 4543CF) from Rozi’s Wine House in Cleveland, Ohio. Rating: 6/4/7/3/14=3.4

Pour is clear gold with a small white head. Nice lacing. Pretty crisp, yeasty, a bit toasty. Dry finish. Not my thing, but fair.

dortmunder gold is a lot better than this one. I was surprised by how flat this one was. very obvious alcohol finish, and lacked the breadiness it needed to flesh itself out...ok

Pours copper / orange with a small white head. The aroma has toasted slick nutty malt, some butter (not diacetyl) and a bit of abv. Medium slick body with lots of sharp carbonation. The flavor starts out with thick tasting toasty malt, phenolic spice and hints of fruit. The finish shows some alcohol, a bit of plastic and light veggie notes. An okay beer.

A decent head forms upon pouring. A little lacing as well. Not much aroma is involved. Fairly smooth and easy to drink. Not too much hops, a little grainy in taste. Finish is a little dry. Mild, good drinking session beer.

Bottle at Map Room. I have to agree with the consensus. The Dort Gold is far superior. This one doesn’t have the biscuity malt background that I would have loved. Too sweet and a touch cloying. Nose is syrupy with a kiss of hops. Not anywhere near bready enough to call a dort of any form in my book. Not a bad beer by any means, just not my bag. Meh.

Aroma of butter, biscuits. Flavor is sweet, biscuity, a white pepper bitterness. A slick palate, with a dry finish. an interesting idea for a beer. It just didnt have any wow factor.

12oz bottle. Pours golden with a nice fluffy dense head. Grassy alcohol. Simple aroma, but it speaks of the gravity. A bit hot for a Dort and the alcohol is a bit distracting. You also get hay, fresh grain, and a touch of malt. There is some spice that I attribute to hops but I could almost swear there was a mint note…call me crazy. Medium body, that is a bit sticky with a semi-dry finish. Quite drinkable, but not their best effort.