About a month ago I purchased a six pack of DAB which gave me a great example of what a fine German lager. In Germany, just about every city has a brewery and most cities became well-known for a certain variation/style they brew (as most do). Often times, the brews were hybrids of popular styles in order to diversify to the market or compete with the major brewing cities of Munich and Berlin. Take for example, three close cities that all had their own unique style. There is: Koln famous for the Kolsch, Dortmund which is known for its Dortmunder/Export, and Dusseldorf once recognized for its Altbier.
The Dortmunder style was in answer to the Bohemian Pilsner and the Munich Helles (“light”) lagers. It falls pretty much in the middle of the two having a malt character similar to a Helles, yet maintaining a Pilsner-like hop profile. It usually has a higher ABV than both, but is still low enough to enjoy multiple Liters at 5%.
My mug carried a nice straw gold color liquid with a predominate white head. The aroma was of sweet light malt, slightly bready, moderately fruity, and the hops had a nice floral nose. The water used to brew is hard so there is some mineral aroma, but the sulfur component is very low as apposed to most European lagers. The taste was well-balanced allowing you to get a good bready quality from the malt while the hops rounded out the finish. It is not a dry as a pilsner and I did pick up a hint of DMS (Dimethyl Sulfide) which is a corn-like flavor that did not detracted from the brew. It gave it a taste similar to Spotted Cow.
This beer is very drinkable, refreshingly crisp, and the mild carbonation makes it smooth while allowing residual flavors to coat the palate. It has a great hop flavor in the finish which leaves a clean feeling. I enjoyed this interpretation of a German lager and will eargerly drink it again.
ABV: 5.0%
Grade: A-
Another decent German lager that I enjoy fairly often. It maybe not quite be an A for me, but it’s pretty close.
Dean,
Thanks for all your comments and lending your persective on these beers. DAB was so smooth and enjoyable when I had it. I will give Stiegl another try (I think I like thier Pils better).
If you return to Germany or Austria today you will see that many many great beers have disappeared as Pils becomes the beer of choice. When I lived there in the early 70″s many of my relatives that lived in the Ruhr around Dortmund preferred the Export over the Pils that was also available there (one very good Koenig’s Pils (Kopi)) although all my family in Duisburg working for Thyssen preferred and drank Koenigs Pils. My uncle in Pirmasens preferred Parkbrau Export over Pils. At that time I think Export and Helles were much more popular than Pils but since then Export is quickly disappearing (DUB!). It is sad really because even my cousin in Pirmasens which used to brew Parkbrau where his father worked now drinks Bitburger. Even a lot of their neighbourhood pubs are disappearing.
But then back in the late 60″s and early 70’s when I worked in a tavern here in London Ontario we sold 20 draught ales to each lager at 20 cents a glass.
I BOUGHT MY FRIST 6PK YESTERDAY. CHILLED THEM. MY FRIST BEER I KNEW THIS IS A GREAT BEER. NOT HEAVY,FILLING,ITS LIGHT REFESHING.GREAT IN THE SUMMER HEAT.WENT BACK TO TOTAL WINE & MORE TODAY GOT THE LAST 2 6PKS.WANTED 8 6PKS LOL
In cans OK but outside of Germany it’s pasteurised and I think that pasteurization cooks the beer and flavour is lost. Not as malty and hoppy as in Germany
Is Dab a gluten-free beer?
Can I buy DAB Beer anywhere near Plant City Florida?
DAB is my go to beer. I purchase the 16oz can cases. All I can say is
what a bargain! Cost me 22$ a case after tax. 24 16ox beers add up to over
30 normal beers. Amazing! Taste great as well.
I am not a over hopped high Alcohol American IPA guy, I like to drink 5 or so
at a time and not be wasted.
When my wife starts to BLAB I reach for a DAB.
I have been drinking DAB as my go to beer since my years in Germany where it is a national brand well regarded by the folks who know their beer. In Ontario, it is ounce for ounce the same price as the local discount beers. We get the real thing here – brewed in Dortmund. What a deal. BTW – they did not blow a bundle on outside professionals to help them coming up with the “DAB” moniker. DAB – Dortmunder Actien Brauerie or roughly translated ” Publicly traded brewery company in Dortmund.” Cool.
I grew up on DAB. Every Saturday night, my Mom and Dad would head to the Treffpunkt or Brauhaus in Chicago for dinner and dancing. I was 14 when my Dad gave me a quarter liter of DAB at the Treffpunkt. For the next several decades, hours of Gemutlichkeit were fueled by DAB (and a few Spaten).
Being in Germany all towns and villages had their style of bier , loved them all , but now being in the states DAB seems to be the most consistent tasting bier as I had it in Germany . Because of pasteurization some of the German biers don’t taste as great as they did there !