Beer of the Weekend #561: Dorothy's New World Lager
While perusing the shelves in the walk-in cooler at John’s earlier this week, an employee entered and took a couple bottles from an inconspicuous stack of boxes. After she left, I took a peek to see what she had chosen: bottles of Toppling Goliath. My jaw dropped.
Toppling Goliath beers are available in bottles — albeit in a limited number that sells out immediately. One needs to know when and where to find them because the supply will not last a day. (Or at least that has been my impression.) Through some miracle, I happened to be in the right place at the right time and was not going to let the opportunity pass.
I bought two bottles and drank the first last night while enjoying late night West Coast Conference basketball: Dorothy’s New World Lager, brewed by the Toppling Goliath Brewing Company of Decorah, Iowa.
Serving type: 22-ounce bottle. No freshness date.
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is lightly hazy gold with a hint of amber. A finger of off-white, fluffy head leaves a bubble-spotted skim and a ring around the edge.
Smell: Musty grains that smell very much like adjunct corn, hints of sweet fruit, and light lemon zest. Honesty, it smells a lot like a number of macro lagers.
Taste: Lots of bite, which is a pleasant surprise since the aroma was so lackluster. The adjunct grain is there and slowly gains prominence, but the hop bitterness remains a strong presence. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. There are hints of sweet fruit and lemon zest, and the alcohol is noticeable at the end of each sip.
Drinkability: This is a bitter, tasty take on an oft-dismissed classic. The adjunct graininess paired with the strong bitterness is a little weird, but it works (and supposedly true to the style).
Fun facts about DNWL:
-Style: TG calls it “California Common.”
-Price: $5.99/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
-Alcohol content: 5.5 percent ABV.
-IBU: 11.
-Description via the beer’s webpage:
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.
Toppling Goliath beers are available in bottles — albeit in a limited number that sells out immediately. One needs to know when and where to find them because the supply will not last a day. (Or at least that has been my impression.) Through some miracle, I happened to be in the right place at the right time and was not going to let the opportunity pass.
I bought two bottles and drank the first last night while enjoying late night West Coast Conference basketball: Dorothy’s New World Lager, brewed by the Toppling Goliath Brewing Company of Decorah, Iowa.
Serving type: 22-ounce bottle. No freshness date.
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is lightly hazy gold with a hint of amber. A finger of off-white, fluffy head leaves a bubble-spotted skim and a ring around the edge.
Smell: Musty grains that smell very much like adjunct corn, hints of sweet fruit, and light lemon zest. Honesty, it smells a lot like a number of macro lagers.
Taste: Lots of bite, which is a pleasant surprise since the aroma was so lackluster. The adjunct grain is there and slowly gains prominence, but the hop bitterness remains a strong presence. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. There are hints of sweet fruit and lemon zest, and the alcohol is noticeable at the end of each sip.
Drinkability: This is a bitter, tasty take on an oft-dismissed classic. The adjunct graininess paired with the strong bitterness is a little weird, but it works (and supposedly true to the style).
Fun facts about DNWL:
-Style: TG calls it “California Common.”
-Price: $5.99/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
-Alcohol content: 5.5 percent ABV.
-IBU: 11.
-Description via the beer’s webpage:
Our flagship beer was named after our founder’s grandmother and crafted to please her purely classic tastes.
Mildly hopped, light in color and body, and clean to the taste, this california common-style lager drinks easy. Each sip charms the senses with distinct flavor and refreshing simplicity, delivering a smooth finish. Dorothy is truly the “Classic Beauty.”
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.
