They say you can’t improve a classic. We say lighten up! Introducing Dort Light, a reimagined version of our classic Dortmunder Gold Lager. Brewed with the same malts, hops, and proprietary yeast that earned Dortmunder our first Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 1990, Dort Light has the taste of its pedigreed predecessor, but at just 2.9% ABV and 90 calories per 12 oz. pour.

This lighter yet still full-flavored version of our year-round flagship brew is our first example of the newly emerging “mid-strength” beer category in the United States. While long popular in the UK and Australia and having roots in “session” strength beers of recent decades, American craft brews with roughly 2.5-3.5% ABV but a more robust flavor experience are just now entering the spotlight. Whether your goal is extending a social occasion or moderating calorie intake, mid-strength beers like Dort Light get the job done without sacrificing flavor. Even better – why not both? Start the night with a full bodied Dortmunder and keep the hangout going later with Dort Light. Or, grab a few Dort Lights at happy hour, then pair dinner with the more robust Dortmunder Gold without feeling overindulgent.

Dort Light delivers the signature flavor profile of the Dortmunder Gold Lager beer drinkers in Ohio and beyond have enjoyed for almost 40 years. Affectionately called “Dort” by longtime fans, the original Dortmunder strikes a perfect balance between sweet malt and dry hop flavors, with a full-bodied but smooth drinkability (even at 5.8% ABV) from our proprietary house lager yeast. Dort Light uses the exact same malts, hops, and yeast as its elder sibling, but to a lower final alcohol content of 2.9%, meaning you can enjoy the perfect malty, hoppy balance and flavor profile of a robust Dortmunder Gold Lager without getting weighed down. When the original literally won a gold medal, you know Dort Light’s flavor profile is going to be a winner, too!

It can’t be understated how important Dortmunder Gold Lager is to our brewery. As one of our first two beers upon opening our brewpub doors in 1988 (alongside Eliot Ness Amber Lager), Dortmunder is the foundation upon which our Top 50, regional craft brewery was built. And as the first craft brewery in Cleveland and one of the largest in the Midwest, Dortmunder literally put Cleveland and Ohio on the craft brewing map. There’s no Midwest IPA, no Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, no (gasp!) Christmas Ale without Dortmunder leading the way. As we grew from a humble brewpub, to packaging our beer in bottles and kegs in the mid 90’s, to regional distribution throughout the 2000’s, Dortmunder fueled the growth, becoming literally ubiquitous throughout greater Cleveland as the years rolled on. Walk into any given bar, restaurant, grocery store, you name it – you’re finding Dortmunder Gold Lager there.

Indeed, Dortmunder Gold Lager has meant a lot to Great Lakes fans for decades. Our day one patrons still give a wink and call it “The Heisman,” referring to the beer’s original name, a tribute to the legendary football coach who was born in the Ohio City neighborhood we call home. While a “polite disagreement” from another party moved us to rename the beer for the style (Dortmunder-style Lager) and its winning ways (that GABF gold medal!), the story lives on in our original supporters, and our trusty brewery tour guides.

Dortmunder Gold Lager is many Clevelanders’ first craft beer, and continues to be their reliable, quality, go-to option when picking up a 15-pack for a cookout or enjoying dinner with family out on Friday night. Indeed, for our longtime partners at the Winking Lizard Tavern (recently named Best Sports Bar by USA Today), “Dort” is their number one selling craft beer. With patrons who care about local and quality, it’s no surprise we launched Dort Light exclusively at Winking Lizard’s 15 locations throughout Ohio before its full release leading up to Fourth of July.

When the game goes extra innings or you want a tasty but lighter option next to that 20-pack of wings, reach for a bottle of Dort Light. And if you’re hosting for Independence Day festivities, best to pick up a pack of each (okay, maybe a couple) to make sure the cooler is full of the right brew for the right mood all day long. You’ll find both right next to each other on the shelf, with Dort Light sporting the red, white, and blue ribbon of its predecessor along with other reimagined elements of the classic’s label.

Experience Dort in a new light! Dort Light is available year-round in 6-Pack Bottles and Draft everywhere Great Lakes beer is sold. Get Dort Light, Dortmunder Gold Lager, and any of our brews near you using our Beer Finder.

Words by Mike Williams

Photos by Marissa DeSantis & Lily O’Brien