Beer Review - Great Lakes Rye of the Tiger IPA.

Not my photo! From http://behindthetap.blogspot.com

Great Lakes Brewing Company - Rye of the Tiger IPA

Beer Type: American IPA - 7.50% ABV

Appearance: 12oz brown bottle with the classic Great Lakes style label with a tiger on the front. Beer poured a orange-golden color with a thin white head that faded quickly.       

Smell: Biscuits and malt, a little caramel sweetness, and some piney hops and rye spice.    

First Drink: Here come those tiger biscuits! Next up is a bit of caramel malt and last we have that hops and bitterness. Yum!     

Mouthfeel: Medium all around, both body and carbonation.      

Last Drink: Some grapefruit and orange flavors coming through now. I don't know why... but this beer totally makes me think of tigers!!           

Drinkability: Damn fine. I love rye beers and this one did not disappoint. I'll go for it again no problem.            

Notes: Nice balance with more rye spice and less hops grassy-notes. Diggin' it.        

Verdict: 4 out of 5. Solid IPA and one of the first (only?) beers I know to make me think of animals while drinking.

Beer Review - Great Lakes Nosferatu.

New Brew Thursday! Two in a row! Still working through the back log, this time around we've got the Fall seasonal from Great Lakes Brewing... Nosferatu!

Didn't get a photo of this beer.... here's onw from 365beers.wordpress.com!

Great Lakes Brewing Company - Nosferatu Imperial Red Ale

Beer Type: American Strong Ale

Appearance: 12 oz. brown bottle with the trade mark Great Lakes Brewing label - black border with art and stylized fonts. Beer pours almost blood red into the glass with a medium ivory head. Appropriate given the theme.

Smell: Initial smell is sweet caramel and malt with a sour citrus note. A bit of hops bitterness comes through as well.

First Drink: Strong grapefruit citrus flavors quickly followed by sweet caramel. I'm getting a bit of hops but not as much as I had expected. 

Mouthfeel: Good carbonation, and easy drinking, although the finish seems a bit dry. I wanted a glass of water after the first bottle.

Last Drink: Getting more hops in the finish, and an interesting aged wood flavor? Not sure where that is coming from but it's a neat trick.  

Drinkability: This is 8% ABV but you wouldn't know it without reading the label. The overall brew hides the alcohol flavor well and holds up to repeat drinks. Enjoying this one.

Notes: Great Lakes Brewing Company may be one of the only things I like about Ohio. All of the beers I have had from this brewery have been good, and their seasonal ones are just as fine. This one reminds me of some of the Stone brews in a way.  

Verdict: 4.5 out of 5. Good flavor, unique finish, and a decent buzz. What more can you ask from a beer?

Links: Beer Advocate and Great Lakes Brewing Company.

Beer Review - Great Lakes Brewing Nosferatu

Been too long since I posted a beer review! I promise to have at least one a week for the rest of this month and perhaps I can manage to pull that off for even longer. God knows I drink plenty of beer...

This time around I have a review of a regional seasonal brew in keeping with the month of October.

Great Lakes Brewing Company - Nosferatu Imperial Red Ale

Beer Type: American Strong Ale

Appearance: 12 oz. brown bottle with the trade mark Great Lakes Brewing label - black border with art and stylized fonts. Beer pours almost blood red into the glass with a medium ivory head.

Smell: Initial smell is sweet caramel and malt with a sour citrus note. A bit of hops bitterness comes through as well.

First Drink: Strong grapefruit citrus flavors quickly followed by sweet sticky caramel. I'm getting a bit of hops but not as much as I had expected.

Mouthfeel: Good carbonation, and easy drinking, although the finish seems a bit dry. I wanted a glass of water after the first bottle.

Last Drink: Getting more hops in the finish, and an interesting aged wood flavor? Not sure where that is coming from but it's a neat trick.

Drinkability: This is 8% ABV but you wouldn't know it without reading the label. The overall brew hides the alcohol flavor well and holds up to repeat drinks. Enjoying this one.

Notes: Great Lakes Brewing Company may be one of the only things I like about Ohio. All of the beers I have had from this brewery have been good, and their seasonal ones are just as fine. This one reminds me of some of the Stone brews in a way.

Verdict: 4.5 out of 5. Good flavor, unique finish, and a decent buzz. What more can you ask from a beer?

Links: Beer Advocate and Great Lakes Brewing Company.