Profiled by Maria Devan for PGA
Pours clear and orange with golden yellow hues. A fat head of creamy off white foam that persists and clings to the glass. leaves, spots, patches rings and sheets of lace that slowly fall as you drink. The head refreshes with a swirl and lasted in a layer on top throughout the drink.
Nose is lovely. Smooth with both fruit and floral. Citrusy and tangy, tropical mango and stone fruit softness. There’s a bit of sweet sugar on the nose from malt and the promise of a little bread. The rye is subtle and balanced to the nose with an earthy scent. The rye spiciness is more subtle than the fruit, A soft herbal in the background.
Taste is smooth. The palate is balanced with the tropical fruit juiciness, the tangy citrus and the rye spiciness all standing toe to toe. A soft herbal and a light and fruity middle all are met by a favorable bit of bread. There is a moderate bitter that peaks with the rye . . . finally it comes forward . . .to go to a softly drying and lingering finish. The bitter peaks again on it’s own in the aftertaste where a tanginess revives all the sweet fruit you just lost only momentarily. Soft moderate mouthfeel and sweetly breaddy.
Tremendous. Great Lakes has never made a bad beer.
4
Welcome to the PGA beer rating system: one beer “Don’t bother.” Two: Eh, if someone gives it to you, drink. Three: very good, go ahead and seek it out, but be aware there is at least one problem. Four: seek it out. Five: pretty much “perfecto.”
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Maria Devan lives in Ithaca, NY and is frequent reviewer of beer and a beer lover deluxe.