47º North IPA - Leech Lake Brewing Company

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle purchased at Happy Harry's South Grand Forks from a fridge with a date sticker of 3/27/12. Poured at 6 C into a wine glass. Sampled June 30, from notes.

Pours a fairly clear copper red body with a small fluffy white head that laces well. Some earth and a fair amount of hop spice on the nose, though muted. The body is much maltier than a three month IPA should let one with its of the flavour coming from the malt, including oddly enough licorice and molasses. Mouthfeel is nice with a decent bitterness that counteracts the sweetness, though I doubt there are actually the claimed (and likely calculated) 93 IBUs in there. As I have more English IPAs I find myself liking them less, not due to the hops rather the lack of hop flavours in the beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 02:26:53 | More by kjyost

FightingEntropy

Minnesota

3.4/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

3 Sheets by Leech Lake Brewing
After the first two bottles of tasty Leech Lake brews, I'm looking forward to getting to the big dog IPAs that are left in the beer fridge. Next is 47º North IPA that's 93 IBUs of pure hoppy Fuggles fun. The name refers to Leech Lake's GPS latitude and, according to the label, you won't find nothing like it anywhere below the 47th parallel.

Similar look to the Blindside Pale Ale, but definitely a bit darker--more of a copper with only the thinnest of old gold highlights. Off white head bubbles up for a bit before falling to a thin, lingering film. Nose is earthy with a very subtle spice that can be easy to miss. Taste has a malty caramel base with an assertive but not overwhelming hop bite. Flavor is a bit muddled, and the body of the beer is thin.

I was imagining the Blindside on steroids, but it didn't live up to my expectations. Had I drank Blindside and 47º North side by side and blind, I would have reversed them except that the bitterness of the IPA is little more in spite of the 93 IBUs. However, the nose of Blindside is much bigger and enjoyable. A decent IPA, but clearly not my favorite so far.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 03:03:56 | More by FightingEntropy

budgood1

Minnesota

2.78/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

pours out of the 22 ounce bomber a hazy, clouded, copperish colour with a thin, light tan head. bits of lace are left over. earthy and woody type of aroma...some sugary malts are present, slightly burnt or maybe molasses tinged. anyway, the nose is rather muted, but not unpleasant. the taste is unlike most IPA's i've had before, even of the english variety. there is that tartness that is prevalent in these LL brews that i've sampled so far...some grainy, gritty pale maltiness and a healthy dose of of earthy, herbal hoppiness that lends itself to be more bitter than flavourful. 93 IBU's? that's debateable but is does throw off some considerable bitterness. it has strong, sturdy body, with a relative dirty, raw mouthfeel. drinkability is ok. just ok.

overall i would say that is an unrefined, one dimensional, simplistic and uninspired IPA. this might be an ale that would provide a lumberjack substinence, but not an IPA that can stand up to other offerings readily available north of that magical 47 degrees north latitude. and i do live north of that latitude.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 03:11:28 | More by budgood1

ZAP

Minnesota

4.18/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

My first time trying this one. I don't think it was released yet when I worked my way through my LL bottles last December.

A-Pours a bole brown color....head and carbonation appear idea....

S-Nice unique aroma...definitely more english style hopping...earthy...woody(aspen, birch)...and fruity (honeycrisp apples)...malt seems candyish (toffee?). I believe this is all fuggles and it works nicely here.

T-The fruity notes jump out on the taste...takes on more bitterness than I would have guessed from the nose....earthy, british feel to this...the toffee almost has a butterscotch feel to it in some respects but I do not think it is "off"..

M-I like the creamy texture...carbonation IS spot on...body is about medium...

O-Different than most IPA's you'll find which makes this very drinkable in my opinion. English but much different than say Goose Island or Summit English styles....Not everyone will like this and if you want a big west coast IPA this is not it but it is a nice, flavorful IPA one could imagine drinking in a pub in England. Nice work with this one gang.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2011 05:35:01 | More by ZAP

jera1350

Minnesota

3.85/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a lovely coppery orange color with a short but creamy head that leaves rings of lacing all around the glass.

Bready with the smell of gas that escapes the yeast in rising bread dough. Also, the smell of orange peel from the hops.

Bready malt base with an earthy hop presence and orange peel. Has a light lingering hop bitterness at the end.

A little lacking in carbonation, but otherwise just fine. Pretty crisp and clean.

This is a highly drinkable beer. I think it's hoppy for the style and I like it. I would have this one again. A well done beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2011 01:45:43 | More by jera1350

garymuchow

Minnesota

3.8/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Starts with a fantastic aroma. Complex and interesting. Spice, earth, sweet, fruit, tart. Really nice.
Brownish amber. Smallish head that show's good stamina.
The flavor isn't as exceptional as the aroma, but good and solid, nonetheless. Full bitterness without being overwhelming. Complex flavors with hop forward primary, but a good solid malt backing. Long and reasonably dry finish. Alcohol is apparent, but not hot or distracting.
Full and rather big body.
Overall a nice drink.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 14:15:26 | More by garymuchow

shadow1961

Minnesota

3.25/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Leech Lake 47º North IPA pours a rocky head over a peach-colored brew. Massive carbonation delivers English ale yeast funk and earthy/floral hop nose. Mellow malt flavors with citric notes are soon overtaken by assertive herbal/woody/peppery hops. Mouthfeel is light and very dry.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2011 19:15:31 | More by shadow1961