Great Lakes Commodore Perry IPA - Great Lakes Brewing Company

tectactoe

Michigan

3.63/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Bottle marked with a best-by date of June 2011 - I'm cracking this in February 2013. Yikes. Really curious about how this is gonna go down. Pours a golden, light-amber color with some tangerine highlights - hazy and cloudy to the core with a foamy, white head that sits pretty atop the beer and starts to leave generous lacing almost immediately. Some dense, spicy hops cloud the nose, right alongside a pungent grapefruit rind and citrus peel aroma. Some earthy and herbal tones bring up the rear. Very sweet and malty - it resembles an IPA that might be past its prime. Or perhaps a young, light barleywine with excessive hop flavor.

Lots of caramel malt in the first sip, and the many successive sips that follow. It's true - the hop "bite" has faded, giving way to the malt foundation and lunging it into the foreground. Fortunately, the malt bill is fairly solid and has lots of caramel, light toffee, and sweet bread to keep things interesting. Though the hops have degraded most definitely, they aren't completely dead - there is still a nice bitter twang and a huge, pungent grapefruit peel sensation. Some light white pepper flavored hops, slightly floral and leafy. The alcohol is noticeable, even at only 7.5% - but is that only due to the age of the beer? Some more sweet malts on the tail end with a light sugary follow-up. The aftertaste consists of a lasting bitterness and grapefruit pith. Medium-thick body, mildly sticky, slick, and oily. Carbonation held up pretty well over the last 20 months or so.

For being well past it's suggested prime, it surprisingly wasn't bad at all. Just not exactly what I was looking for, and to be fair, not what the beer is really meant to be. Despite that, the quality of the beer a year and a half past due is such that I'd be excited to try this one fresh. I will make sure I seek this one out when it's back in season, and my review will be subject to change.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 05:02:03 | More by tectactoe

clay23

New York

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-19-2013 01:27:21 | More by clay23

Photekut

Azerbaijan

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-18-2013 22:09:28 | More by Photekut

darvinlikemarvin

Iowa

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-17-2013 19:32:38 | More by darvinlikemarvin

AL89BR

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-16-2013 22:59:28 | More by AL89BR

Davit

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-15-2013 04:01:11 | More by Davit

justinp

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-14-2013 03:01:57 | More by justinp

HarmonMW

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-13-2013 22:01:28 | More by HarmonMW

ItismeDamonLee

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-12-2013 21:15:38 | More by ItismeDamonLee

smerrill36

Virginia

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-11-2013 22:39:30 | More by smerrill36

PopnLoads

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-10-2013 20:19:41 | More by PopnLoads

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.79/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12oz, Best by 7/7/13
Riedel tulip

A: Clear orange color. Layer of bright white. Lacing sheeting. Good carbonation.

S: Bright orange. Citrus fruits and pine. Light malt.

T: Light bitterness on tip of the tongue. Lots of citrus notes: citrus and orange and lemon. Dry finish.

M: Light medium bodied.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 15:17:34 | More by inlimbo77

Zanico

Ohio

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-10-2013 00:22:44 | More by Zanico

ncstateplaya

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -16.9%

05-09-2013 17:24:20 | More by ncstateplaya

dc4three

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%

05-08-2013 23:45:10 | More by dc4three

57md

Pennsylvania

4.19/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance is a orange-straw color with two fingers of fluffy head. The nose is distinctly hoppy, but also spicy as if there might be some rye in this offering. The taste and finish match the nose perfectly - bitter and spicy. This is a very good IPA that does not easily fit in the East Coast /West Coast definitions of IPAs.

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2013 04:48:00 | More by 57md

williamv0123

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%

05-08-2013 03:36:26 | More by williamv0123

Achilles811

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -23.3%

05-08-2013 00:48:28 | More by Achilles811

dalepryor

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-07-2013 21:17:42 | More by dalepryor

bilhelm

Kentucky

3.25/5  rDev -16.9%

05-07-2013 19:52:00 | More by bilhelm

Revenant

Minnesota

2/5  rDev -48.8%

05-06-2013 01:54:09 | More by Revenant

--Dom--

Missouri

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-05-2013 04:36:29 | More by --Dom--

bacher468

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-04-2013 23:52:51 | More by bacher468

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

3.65/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle.

Pours hazy gold with a quickly fading head of white. Barely a trace of lacing for the duration.

Aromatics are a mild blend of pine and malt. Quite subdued for an IPA.

Medium bodied with a crispish, lightly tacky mouthfeel.

Piney hops and a light malt backbone start the palate. A drying bitterness to balance follows through.

Finishes with fading pine and malt with a hint of cardboard.

This beer is pretty unremarkable and a bit faded.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 01:11:42 | More by brewandbbq

moodyhudy

Ohio

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-02-2013 06:37:37 | More by moodyhudy