Great Lakes Commodore Perry IPA - Great Lakes Brewing Company

Dogbrick

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer is a clear dark golden-amber color with a medium fluffy off-white head with decent retention. Thin sheets of lacing. Aroma of grassy hops and citrus. Medium body with a smooth mouthfeel. Piney hops at first, with sweet malt and spices in the background. At 7.5%, the beer seems to straddle the line between "Regular" and "Imperial" IPA. The finish is bitter hops at first, with a resiny malt undertone. The aftertaste is long-lasting and dry. As with most of GLBC’s beers, this is well done.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2006 15:19:36 | More by Dogbrick

ypsifly

Michigan

4.3/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz dated best before 10/03/06 purchased at Merchant's in Dearborn and poured into a pint glass.

One finger of white foam over golden honey. Decent retention with spotted lace.

The aroma is almost all hops...deep, dark, and earthy with lots of pine and grapefruit. Oh man, this is a hop bomb for sure! I could smell freshly crushed hops the second I popped the cap.

Hot damn!!! How 'bout them hops! Yep, this is a hop bomb. I'm guessing they used a lot of Centennial. Malt pokes out a little underneath but you gotta search for it. Not much for balance but I was looking for a hop blast after work tonight and boy did I get my fix.

The mouth is moderate and drying, almost puckery. On the right night, I could drink a dangerous amount of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2006 06:17:13 | More by ypsifly

mynie

Indiana

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a darkish APA orange with a decently sized and moderately retentive head.

Smells like light pine hops and very heavy syrupy malts. Quite the change of pace from your regular IPA--here the malts actually blot out the hops!

Tastes like it smells upfront, light pine hops overcome by maple malt. But it ends on a stronger, dry pine hop and leaves a wonderfulm lingering taste of sweet 7-Up citrus on your tongue. Tasty.

Yet another solid brew from Great Lakes. I couldn't believe it was 8.0%!

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2006 17:42:45 | More by mynie

Vancer

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Another winner from GL, man, they make some fine brews. You know from the impressive pour, a clear orangy amber with lacey ivory head – that you are in for a treat.

Full of pine, citrus and florals in the aroma and tastes. On the thickly sweet side, but retains enough sharp cut on the finish to balance out. It has a fairly ample supple of oily slickness to merit this moving up towards DIPA range – NOT to mention the hidden 7.5% !! I guessed 6% as I as quaffing.

Very tasty brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2006 12:38:28 | More by Vancer

orfeu

New Mexico

3.23/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Best Before Sep 19 2006. Crystalline peach juice with a super-thin, finely attenuated creamy white head. Roundish sour orange and grapefruit juice aromas mix with a pleasant sugar-sweet scent. Very little sweetness in the taste, however: the Commodore is all bitter and biting, with mineral notes abounding -- kind of like eating a grapefruit peel with a rusty fork. Not as bad as that sounds, but really, this is lacking a malt bill formidable enough to take on the massively bitter hops. It wouldn't need to strive for "balance" or anything (I mean, this IS an IPA, after all), but just represent for the grains out there. Or something. Anyway, mostly dry mouthfeel with some juicy notes. Moderately drinkable. The bitterness is just not the kind I look for in an IPA. Maybe it's just that I expect more from Great Lakes, maybe this is a bad batch -- in any case, near the bottom of my IPA list.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2006 04:03:23 | More by orfeu

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12oz bottle into a Stone Ruination glass. Crystal clear and yellow with a sticky think white head. The aroma is nicely balanced hoppiness, with some strong malt background. Very nice and not one-dimensional. Same with the flavor, which was hoppy but not bitter, and malty but not too sweet, just a really smooth beer that's easy to drink. The oily texture coats your tongue so the flavor lingers. This is really good, and I don't think I ever saw it before this week? Must be a new bottled beer from Great Lakes, I hope it becomes a regular.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2006 01:19:52 | More by TurdFurgison

Blakaeris

Iowa

4.15/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours very light clear copper. Head is moderate, with slight lacing.

Smell is a very pleasant malty fruitiness. Citrus hops. Mild but mouthwatering appeal.

Taste is a balance between caramel malt, floral hop and citrusy centennial hops. Flavor is once again mild, but has very nice complexity. Finish is clean with lingering hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with slight hop oiliness.

This reminds me more of a british style IPA. However, the citrus hop character is a little too aggressive for that style. All in all a great beer and highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2006 00:22:13 | More by Blakaeris

Gritsak

Indiana

4.45/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- bright copper with a large, fuffy white head that laces all down the glass.

S- lots of grapefruit, pine, apricot, peach.

T- grapefruit dominates but much like the nose, a medely of fruit flavor shows through. The finish is slightly dry and leads to a more grassy flavor.

M- solid medium body with mild carbonation. Very smooth but crisp.

D- Very easy to drink. Alcohol goes undetected.

overall- I have been looking forward to this beer ever since i first heard it was coming out. Being that great lakes is one of my favorite (and local) breweries, i had pretty high expectations for this. All said and done this is and EXCELLENT beer and i will buy plenty of this in the future.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2006 04:46:35 | More by Gritsak

malty

Michigan

3.83/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoy by Sept. 19th, 2006

Pours into my 8 oz. tumbler shaped tasting glass a brilliantly clear golden copper color with a loose 1" cream colored head. Very nice lacing.

A few brisk swirls evoke a fresh grapefruit rind aroma that dances with caramel scented malts mixed with strawberry crème. Very faint pine & watermelon also.

Upon entering the mouth, the pleasant aromas that I so enjoyed vanished and I was left with a crisp and prickly texture with a very dry & bitter finish - where did the flavor go! I poured another 4-5 oz. in my glass in hopes to uncover something. A faint floral & fruity flavor from the hops but nothing from the malt side. Another few drinks and the same thing.

Mouthfeel is on the lighter side of medium bodied and very crisp & dry.

Drinkability is OK. I want more flavor! I guess you could swill a few of these with no problem if they were chilled to 45F.

Overall the first 'so-so' from Great Lakes I've ever tried (and I believe I've tried them all - in the bottle & their pub). I almost wish I didn't experience what I just experienced. I'm finishing off the rest of the bottle (in my tasting glass) and I'm very sad. Still a good beer by most micro fare, but a let down based on Great Lakes gems. I'll stick with Burning River, thanks.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2006 20:36:54 | More by malty

ultralarry2006

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle. Left less than a one finger head, but it lasted and left good lacing. Body was a light yellow amber, looked like brewed green tea.

Smell - Floral, citrus, and pine. Hint of toasty malt.

Taste - same as the smell. Hop bomb. Floral and citrus upfront, washing with barely-there toasty malt backbone in the middle. Finish is a wash of deliciously bitter piney hops.

Mouthfeel - full, smooth, low carbonation. Some hop oil slickness, and also a somewhat drying feel from the piney bitterness.

Drinkability - this is very good, and goes down well. I'd say it's very sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2006 16:59:30 | More by ultralarry2006

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

3.58/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a golden orange with a thin white head a mild amount of carbonation. This is the clearest IPA I have ever seen.

S - Slight hint of citrus and piney hops with a decent caramel malt backbone.

T - Caramel malt, bitter piney hops with a slight hint of grapefruit. The bitterness is the dominating factor out of the hops on this one.

M - Mouthfeel is medium and is quite dry with the dominance of bittering hops.

D - A solid IPA but nothing special about this one. The drying bitterness seems to be the dominant characteristic of this one. I would not go out of my way for this one but would try it again.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2006 22:17:59 | More by brewcrew76

bashiba

Iowa

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a nice golden orange, crystal clear with lots of carbonation, a long lasting thin white head on top.

Smell has a nice toasted malt aroma with a bit of lemony hop zest.

Taste mirrors the smell, a very balanced IPA. Nice toasted malt backbone , slightly buiscuity with a strong blast of grapefruity hops.

Mouthfeel is slightly oily with a nice dry finish.

Very drinkable, especially at 8%, no alcohol taste at all.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2006 02:56:09 | More by bashiba

klewis

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Best before 9/26/06

A: Pours clear and light golden with a big bubbly head. Moderate lacing.

S: Subtle aroma of floral hops

T: Plenty of hop character throughout the flavor, though the quality and flavor of the hops seems uninteresting to me.

M: Medium bodied and crisp with moderate carbonation.

D: I don't think it's possible for GL to make a bad beer, but this is definitely my least favorite of their offerings. There are several IPA's out there that are worse, but I tire of this beer quickly.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2006 00:00:53 | More by klewis

carln26

Missouri

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Clear, bright copper topped by a light off-white head. The head is not long lasting, and just leaves a touch of a ring on the rim of the glass. Lots of citrus grapefruit on the nose. A mixture of grapefruit and orange. Just the lightest touch of caramel. The taste has a lot of caramel, a light touch of grapefruit, a hint of bubble gum, and some pralines on the finish. More delicate than I expected. The mouth feel is dry, and slightly slick. Good drinkability, I can’t believe this is 8%. That must be a misprint

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2006 02:01:05 | More by carln26

Chaz

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours golden amber in color, with a rich off-white head and enough lace to scare me a little. Nose is piney, citric hops and lots of 'em. Sharp and juicy on the first sip, followed by a tangy, smooth, creamy quality. Lingering hop bitterness with aromatic notes of mint. Rather full bodied, a little bit sweet, but with great hop interplay. VERY easy drinking . . . the label says 7.5% - is this really 7.5%? Somehow I put five of these down last night (it was hot and humid) in only a few hours (no, I wasn't driving!) but today it seems a bit too big for the heat . . . a wintertime IPA? A small Double IPA? Whatever, this is definitely worth tracking down, even though I normally don't go in for the American IPA craze.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2006 05:02:23 | More by Chaz

Wildman

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer poured a clear yellow gold color and formed a pure fluffy white head that coated the glass with lace as it subsided. A small amount of carbonation is present. An aroma of cascade hops with a touch of citrus centennial. A interesting carmel aroma as well give an air of sweetness to it. The flavor was of hops, carmel and touch of citrus. It has a fairly smooth body and the finish is slightly astrigent with a bit of a burnt aspect to it. I can see where some see a battle between American and British style IPAs with this beer. But still a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2006 01:59:20 | More by Wildman

OldFrothingSlosh

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A 6-pack of goodness from TwelveVoltMan. Thanks, Duke!

Best by date of 9/26/06? Once again, the conservative dating on GLBC bottles confuses me.

Color is a clear yellow-gold in color. Hints of orange as well. Whitish lace is prevelant...thick and sticky. Long-lasting finger-thin layer of head lasts and lasts. Aromas are a nasally-pleasing mix of grassy and estery fruit hops, supported by a malty sweet base. Flavors weren't as BIG as I'd hoped. It's a well-balanced IPA that uses the caramel sweetness to offset the multiple hop tones that wash over the palate. Finishes with a long-lasting dryness of pine sap and a touch of ABV warmth. Nice mouthfeel, not as thick as I'd hoped. Creamy-smooth, with just a hint of carbonation. For an 8% beer, it was gone in a flash. So very well-balanced.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2006 15:28:10 | More by OldFrothingSlosh

shroompod

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle , best before sep 26/06
pours a nice golden orange color. Very clear. Decent head with lacing.

Smell is distinctly citrusy.

Taste is of course hoppy with just of touch of malty sweetness.

Moutfeel is a just about right , maybe a little thick/sweet , but no complaints. Good carbonation.

Normally I'm not into "hop bombs" but I could drink a few of these.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2006 23:56:38 | More by shroompod

nlmartin

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer was purchased at Jungle Jims. I bought the last six pack so look else where. The beer was served in a pub glass.

Appearance: The beer is a nice amber coloration. The carbonation consist of tight bubbles. The head was two fingers off white in coloration. The head has major retention. The glass is coated in webs of lacing.

Smell: This beer has primarily pine smelling hoppyness. A bit of caramel maltyness creeps out. The smell of alcohol adds spiceyness to the beer.

Taste: The beer starts with a caramel maltyness. The beer has a loaded pine hoppyness following. The beer a citrus and citrus zest hoppyness that goes earthy. The beer has a lingering bitterness finishing dry.

Mouthfeel/ Drinkability: The beer is medium bodied. The beer is well carbonated. The alcohol is well incorporated. This is not a bad beer and I will probably rotate this into my beer purchases next year.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2006 13:14:03 | More by nlmartin

kmpitz2

Tennessee

3.68/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle. This beer pours a moderate golden color with a half finger of head over top, falling to a sparse coat over top. The brew is clear and there is little to no carbonation bubbling up in it. A deep inhale brings a nice moderate caramel maltyness, a mild grainey character, with nice sweet and citrusy hops as well as a more mild earthy hop. This one is giving me impressions of both an American And a British IPA. The flavor hits with caramel malt, followed by a solid earthy and slightly citrusy hop. A moderate bitterness hits on the finish, with a slight creshendo after a few seconds. The bitterness hangs on pretty solid into the finish as well. Mouthfeel is moderate with a carbonation on the light end of moderate. This one is not bad. It really does seem to be stuck between American and English IPA. The bitterness is a touch harsh as well. I don't think this one would be my choice for an IPA when I hit the stores, as others just draw me more, but this one is by no means bad. Just not to my taste.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2006 05:47:06 | More by kmpitz2

PBRstreetgang

Ohio

4.4/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a crystal clear shade of light gold. Three finger head is soapy but dense, with outstanding retention and sticky lacing. Hoppy american nose like grapefruit and pear, some mild citrus, mabye a pinch of pine, and some background malt aromas. Taste is initially sweet with toasty munich malt directly followed by an onslaught of chinook, simcoe, and cascade flavors. The dry, bitter aftertaste is oily with notes of pine needles ...the kind of aggressive acidity that will put a smile on any hophead's face. Medium in body and carbonation, a pleasent resinous mouthfeel. Loads of hop flavor here, but not overly bitter. The finish is dry and saturated with hops, but fairly balanced by the touch of malt sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2006 02:00:09 | More by PBRstreetgang

maddamish

Tennessee

4.83/5  rDev +23.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Ap: Large white creamy head with staying power. The lacing is excellent. Medium Copper in appearance.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body. Very dry and oily. Perfect for an IPA. The carbonation was lively and finishes with a light astringent finish.

Smell: A pine/hoppy bouquet with strong grapefruit notes. Slight bubblegum.

Taste: A heavy bitter hop presence with dough, toast and grapefruit notes. This is a true hop head beer. Finishes with a bitter toastiness that lingers for a long time.

Drinkability/Notes: This is amongst the best IPA's on the market and I wouldn't argue with you if you thought it was the best.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2006 01:19:00 | More by maddamish

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.68/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Glad to see this beer available in Central Kentucky. Being a lover of IPAs, I couldn't wait to try this one. A typical copper / amber hue with nice head retention and carbonation. Aromas are slight, both with the malts and hops--pleasant, but light. Tastes sweetly of malt at first, but then a decent kick of hop bittering to follow. The pine, grass, or spice flavor of the hops are a bit lacking, but lightly present. Flavors create a detergent-like flavor just before the finish. Body is rich and firm throughout. Finishes bitter with a hoppy dry finish. The alcohols are ver controled and contribute nicely to the beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2006 01:06:50 | More by BEERchitect

neenerzig

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a 6 pack of this summer seasonal earlier today. Never have had this particular Great Lakes brew before. Pours a clear, amber dark gold/light brown color with an initially very foamy, frothy, looking white head that all but totally dissappears after a few minutes leaving some nice lacing in my glass. Aromas of cirtus, hops, a hints of malt and some other fruits ensue. Tastewise there is of course some hop bitterness as well as a somewhat sweet orangey taste mixed with caramel and malt followed by a sort of sour fruity and dryaftertaste. Very good taste indeed! Very crisp and clean mouthfeel with moderate to heavy carbonation. Despite the bitterness and 7.5% ABV this beer is quite drinkable. Another solid winner from Great Lakes! I recommend all hop heads and IPA lovers try this at least once!

Eric

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2006 05:04:55 | More by neenerzig

Bierguy5

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Boston's. I was very excited to see this brand new release on tap, as I stopped in for a beer. Pours a clear golden color with a slight orange tint. Thick white fluffy head has good retention. Citrusy and floral hop aroma. Soft caramel malt backbone, which holds its own, but does not become too sweet or cloying. Nice amount of bitterness, along with floral, and citrusy, mostly grapefruit flavors. Finishes very much in the floral flavors. Appropriate carbonation with a medium body. Tons of sticky patchwork lace coates the sides of the glass. Not overwhelming, and maybe even tame compared to Burning River. Malt and hops compliment each other here. While this may not be as exciting to a hophead as other IPAs, it is solid, and could easily be a good session beer. Another solid beer from Great Lakes.

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2006 00:02:25 | More by Bierguy5