Great Lakes Commodore Perry IPA - Great Lakes Brewing Company

jwc215

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours golden yellow with a head that thins to a patch.

The smell is of grapefruit, lemon, pine - some caramel grainy malt. Normally this smell would get higher marks from me, but something is restrained about it. Nice, but (too?) mild.

The taste is grapefruit, lemon, resiny pine. Starts out pretty weak, but grows more robust (and pinier - if that's a word) as it warms. Sweet, grainy background keeps the hops balanced. Finishes a bit sweeter than typical for the style, but with enough bitterness to let you know that it's an American IPA. The alcohol is well-hidden (though may add a bit too much sweetness), with just a touch in the aftertaste. (I was going to give this a bit lower in score, but it's one of those brews that grow on you the more you drink it, and the flavors are there - just let it warm up a bit.)

Medium - I was going to say towards full, though I think it's more appropriate to say towards thick, bodied.

This is a nice IPA overall - would be interested to try it with a little less abv, as it seems, in my humble opinion, to add a bit too much sweetness to it. Anyway, I've had several offerings from this brewery and can't say that this one is one of my favorites, but it's certainly decent, to say the least, esp. as it progresses. It is a tough style to contend with with all of the competition - I'ts nice - but, well, mellow (other than abv).

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2007 01:33:06 | More by jwc215

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A 12 oz bottle from a trade with kirok1999.

A: The IPA pours with with a brilliant golden color, highlighting equally yellow and orange notes with a solid stream of carbonation in the center of the glass. The head neared 1.5 fingers on pour and has laced nicely all around the glass.

S: The nose is orange citrus, full of hop aromas that are mouthwatering.

T: Hops abound, leaping out from the first sip through the final swallow. Orange and pineapple elements are the dominant hop notes, giving the ale a strong citrus profile that finishes long on the tongue. Some caramel malts come through as the ale warms, breaking up the bitterness with some grainier notes.

M: The finish is somewhat muddled, losing the orange and pineapple notes and becoming more muddled. Despite that, the finish and mid-body are excellent.

D: The alcohol doesn't rear its head at all, aiding the drinkability. That abv is reasonably high though so a few bottles will do you in. Nice hop body though, especially for an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2007 02:32:42 | More by akorsak

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a single from Bello Vino in Ann Arbor, MI. Poured into my pint glass, it's a clear gold with a tall, white head.

This IPA is a little different than your typical face-full of pine and grapefruit. Given, it does have grapefruit, but the flavor starts mellow and then grows through the finish to a big, spicy bitterness. The aroma has more of the citrus and is pleasant, but relative for the style, it could be better. For the strength, this beer is very drinkable and a little dangerous. It's probably a good thing more 7.5% beers aren't this seemingly sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2008 16:59:25 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

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

Wow, I never thought the day would come where I could pick up a sixer of a Great Lakes IPA right in the Ohio Valley, recently the microbrews have come into the Steubenville/Wintersville OH areas in specifically the two Kroger grocery stores. With Great Lakes products came Erie Brewing, Magic Hat, Atwater, and more. I'm happy to see this happening here's the IPA and the bottle states 7.5% abv when I visited the brewery back in 04 it was listed at 8%. Appearance has a light bronze copper appearance even a pale peach lighter in color than the Burning River Pale, large off white creamy textured head forms thick and dwindles slow clinging to the edges of the pint leaving even rings of lace with each sip. Aromatics contains heavy grapefruit peel action with a sugary coating much sweeter smelling than actual grapefruit, the malts used here are mildly toasted with somewhat of a spicy rye note even though I now none of that was utilized here. Flavors a bitey somewhat acidic wave of high alpha hops grapefruit peels, pine, and grassy components all dive onto the palate with some initial sweetness quickly gets wiped away. Not as diverse and well balanced as some standard IPAs but at 7.5 this one is on the border of a DIPA definitely some assertive alcohol noted in the taste. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with light slippery textured hop oils gliding on the palate definitely sticks to the tongue and carbonation feels natural and carris the brew well pretty moderate. Drinkability is great I could handle a few of these but really I've been enjoying one out of the sixer at a time, spreading them out has been an enjoyable experience between finishing nursing school this week and catching up on cutting the grass this brew is substantial enough to fill my hophead cravings. I believe in my last review on tap I yearned for this beer to be bottled, well I guess I owe a thank you to the folks at Great Lakes, goo job guys.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2007 14:35:41 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours clear copper amber with a very sizeable off white head from too firm a pour. Nose is basically like sticking your nose in a can of pineapples. Just thick pineapple syrup. Flavor is very tangy on the start. Then you get a very salty hop hit with slightly vibrant citrus tones. Feel has a good carbonation to it and the liquid is even. Drinkable, yes. Even though it leans heavily towards the salty side, it still has a decent leve of balance that keep things going.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2008 21:17:46 | More by RblWthACoz

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Modest head but it leaves extensive blanketing lace. Gold color and crystal clear.

First impression was of perfume. Second whiff was of crystal style malts and cream.

Starts off like a rich amber ale but then a peppery hop flavor takes over. This is smooth IPA, which I attribute to the thick body. There's a fruity sweetness that brings an interesting balance to this brew.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2011 16:49:55 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

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

Thanks to JAYW for this one.

Pours a clean golden orange color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy off-white head, with some nice sticky lacing to follow. The nose is hoppy, some malt tones, and caramel. The taste is hoppy and malty, lots of caramel. This brew is nice, but just not hoppy enough to be a good IPA, but still is tasty. Medium body. Drinkable, a nice brew, but to much on the malty side.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2007 23:25:36 | More by Wasatch

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

(Served in an American pint glass)
10/24/07 date on bottle
A- This beer pours a light copper colored body that is crystal clear showing of the tiny bubbles of carbonation gliding to the surface. There is a sticky off-white head that last and last. The head leaves rings on the glass after each sip.

S- There is a light caramel malt hint with a pungent green hop burst at the finish. There is some note of pineapple weed as the beer warms but it is mostly pungent.

T- This beer has a hint of caramel malt sweetness followed by a big pungent pine and grapefruit bite that finishes the beer. It is not skunky like being light struck but skunky like a fresh huge hop AA flavor.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a creamy note as long as the head last.

D- This beer has a huge hop bitterness that overpowers the hops aroma and flavor. There is some nice support by the malt but the hops are just a bit too pungent. I really like hops but there is just something about this beer that a don't care for in the hops.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2007 17:51:29 | More by rhoadsrage

Jason

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz brown bottle with a freshness date on the label.

Two fingers of head holds steady, perfect clarity with tiny bubbles racing to the top. Herbal, minty and a little citric in this hoppy nose ... a bit fruity with some esters and a smattering of toasted bread in the back. Smoothness has depth, thick-ish medium body. Bitter, yes and a bitterness that sticks. The malt is big enough to stand up to this somewhat brute-like hoppiness and the alcohol / fruitiness stakes a swing at the hops as well. While the bitterness and stodgy hop flavor prevails in the end it did have a tough battle to push through. Malt is an even wall of toasted sweetness and the alcohol is quite noticeable with fruity and peppery esters. Finishes bitter/sweet with more bitterness obviously.

A perfect example of "no coast" IPAs that don't get enough attention. Damn tasty and bold enough to rival both coasts.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2010 01:33:44 | More by Jason

jlindros

Massachusetts

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

Thanks to beerhan for this one.

Clear amber orange color with a nice fluffy 1 finger head that fades semi slowly with nice lacing.

Nose brings nice reddish amber malts, earthy malts with almost a carrot like aroma, juicy malts and hints of light fruity hops.

Taste nice toasty malts, reddish caramel toasty malts, light caramel, tons of red malt flavors, earthy grassy, bit herbal hop kick with grassy almost floral hop flavors, a decent bitterness makes way for light fruit flavors from the yeast i think. finishes drier and toasty malts, slight bitterness with earthy grassy hops, herbalish.

Mouth is med bodied, decent carb.

Overall not bad, drinkable, nice malts blended with a nice grassy earthy hop but light bitterness. A much lighter drinking beer than i expected.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 15:02:32 | More by jlindros

mdfb79

New York

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

From 4/10/10 notes. Had on tap at the Big Hunt in DC.

a - Pours an orange amber color with one inch of white head. Light carbonation evident.

t - Tastes follows the nose...pine and citrus hops leading the way. Also some smooth caramel malts.

m - Smooth and creamy. Medium body and moderate carbonation.

d - I thought this was a pretty good IPA. It had enjoyable citrus hops and smooth caramel malts in the taste and I thought it was very drinkable. Would have again.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2010 23:04:56 | More by mdfb79

Zorro

California

4.43/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sampled at the Brewpub across from the brewery proper in Cleveland Ohio.

Looks good but not exceptional in the glass. A somewhat small white head crowns a lovely clear golden amber colored ale.

The scent is truly exceptional. Sweet and malty with a strong but not over powering C type hop aroma of pine needles and grapefruit. What sets this apart is that both the malt and hop aspects are balanced in a quite strong IPA without one overpowering the other.

The taste begins sweet and a little bready with a tasty clean and unmodified hop flavor from the very first taste. As you drink this the citrus, pine and refreshing bitter aftertaste get a little stronger but does not really change. This never gets bitter and it never numbs the tongue, this is all tasty hop flavors.

The Mouthfeel is good.


Oh yeah this is a strong IPA that I could drink all night except the alcohol level would put a stop to it a bit early. A VERY recommended ale!

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2007 04:21:55 | More by Zorro

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.35/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Purchased a single at Premier Gourmet in Buffalo.

Pours a clear amber, decent one finger white head, dropped a lot of lacing, settles to a nice layer and ring, good retention. Smell is sweet, caramel, piney hops, some floral, fruity alcohol, not very fragrant but the aroma thats there is quite nice. Taste is very malty, sweet, a bit sugary, almost cloying, spicy bitterness, pine, alcohol, fruits, almost has a Belgian feel to it. Mouthfeel is full bodied, very thick, with low carbonation, alcohol is well hidden. Found this hard to drink, something about the mouthfeel doesn't feel right to me, just thick and heavy without a lot of flavour to fill it out.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2007 22:21:53 | More by Viggo

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy dark ruby red/ copper color with a thin off-white head that slowly dissipates into a thin ring that lasts throught, leaving minimal splotches of lacing here and there.

Piny hop aroma with a touch of citrus peel and a nice biscuit/ caramel backbone. Resinous hop oil, lemon and grapefruit. Very earthy scent

The citrus notes from the aroma are not as prominent in the flavor. Medium body with a slightly chewy resinous hop forward mouthfeel. There is only a slight bit of citrus peel and grapefruit flavor. The hops are very earthy and plant like not crisp and floral. The malt backbone provides a decent balance with some nice biscuit notes. This beer is a decent session beer that is kind of one dimensional. Pretty good but not something I would drink regularly.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2009 17:46:05 | More by corby112

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.28/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Not the best Great Lakes effort. Very orange, looks good. Aroma was a bit of a put off. I may have an old(er) bottle.

Taste, very one dimensional, not balanced, just bitter. Little hop feel, lots of bitterness. Alcohol isn't over the top, but rears its head enough to be slightly disagreeable. Could use some depth to it. A decent price, but the Burning River is so much more enjoyable. Still have 3 more in the 6er, but 1/2 way down, its nothing to write home about.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2010 04:57:00 | More by Beerandraiderfan

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.8/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Big Hunt yesterday.

The beer pours an orange copper color with good head retention and lacing. The is attactive, with light sweet malt and light citrus. It's a bit maltier then I normally like to see in my IPA's, but it's still pretty nice. On the palate, this is a nicely balanced IPA, albeit one that I think could use a bit more hoppy bitterness. Still, the beer has plenty of flavor with a noticeable hoppy, bitter bite. I do get a bit of an alcohol burn on the finish that I'm not in love with, but otherwise this is a pretty tasty IPA. The beer is medium bodied with plenty of flavor, and except for the alcohol bite at the end, it's pretty drinkable.

This is a solid IPA, but the competition is pretty stiff in the world of IPA's, and I'm not sure this qualifies as one of the better ones. It's a nice enough IPA, but not a great one. Given all the other options available, probably wouldn't order it again.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2010 20:18:35 | More by johnmichaelsen

DoubleJ

California

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

Joe at Walnut Liquorette threw this bottle into my purchase free of charge since it was my first time shopping at that liquor store. Poured into a shaker pint, on to the beer:

Pale blonde color, the head is rocky, and it leaves whipped lace around the glass. The nose brings lemon and bitter grapefruit to the picture, and the infamous diacteyl (buttered popcorn) common in this color shade of IPA. The diacteyl goes along well with the citrus during the taste, but then a sharp bitterness and mildly hot fusel alcohol cuts into the quality of the taste.

It's not a bad effort, just a little off-par compared to the IPA's which are more widely available in my area.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2008 02:02:14 | More by DoubleJ

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.45/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Spacious effervesce rises lazily within a bright pumpkin orange glow. The head is dull white and foamy with its fair share of pockets and divets on the surface. Retention was fair while the lacing was weak on the hold similar to their burning river pale providing disappointing coverage.

S: Sweet caramel grains and oranges arrive upfront. Piney hops come through at first with some flowery citrus moving in late of light helping. I fond this to be on par with their burning river pale in terms of strength even though this is labeled as ipa which didn't help matters coming off underpowered by style.

T: Dry flowery citrus highlights the open. The malting felt weak at first but is much more greatly appreciated on the hold and mouthful. Toasted malts and alcohol feel provides a glowing warmth along with a flowery citrus moderate in strength. The finish finds a good display of the warm toasted nature coming through with a good deal of bitterness which was unfortunately short lived on the fade and swallow.

M: Fairly full bodied, appearing much more so then I obtained in the flavor. Luscious and creamy on the hold with a light tingle of carbonation adding some life. Warm pine oils and citrus juices line the tongue on longer holds.

D: Decent drinkability factor, some dry warming pine and citrus notes come in late to save this of its dignity. Moderate enjoyment, nothing that I would seek out or probably drink in multiples.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2010 22:28:19 | More by beerthulhu

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

bax72 hooked me up with this bottle as part of BC2. Thanks!
Clear and dark gold, the beer was capped by a fluffy white head that settled quickly to a thin cap, leaving behind some delicate, transient lace. Floral aroma with mild citrus and fruit notes. Just a hint of toasty, sweet malts as well. Strong bitterness up front became pine resin towards the finish. Solid caramel maltiness with some sweetness that lessens at the end. Hope were sometimes grassy, mostly pine and floral. Bitterness really lingered. Alcohol flavour was faint and gave it a bit of spiciness. Warmth was pleasant. Medium bodied with fine carbonation and chewy malt. Pretty good stuff. The use of hops was a little different than a lot of other IPAs and the balance was quite good for the bitterness level.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2007 02:33:05 | More by DrJay

plaid75

New York

3.88/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a medium copper hue with a half finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and lacing.

The smell featured a solid upfront caramel malt with a smattering of spicy citrus hop aroma as well.

The taste consisted of a strong caramel sweet malt with a secondary spicy hop flavor.

The mouthfeel was clean with a dry finish.

Overall an easy drinking APA. A bit maltier than I expected, but enjoyable nonetheless. Thanks to robertdoesbeer for this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2006 02:17:47 | More by plaid75

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This poured with a fluffy, off-white/light-tan head with decent retention. The nose was slightly hoppy, but overlain with an alcohol sharpness. The color was a bright deep-yellow. The mouthfeel was medium with a light hoppiness on the palate. The finish was distinctly hoppy, somewhat citrusy, like grapefruit. It masked its 7.5% ABV well.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2007 09:26:50 | More by woodychandler

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle saved for an enchanting Sunday in September, opening day for the NFL. A wonderful day of (if I may compliment myself) great home cooking and (thanks to the Commodore Perry) great beer to match!

A lovely thick trim of pearl white head. It coats the sides of the glass just as thick as densely as it sits over the beer. A beautiful apricot/pear coloured body with perfect clarity. The colour is that of changing, yellow/golden autumn leaves. A small minority of bubbles set out from the bottom and lazily drift (eventually) to the top. A modest but very attractive marmalade coloured appearance.

A deliciously fruity aroma. Pear, pineapple, grapefruit, tangerine. C-hops dominate. Lightly intoxicating, the alcohol (while considerably modest and undetected) opens the sinuses and calms the senses. Toasty, the hops are deeply integrated with the malts, it smells like a fresh boil.

The mouthfeel is full of both malt and hops. Seamlessly balanced. The hops impart a light bitterness, crisp and assertive on the palate. It also contains a dense, bready malt presence. The alcohol is absent. A strong mineral presence to the water. It can be both quenching and tasty.

The flavour has a faint suggestion of citrus, but is largely malty. It fails to linger much and really doesn't develop much through the tasting. Don't be mistaken - it is nice, it just simply doesn't carry itself like a DIPA. And rightfully so - it isn't one...

At seven some odd percent, this is an incredibly quaffable IPA. It is quenching and full of a modest - but assertive - character. Great Lakes Brewing offer products of great quality - this is no exception. A great, textbook offering of the IPA style, I enjoyed this on its own as a nice after dinner tipple!

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2007 22:53:55 | More by biegaman

Brad007

Vermont

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a nice pale gold color with a thick, frothy head that fades down to leave a one-finger head in my fluted glass.

Aroma is full of floral, grassy hops with a touch of biscuit malt as well. Hop aroma is kinda stronger as well here.

Taste is full of grassy hops that leave a decent amount of bitterness in the mouth, followed by biscuit malt underneath Definitely expected of the style.

Mouthfeel is full of lingering grassy hop bitterness and biscuit malt. Decent but carbonation seems somewhat high.

Despite the carbonation, this is a pretty solid example of the style. Not gonna knock your socks off but it's solid where it should be. Check it out.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2009 02:07:33 | More by Brad007

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

7.5%.

A: Gold with a fluffy, white head; not much retention, but it initially leaves some lace.

S: Pine, grass & a little citrus from the hops; slight toffee & bready.

T: Assertive bitterness throughout; very piney hop flavour with a slight grapefruit citrus; toffee, bready malt; some cotton-candy fruity esters & tropical fruityness. Alcohol is remarkably well-hidden.

M: Body is a little heavier than moderate, but well-attenuated, with a dry finsih. Modest carbonation, slight acidity.

D: Practically a double IPA, and some my find the bitterness a little harsh.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2007 23:32:08 | More by Derek

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.33/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A very nice, well balanced beer. Pours golden with a fine white head. Smells sweet and malty but married beautifully with citrusy hops. The taste is similar, but much more hop forward. Lovely notes of sticky pine, and a very nice finish. I love how everything comes together with this beer, the sum seems more than its parts. Just a great beer for sipping on the back porch on a warm spring day.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 19:13:36 | More by Georgiabeer