Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster - Great Lakes Brewing Company

Buebie

Minnesota

3.65/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A special person grabbed me this nice little 4 pack.

Poured from the bottle into a pub glass. 2 inches of white froth, pale golden color, transparent and filtered.
Thin streaks of lace, small cap of retention.
Aroma is cotton candy sweet malt, fruity not so bitter grapefruit, little bit of pine and orange peel.
Aroma is slightly muted, not so forward.

Taste is bursting at the seems, an extremely flavorful beer!
Large doses of malt, little bit from the grains, plenty of un-fermented sweetness, but hops bitters to balance.
Bittering up with grapefruit, resin, pineapple and orange peel.
Slick feel with a smooth creamyness and moderate carbonation.
Its slighty warm, but mostly masked by hops and sweetness.

Good beer, aroma is undercover, but flavors are large.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2011 17:38:04 | More by Buebie

ddedhed

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%

05-22-2013 00:24:19 | More by ddedhed

indybearsfan

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

05-21-2013 23:37:17 | More by indybearsfan

Lynn

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%

05-21-2013 21:24:59 | More by Lynn

Pellinore1

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -7.4%

05-21-2013 14:05:31 | More by Pellinore1

nstorts

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%

05-21-2013 02:09:40 | More by nstorts

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

4.18/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A- Pours a medium orange-gold hue that is moderately clear. Only a slight haze disrupts the view through the body of the beer. Small, bubbly head is around a little bit, then is reduced to just a whisper of lace on the top. Lacing isn't that great, but it does have some alcohol legs.

S- Fairly strong hand of hops here, but not as strong as expected. Hops are extremely piney with a strong resin scent. Smell eludes to a hint of balancing malt sweetness on the back end.

T- Hops that were somewhat lacking in the scent come rushing back in an attack on the palate. The hops flavors are still very heavy in the pine and resin department. Hops are dominant and aggressive, but not overwhelmingly so. Towards the end, a hint of light malt flavors mix in before a final, bitter hop bite finishes the drink cleanly.

M- High in carbonation, to the point that it is almost "stinging." Medium body is slightly heavier due to the strong hop profile, but not so much to make it a sipper. Alcohol is not noticeable in the taste, but could easily catch up with you after drinking one quick or having two.

Overall, a solid IIPA. This and Burning River remind me a lot of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Torpedo in tandem. Only difference is that this is a little more sharp with the hops than Torpedo. In the end, a very good IIPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 01:49:24 | More by boilermakerbrew

NuclearSoAndSo

Ohio

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into a beer mug.

Appearance: Pours a beautiful golden color with a one finger bright white head.

Smell: Initially smells like grapefruit/hops. A tart and tangy sort of smell; smells bright and fresh.

Taste: Hoppy upfront making way to a crisp citrus; lime maybe. Gets bitter again before finishing a little sweet with a tinge of alcohol. Nice faint notes of something like lemonade or orange juice throughout.

Mouthfeel: Fairly carbonated, slick, very refreshing.

Overall: Excellent beer. I don't usually go for the IPAs, but this one is quite good. I would absolutely buy a four-pack again and would be interested in trying it from the tap.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 01:06:23 | More by NuclearSoAndSo

Kerrie

Michigan

4/5  rDev -1.2%

05-20-2013 01:48:35 | More by Kerrie

Zonian1

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -13.6%

05-20-2013 01:39:33 | More by Zonian1

cbaker1985

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +17.3%

05-19-2013 22:12:07 | More by cbaker1985

Axnjxn

North Carolina

4.44/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into a tulip glass. Best by 08/07/13

Pours a beautiful golden color with a moderate white head that just touches the top of the glass. Perfect pour and look. Smell is a mixture of hops and sweet citrus, moderate aroma. Taste is...wow. not what i was expecting. no hop bomb here, we have an amazing mix of hops and malts with a tad of sweet citrus on the front and almost no bitterness at all on the back. exceptional taste. Definitely prefer this one much more than alchemy hour. Medium bodied with medium carbonation and with no alcohol taste whatsoever makes this one quite easy to drink.

Overall I'd put this in world class level. It's extraordinary. My favorite offering from Great Lakes yet, and that brewery just continues to impress me.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 20:42:58 | More by Axnjxn

MarshallBirdhouse

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -7.4%

05-19-2013 19:38:45 | More by MarshallBirdhouse

bcm75

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%

05-19-2013 18:51:38 | More by bcm75

klingenator

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

05-19-2013 04:21:45 | More by klingenator

alex021224

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

05-19-2013 01:58:20 | More by alex021224

elroacho

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -1.2%

05-19-2013 01:08:23 | More by elroacho

Photekut

Azerbaijan

3.75/5  rDev -7.4%

05-19-2013 00:44:58 | More by Photekut

hemorhoidzz

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

05-18-2013 20:10:40 | More by hemorhoidzz

mattsucks

Ohio

4/5  rDev -1.2%

05-18-2013 14:10:56 | More by mattsucks

Jade

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -13.6%

05-18-2013 13:32:32 | More by Jade

RedneckBeerz

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -1.2%

05-18-2013 11:13:25 | More by RedneckBeerz

jman005

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%

05-18-2013 04:14:01 | More by jman005

MLKincer

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%

05-18-2013 00:31:12 | More by MLKincer

fitrock2112

Ohio

4.48/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured the Monster into a Belgian Tulip.

A - The clear dark golden ale produces two fingers of white head.

S - As soon as i poured the beer in the glass I could smell the sweet hops come through. Upon further investigation some grapefruit, pine and malts are noticed. Very nice aroma on this one.

T - Wow, this beast is truly smooth and flavorful. Everything is well balanced too. The grapefruit sweetness, hop bitterness, and finally the malt. Didn't expect this one to be this good.

M - Nice, crisp and refreshing. Smooth mouthfeel, medium carbonation.

O - Starting to believe Great Lakes has it down. Pleasantly surprised! Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 00:09:14 | More by fitrock2112