Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster - Great Lakes Brewing Company

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

01-13-2013 03:02:14 | More by russpowell

callmeishmALE

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

05-25-2013 11:08:27 | More by callmeishmALE

bvskoog

Alabama

4.75/5  rDev +17.3%

05-25-2013 05:27:55 | More by bvskoog

MNishCT77

District of Columbia

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

12 oz. bottle purchased in the greater Washington D.C. area, 2013 vintage but unclear bottling date (best by 8/11/13 stamped on the side), poured into a DFH quasi-IPA glass, drank over ~30 minutes.

A: 4.75 - straw golden-yellow coloration, impressive clarity (can both see or read through), minimal white head dissipates into subtle glass lacing with no detectable hop haze/residuals, medium alcohol legs; very similar appearing beer to Founders' Double Trouble

S: 4 - and her it diverts from Double Trouble...picking up lots of malt characters in the aroma --> biscuit, caramel, toffee with very little hop aroma; some alcohol aromas in the background become more prominent as the beer warms

T: 4.25 - on the front of the tongue, there is a bitter presence but not overwhelming so and this is the majority of what I get from the hops); after that, the malt qualities predominate on the back of the tongue - again, caramel, toffee, sweet fruit (like a tangerine with sugar on it); some lingering alcohol notes and malts coat the tongue

M: 4.5 - full-bodied, 9.1% is present but not overwhelming so; moderate-to-large carbonation and alcohol legs

O: 4.25 - I have never had this beer before as Great Lakes does not distribute to CT and was looking forward to it; overall, it tastes to me like the quintessential "Third Coast" IPA with malt>hop presence; I have heard and read that this beer has a "huge hop presence," but, compared to some West Coast hop bombs, I find this humorous; the malt presence, however, is distinct and very pleasant; if you're looking for a change from aggressively hopped and/or less bitter/more tropical tasting DIPAs, I would give this one a shot; however, I prefer the former so much that I'll unlikely be coming back to this one this year after this four-pack

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 05:26:21 | More by MNishCT77

RayUF07

Florida

4/5  rDev -1.2%

05-25-2013 05:25:15 | More by RayUF07

WKole81

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1.2%

05-25-2013 04:40:01 | More by WKole81

tdmccarthy

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

05-25-2013 02:38:01 | More by tdmccarthy

ChrisKayler

Virginia

4.39/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

What a cool bottle! Perhaps some of my favorite artwork seen lately.

Glass: Port City "Belgian Style" Globe / Snifter.

Appearance: A mild but straight-down pour produced about a half a finger of off-white head that lingered for a minute or two until settling down a somewhat thick ring of foam around the edge of the glass. The color is a beautiful golden-orange, and it is completely clear.

Smell: Hmm, my first thought is that I'm excited to taste this one! A very delicious sweet mango scent is at the front, with perhaps a bit of citrus, and a definite pine backbone.

Taste: So subtle and sweet, this is a hop bomb that has been tamed to a level that is less bitter than some. Easily drinkable, there is a definite pine as well as some sweet citrus notes. Malt comes through in the mid-palette.

Mouthfeel: About perfect for me, personally. A medium to light body with medium carbonation. This beer is refreshing and drinkable at the same time. The finish is slightly dry with a tiny bit of that characteristic hop oil presence.

Overall: A solid DIPA that I would seek out and drink more of. Well done, Great Lakes!

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 02:24:31 | More by ChrisKayler

Jaycase

Illinois

3.86/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Enjoy by 08/09/13

a: transparent orange-copper. scattered bubbles floating to the top. Thick white head.

s: sweet citrusy ( mostly grapefruit) hops. caramel malts

t: burst of grapefruit hops (with an even quicker burst of bitterness) which then transforms into malt sweetness which lasts through to the end.

m: moderate carbonation & mouthfeel. quite sticky & syrupy. Finishes a tad dry.

o: Decent GLBC offering but I much prefer the artist formerly known as Alchemy Hour. This one is a bit too sweet & syrupy. Love the label art though.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 02:16:37 | More by Jaycase

Dave1999

Virginia

4.19/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a transparent amber with a small white head.

The smell is citrus hops and sweet and malty.

Taste is sweet and malty upfront with the fruity hops coming in and the end. There is a hoppy bitterness at the end which really hangs around. There is also a smooth buttery, creaminess and biscuit flavour.

The mouthfeel is slick, sticky and syrupy. The carbonation is medium bodied.

Overall a very sweet and not overly bitter, reminds me of 90 minute. Hides its abv very well. I really like this but it is too sweet to have a lot.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 01:24:07 | More by Dave1999

dalepryor

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -1.2%

05-24-2013 21:16:05 | More by dalepryor

tommyguz

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -13.6%

05-24-2013 15:14:49 | More by tommyguz

sir_rucker

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

05-24-2013 12:28:18 | More by sir_rucker

superspak

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, best before 7/26/2013. Pours lightly hazy golden amber color with a 1-2 finger dense white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of big mango, pineapple, grapefruit, orange zest, lemon zest, pine, floral, grass, honey, and floral earthiness. Fantastic aromas with great hop complexity and moderate malt balance. Taste of big mango, pineapple, pine, grapefruit, lemon zest, orange zest, floral, grass, honey, bread, and floral earthiness. Moderate pine bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of tropical fruit, citrus, pine resin, floral, grass, honey, bread, and hop earthiness on the finish for a while. Damn nice complexity and balance of hop flavors; with a moderate malt balance that doesn’t overshadow the hops, and zero cloying flavors lingering after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a moderately creamy and sticky mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a small warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent DIPA! Big hop flavor complexity with moderate malt balance; and dangerously smooth to sip on. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 03:56:22 | More by superspak

megamass

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -7.4%

05-24-2013 01:42:23 | More by megamass

dbert21

Ohio

4/5  rDev -1.2%

05-24-2013 01:36:18 | More by dbert21

anticipation23

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -1.2%

05-24-2013 01:10:31 | More by anticipation23

BuckeyeSlim

Ohio

4.29/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz. bottle poured into a NB snifter.

A - Beer pours a pale golden color. A one-finger head of eggshell-white rather loose foam sets up and then quickly falls down to a 1/4 finger head that lasts for several minutes. When this finally disappears, a thin sheen of lace rests on the surface with a very fine ring around the edge of the glass. Held to a full-spectrum light, the beer is a rich golden wheat, moderately opaque with a bit of cloudiness, with just enough sight to be able to see a few tiny streams of bubbles very slowly rising up from the bottom through the center of the glass.

S - Citrus and resin hops mix with caramel malts with a subtle background of somewhat astringent alcohol. Ruby red grapefruit sitting right beside freshly made buttered French toast. Orange marmalade on a lightly toasted English muffin. As it warms, the caramels of the malts push even more forward into the nose, along with some subtle, lighter floral hops. The hops and the malts become very well integrated, trading off in the nose rather than one dominating. At the end of the glass, notes of lemon and vanilla were noticed. If you like to experience a number of different nose profiles, be sure to give a glass of this plenty of time to warm up.

T - Grapefruit and orange, just like it smells. Solid, full base malts support rich caramel malts that bathe the tongue with bits of English butter cookies. A little boozy on the back-end, but overall, the ABV is hidden. Piney, almost woody hops through the finish that really wash away any cloying from the richness of the malts. It's a really interesting, positive effect.

M - Decently fizzy. Moderate carbonation. Moderate body with a nicely integrated structure made of solid components. Clean finish that's well-balanced; neither noticeably sweet nor dry. It tails off slowly, leaving echos of both the malts and the hops to savor and encourage further tasting - a really nice effect.

O - This beer is a good example of why to do tasting notes. As a result of this, I'm going to pair this with a breakfast of a citrus bowl, French toast, and grilled light sausages - for dinner. In general, I don't enjoy standard IPAs because I find them unbalanced. This beer, and other Imperial IPAs I've tried, however, seem to be brewed with a much richer malt bill (and higher OG) that stands up to the IBUs, so not only is the sum of the parts bigger and fuller, it's also much better balanced. Another great creation from one of best breweries in the region.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 23:44:06 | More by BuckeyeSlim

ThirstyHrothgar

Ohio

4/5  rDev -1.2%

05-23-2013 23:08:04 | More by ThirstyHrothgar

msinger1002

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +17.3%

05-23-2013 21:04:44 | More by msinger1002

Derka29

Ohio

4/5  rDev -1.2%

05-23-2013 20:43:00 | More by Derka29

pk18

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -1.2%

05-23-2013 17:38:01 | More by pk18

Eriktheipaman

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +17.3%

05-23-2013 13:47:02 | More by Eriktheipaman

PJHOY

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +17.3%

05-23-2013 02:43:05 | More by PJHOY

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

05-23-2013 02:04:10 | More by mikeincharleston