Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale - Great Lakes Brewing Company

KYBrewgrass

Kentucky

4.05/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- 4 Clear golden color. Fluffy white head that dissipates. Sticky, clingy lacing.

S- 3.5 Citrus and hops, but not too powerful. Just not getting enough of it.

T- 4 What was lacking in aroma is made up for in taste! Great blend of citrus and hops balanced by a hint of sweet malt.

M- 4.5 Near perfect carbonation, very smooth. Just under medium body.

D- 4.5 I could enjoy plenty of these. Very well balanced taste and smooth. It isn't heavy. Great session brew.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2011 12:43:35 | More by KYBrewgrass

Kelly88

Kentucky

3.93/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at the Cock and Bull. Served in an imperial pint.

A- a dark amber color. A really dominant beige head that is here to stay. Very clear, almost completely translucent. Pretty dark for a pale ale but a great looking beer.

S- lots of toasty bread. Caramel toffee with hops at the end. Not very pungent but a good aroma.

T- this reminds me of a mash up of an amber and a pale ale. Toasty malts are mingling nicely with medium hop bite. Toffee is there in good amounts. Very subdued flavors, but they are tasty.

M- light medium feel. Good carbonation. A little watery and unfufilling on the finish. About right for a pale.

Overall a solid choice if you see it. Good subtle flavors that are interesting sip after sip. You could drink a few and the beer would still seem fresh and new. I wish the flavors were stronger but it is Just a pale ale so I understand.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2011 21:59:58 | More by Kelly88

BeerLover99

New Jersey

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

A: golden deep yellow/orange, 2 finger pillow on top, solid lacing

S: more malt and grain sniff than the usual clean pine/citrus hops.

T: malt, citrus, pine hops, firm long bitter finish.

M: Medium/thick, shocking for an APA.

D: Nice Great Lakes offering, almost feels like an bigger beer. You can't go wrong with this brew. I could drink more than a few of these bad boys.

Very good brew, worth enjoying.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2011 18:41:40 | More by BeerLover99

Murrdogg

Ohio

2.7/5  rDev -32.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this on tap at the GLBC brewery itself

A: medium-dark golden, small head

S: Strong hop smell. slight pine-y/wood in the back

T: Bitter, hoppy taste. This was not for me. The hops were deep, some citrus-y, some sweet, but was a bit overpowering for my taste. Finished even more bitter than it began

M: Somehow light, which was surprising with the robust hop presence. but much too hoppy for me

D: I was able to finish it, but the residual hop presence in the mouth along with the bitter aftertaste would keep me from ordering another one. This would probably be good with some strong dishes, heat or spice. I laughed, as it almost tasted like a decadent burning river..

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2011 18:06:10 | More by Murrdogg

bilyboy65

Colorado

3.95/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is my second beer on tap from obryckis in the cleveland, oh airport. And this one is also lacking carbonation. The beer is very good however. Hippy floral and woody notes that blend well together. Gives the beer a very nice bitterness that doesn't really overpower the taste buds. That makes this a very enjoyable pale ale. Simple its good.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2011 00:59:06 | More by bilyboy65

jsanford

Georgia

3.55/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Pizzeria Paradisio in Georgetown, D.C.

A - Pours a clear orange-amber with a medium thick, creamy white head.
S - Subdued aromas of orange and grapefruit, pineapple and caramel malt.
T - Tastes predominately of caramel malt and pineapple, with more grapefruit and orange. Not overly complex, but good nonetheless.
M - Slightly sticky, with a medium body and good carbonation.
D - Drank my glass with no problem. A nice APA, but I've certainly had better.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2011 23:48:16 | More by jsanford

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.2/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served from tap into a sampler tumbler. Poured golden yellow with a half finger white head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet/skunky malt and wheat. The flavor was of skunky malt, wheat, and sweet malt. It had a light feel on the palate with mild carbonation. Overall this wasn't a bad brew, but it also wasn't that great either. The skunky aspect on this one hurt this brew overall. I would have loved for it to have a little hop character to help overcome some of the skunkiness going on here. Get rid of the skunk aspect and I would be willing to try again. Until then, not so much...

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2011 13:15:28 | More by thagr81us

Kendo

New York

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Got it on tap at the Blue Tusk in Syracuse, NY.

A: Clear honey-amber body with 1+ finger of an off-white, foamy head. Good thick foamy lace sticks to the side of the glass most of the way down.

S: Not terribly strong in the nose, but what's there is pleasant: mild caramel malt with a touch of citrusy and floral hops.

T: First impression: "hop-forward." Solid malt base that I couldn't put my finger on - caramel or maybe crystal, perhaps? Somewhat biscuity malt foundation underneath, then citric (think grapefruit) hops kick in. Finishes lemony and dry, with a clean, dry lingering bitterness on the palate.

M: Medium in heft with a moderate level of fine-bubbled carbonation.

D: This one went down very easily. Once again, I'm impressed with Great Lakes. They just seem to make very nicely flavored, easy-drinking beers. Put this one up there with SNPA and Anchor's Liberty Ale as showcases of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2010 15:52:29 | More by Kendo

callmeclemens

New Jersey

4.65/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on Tap at Twelve Steps Down in philly.

Pours a nive Golden color, smells of bready citrusy malts, hops, and a another strong hit of hops.

Tastes is imeadiatley thick of hop with a touch of bready malt and a nice citrus finish. Laced ncley down the glass as I went along

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2010 18:40:39 | More by callmeclemens

lstokes

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is not your average pale ale. It's orange with decent lacing, but the nose has a surprising smoky/earthy note along with the apricot hops, and the taste picks up on that--oaky toasted malt, bright apricot and peach taste, a hoppy but sweet end, a very creamy mouthfeel all add up to one drinkable beer. I loved it.

Serving type: on-tap

10-28-2010 04:23:52 | More by lstokes

sonata2008

Minnesota

3.8/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I had this on tap at a local bar. The color was a clear amber with very little foam. There was a mild hops aroma, with no malt in the smell. The taste was of rich malt, but not too sweet, and a bitter finish, mildly spicy and floral. There was nothing special in terms of mouth feel. A typical pale ale, very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2010 00:40:08 | More by sonata2008

nickfl

Florida

3.9/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured with a small, white head on top of a clear, copper colored body. The head settles at a moderate pace and leaves light lace.

S - Light, fruity hops with moderately toasted malt and a bit of caramel.

T - Some toasted malt up front with stiff bitterness and some fruity hop character. Notes of grapefruit and orange as well as light, dry caramel. Finishes with richer flavors of caramel and a light roasted character. Lingering toasted malt and hop bitterness.

M - Medium body, moderately high carbonation, and a dry finish.

D - This is a drinkable, but pretty standard IPA. It has a nice hop flavor, though the aroma is a bit weak. It is a very drinkable and that is probably the most important factor for a beer like this.

Serving type: on-tap

07-22-2010 05:56:13 | More by nickfl

nc41

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I'm usually an avid IPA guy, but this one impressed me. This brew is far better than Great Lakes IPA. Pours nice, hoppy nose great head and all that good stuff. A fantastic hoppy brew without the slamming bitterness, Flowery, aromatic without being sweet, not one bit of sweet. This is one really great brew, right there with the best PA's on the market, and nicely drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2010 01:43:49 | More by nc41

tjd112

New Jersey

3.38/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Had this beer at some beer bar in downtown Columbus, Ohio. This beer is amber coloured and it is hoppy as hell, with some biscuity malts balancing it out. In fact, I think it may borderline on IPA. Mouthfeel is medium bodied. I couldn't drink a whole sixpack, but I'd like this when I'm in the mood for an IPA/APA hybrid.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2010 21:08:15 | More by tjd112

drabmuh

Maryland

3.8/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A beer named after an ecological disaster. I suppose that is one way to own your identity. Still a burning river is probably most people in MI would like to forget.

Beer served on draft at a local beer bar. Beer is clear with only a slight haze. Carbonation is low and lacing is high. Head is thin and broken, made up of a single layer of tiny white bubbles.

Tiny aroma of malt and citrus hops, smells fine.

Mild hop flavor and a slight bitterness at the back. High malt character and a slight aftertaste, nothing too bad. This is an OK APA, not great just OK.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2010 19:06:08 | More by drabmuh

alleykatking

Indiana

3.13/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had on tap the other night. Review from phone notes.

A- Poured a nice clear deep copper/amber color. Nice one finger white head comes and falls down to just wisps in my glass. Some spotting lacing is on the sides of the glass the entire beer.

S- Pale malts bring out most of the aroma right off the bat. There is also a light bitter and citrus hops in the back end of the nose. Light hints of sweet caramel come and go with this beer.

T- Taste is a little off for me with the APA. The citrus and pale malts crash together right on the front end of this beer. It is balanced for the most part. Sweet caramel malts come in the middle leaving a nice pine like bitter hop bite in the ending. Also light alcohol is in the tail end of this beer.

M- Medium mouthfeel. Carbonation is good for the style. Bitter hops and light malts stay on the palate long after the sip has been made. Alcohol and bitter hops stay in the aftertaste for a while as well. Kind of drying in the mouth.

D- This is a drinkable APA for sure. My only problem is I don't think it is as good as everyone makes it out to be. There are many other APA's that I would rather drink. I would recommend this though to someone who wants to try to step into the world of hops.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2009 03:08:10 | More by alleykatking

Kadonny

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a tap into a nonic pint glass at TJs.

A: A clear medium orange color with a one finger white head. Ring lacing lingers.

S: Floral and grassy hops with some bready sweet malt smells.

T: Earthy piney hops with grassy and floral flavors coupled with a nice bready malty sweet flavor. Hops bittnerness overtakes for the finish and leaves a slightly metallic hops finish that lingers. This is not a huge beer, it is very crisp and clean.

M: Medium to light mouthfeel that is crisp and dry. No traces of alcohol.

D: High, a nice drinkable pale ale.

Overall another quality beer from Great Lakes. This pale ale is real hoppy but crisp and drinkable. This is a beer you can sit and drink and really enjoy in an evening. Great stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2009 15:23:57 | More by Kadonny

Gavage

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearane: light orange in color with a 1" head that lasts a while. Some moderate lacing develops.

Smell: caramel sweetness and some citrus tones are mild overall.

Taste: caramel, orange citrus, some lemon zest, and sweet red apple in the background. Bitterness levels are moderate, and there is a bit of graininess to this beer.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Crisp to start, less crisp and a bit dry late.

Drinkability: another great session ale from Great Lakes. This beer is refreshing and well balanced.

Serving type: on-tap

10-16-2009 15:35:58 | More by Gavage

psyphin

Missouri

4.68/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Bright copper orange with a fluffy white head with nice lacing.

S - Toasty malt breadiness and oodles of citric american hops.

T - Chewy malt middle mixes very well with the hop combination in this beer. One of the best balanced examples of a true APA and not an ipa light.

M - Perfect carbonation with a medium body.

D - Superbly sessionable pale ale that I come back to time after time.

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2009 21:17:17 | More by psyphin

bwd110

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

On tap at Champps in Cincy (not sure exactly where, just glad a chain had a decent offering, while on business.)

A: Cool! Great head and lacing. Carbonation appears to be spot on for the style. Medium amber in color. Full lacing throughout.

S: Good hop profile for an APA. Citrus peel dominates, caramel breadiness undertones.

T: Good solid, hoppy pale. My first impression of Great Lakes is a good one. I bash Ohio as a beer abyss, but this beer is a great example of a solid APA. Nice balance of citrus and piney hops, balanced nicely with a sweet and tangy malt base. Good.

M: Perfect carbonation - really nailed. Medium body spot on to style.

D: Could drink 10 of these in a row... Certainly a good APA, just shy of upper echelon brews.

Serving type: on-tap

06-26-2009 01:24:37 | More by bwd110

bamadog

Kentucky

4.05/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Review is from notes - beer drank on 5/27/09. On tap into a pint glass.

Appearance: Came to me a nice penny-copper color with a 1 and 1/2 finger head with a decent amount of rention that eventually fades to a pretty thick skim on top; a thick curtain of lacing is left behind; fairly clear body with moderate carbonation bubbling throughout.

Smell: Very piney in terms of the hops; smells nice and bitter and has a slight, but muted, citrus aspect (more grapefruit than anything else) to it as the pine really dominates the nose.

Taste: Very nice and bitter, as I would expect coming from the smell, with the firm hop presence -- very piney, earthy/grassy (citrus is essentially lost in the mouth); a very faint toasty maltiness is way in teh back, but largely buried by the bitter, but I like the way it balances it out just a little bit.

Mouthfeel: A pretty creamy body for an APA with a nice sticky finish, leaving a thick coating on the tongue and roof of mouth.

Drinability: Pretty high - a nice refreshing beer that was drank outside with some typical bar food fare and it really cut through all of the flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

06-14-2009 22:20:09 | More by bamadog

botham

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

on tap poured into a tumbler at the brewpub in Cleveland. pours a rich golden amber color with a single finger of frothy light tan head that has good retention and leaves moderate lacings.

aroma is of mild coniferous hops and distant caramel malts along with a touch of dark malt thrown in. well put together and pleasant in the nose.

taste follows the aroma with notes of earthy hops and caramel malts. background notes of grass and a touch of chocolate are present as well. very well proportioned in profile.

mouthfeel is medium bodied with a semi dry texture and a finish of sticky piney hops. all very fresh on the palate.

drinkability is great. just what an APA should be: mildly hoppy with a solid caramel malt presence. another solid brew at the Great Lakes Brewpub. cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2009 01:12:55 | More by botham

Infamous7100

Ohio

3.28/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This review comes from someone who is not a huge fan of pale ales, so take that for what's its worth.

A: A light amber color with about a finger and a half head. Lacing was minimal.
S: Some citrus and pine on first whiff. A little alcohol peeks through as well.
T: The citrus and grapefruit are apparent but not overwhelming. Bitterness is a factor, but not the defining factor.
M: Very crisp and clean, lager like. Bitterness fades rather quickly. Moderately carbonated.
D: For a pale ale, I would say this is highly partakable. Enjoy this as an introduction to the style and beyond.

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2009 01:32:31 | More by Infamous7100

drgonzo3705

Ohio

4.3/5  rDev +7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Golden amber color with a nice fluffy white head with nice lacing left in its absence.

S: Slightly citrusy and a bit biscuity. Very easy on the nose.

T: Light citrus notes up front with the biscuit flavor hanging on the back end.

M: Medium bodied, good carbonation, and a nice hop presence.

D: This is my go to beer. As many people sit with a 6 of some BMC, I will sit with a 6 of Burning River. Easy drinking and a pleasant taste. Also a good buy! Just because this beer isn't hyped, don't turn down a chance to try this. Solid brew right here guys!

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2009 05:24:15 | More by drgonzo3705

TheNightbird

Ohio

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

A- A nice clear copper color.

S- Smells just like Cascade hops. Very piny and citrusy. With a slight hint of carmel malt.

T- Very sharp taste of citrus and pine. With a lingering note of grapefruit. Very hoppy for a pale almost drinks like a IPA. Right before the after taste there is a taste of alcohol

M- Medium body and moderate carbonation.

D- Very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2009 01:35:59 | More by TheNightbird