Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale - Great Lakes Brewing Company

devilben02

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy golden orange color, with a thin but sticky cream-colored head. The aroma is certainly hop-forward, with notes of grassy hops and sweet citrus. The flavor is not bright and fresh, but it isn't tame either, with a dull orange rind and herbal bitterness being contrasted against a bready malt sweetness. The fine carbonation works well with the solidly resinous (but not overdone) body. Overall, this beer has substantial body and flavor, but it is also nicely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 18:49:34 | More by devilben02

wedge

North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Clear gold under a solid off-white head of soapy looking cream. Aroma is a blend of citrusy and floral Cascades and more earthy, leafy hops along with some toasty malts. Straightforward, tasty, zesty citrus hop flavor over some cracker malts and a bit of caramel. The finish is lightly sweet and bitter. Medium bodied and crisp - goes down very easily. A nice, well-made, refreshing pale ale that (as always) is best when you can find a fresh bottle.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 00:45:47 | More by wedge

williamjbauer

West Virginia

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

Bottled served in a nonical glass

A - Most clear straw amber with 2 finger fluffy white head with great retention and good lacing.

S - Grapefruit, citrus hops, floral, grassy, malt, biscuit

T - Follows the nose with a slight favor towards hops over the malt which is still very present. A nice citrus bang with a bit of an herbal hop, and oak bitter finish.

M - Medium body, moderate carbonation, crisp and smooth.

O - This is going to be a clutch pale ale for me in WV were we don't distribution from many great breweries. Reminds me a lot of Dale's Pale ale with less alcohol warming. Great spring and summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 17:36:34 | More by williamjbauer

cagocubs

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into pint glass.

A: Pours a unique honeycomb amber with thin bubbly white head that retains for a good amount of time. It won't lace but it will ride the glass. When head finally dissipates it does lace and splotch.

S: Hops, sweet caramel malt notes, earthy spice, and citrus.

T: Hops, spice, sweet caramel malt, and citrus. The taste is well balanced and gives a crisp and formidable aftertaste.

M: Good coating and perfect carbonation level. Very drinkable and light bodied.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 23:27:29 | More by cagocubs

zac16125

South Carolina

4.23/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass
Best before 5/14/12

Thanks to CaptCleveland for the extra.

A: Pours out a golden amber with great clarity and 2.5 fingers width of light off white colored head, which hangs around for a long time before it dissipates down to a thick film that hangs around for the remainder of the drink. Leaves a fair amount of patchy lacing.  

S: Good balance of citrus and malts on the nose.  Fresh lemon and lime, grapefruit, caramels malts, and a touch of spicy hops.  There is also a rather unique sour/tart aroma that I have never picked up in an APA before.

T: Taste is initially pretty malt forward with lots of caramel malt.  As it warms it becomes more balanced with some earthy/grassy hops, grapefruit, and a bit of spice on the backend along with some piney hops (the tart character on the nose never came out in the taste, so not sure what that was about). Well balanced and tasty. Great example of how the style should taste.  

M/D: Medium bodied, an appropriate moderate level of carbonation, great drinkability.  

O: Overall, nothing crazy here but a very good example of the style.  My personal preference is APAs that are hop heavy, but no complaints here.  This is a well balanced and tasty sessionable pale ale that I could easily see becoming a go to for me  if it were readily available where I live.  Definitely worth a try.  

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 01:09:17 | More by zac16125

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-golden amber color with a nice white head and good lacing

S-malty nose with some floral and citrus notes

T-nice malt flavors with citrus and floral and nice hop presence

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, nice crisp feel

O-a nice solid pale ale, refreshing and easy drinking

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 21:27:46 | More by MDDMD

BeerDawgs

Georgia

4.23/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - A clear amber copper color, with 1/2 a finger of head and some sticky lace left on the glass

S - Amarillo hops are very dominant, as is a light floral aroma.

T - A very nice and hoppy pale ale. Lots of citrus and a touch of bitterness at the end

M - Medium bodied

O - A very well balanced pale ale. A very nice mix of hops citrusness and malt backbone. I dig it! Reminds me of the 420 I drink here in Atlanta, maybe only better

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 23:39:44 | More by BeerDawgs

dmfrench

Indiana

4.05/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Unique if not spectacular floral, grassy, oily hop cornucopia
___

A: Clear, dulled gold body with a not terribly persistent two finger off white head.

S: Citrus and earthy hops with dry, biscuity malt. Strong off the pour, but fades quickly.

T: Hops are much more floral and grassy on the palate. Really not getting much citrus at all. Oily and resinous hops are also present, and still just a bit of earthy hops. Though hops dominate, a solid dry biscuit malt foundation is down there, holding it all up.

M: A bit grainy and oily, but with a very firm malt body.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 02:09:01 | More by dmfrench

Beer_Runner

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

Carefully poured into a standard pint glass.
Enjoy by date of May 29, 2012.

A: Golden with a twinge of orange. About one finger of head that dissipated quickly.

S: The aroma was very mild, maybe some citrus.

M: Light and smooth with medium carbonation. It seems to fit this beer well.

T: A good type of bitternes balanced by a slight caramel malt. Nothing over the top. Nicely balance. A tasty bitter aftertaste.

O: A very good example of a pale ale. Pleasantly smooth. But, nothing adventurous here, just a good quality pale ale that is very balanced. It is a good baseline for a pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 00:00:56 | More by Beer_Runner

jimmah120

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle with no date into pilsner glass

Pours a clear gold-orange with fluffy 2-finger head and good lacing. Smell is crisp bread, malts, yeast, and a healthy dose of piney, earthy hops. Taste is bitter orange pineapple hops, sweet butter bread malts, with a swampy pine aftertaste. Nice, creamy feel. Maybe a tad cloying.

Excellent APA more reminiscent of an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 03:18:16 | More by jimmah120

superspak

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, best by 5/20/2012. Pours slightly hazy golden amber color with a fairly dense 1 finger off white head with good retention that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Some spotty lacing on the glass. Aromas of grapefruit, orange, caramel, apricot, pine, herbal, biscuit, honey, floral, and grass. Very nice and well balanced aromas with good strength. Taste of grapefruit, biscuit, pine, floral, honey, orange, caramel, and herbal spiciness. Good amount of spicy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of grapefruit, orange, pine, biscuit, and herbal spiciness on the finish for a good bit. Great malt flavor balance with bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a fairly creamy and smooth mouthfeel. Alcohol is well hidden with only a slight warming after the finish. Overall this is a very excellent and balanced pale ale that is highly enjoyable and flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 05:43:15 | More by superspak

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a Dogfish snifter

A- pours a perfectly clear shade of orange with a paper thin white head that quickly fades. Beer looks great, head does not

S- slightly floral, grassy aroma. Smells nice

T- very mild flavors, as you'd expect from a pale ale...finish is slightly bitter and piney, the beginning is sweet. Pretty nice

M- the body is actually medium, which isn't really what I expected at all from this...was thinking it would be thinner. I don't mind it at all, though

O- much more toned down than some other pale ales you'll see around, but this isn't bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 17:09:55 | More by bigfnjoe

rarbring

Sweden

3.55/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A clear amber ale, a small off-white head, little lacing but some curtains.

Smelling of honey, bread and apricots.

Tase of brown bread, orange blossom honey and some citric peel.

Medium low carbonation, somewhat coarse, a dry medium low body.

A well balanced brew, but no thrills.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 18:48:06 | More by rarbring

kevinv

Virginia

3.88/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass. The bottle is clearly marked with an "Enjoy by" date of 5/20/12. This is my first taste of Great Lakes since they started distributing to Northern VA last month.

A - Pours a translucent, light orangish-copper. The two finger off-white head leaves traces of lacing, but not much. Visible active carbonation.

S - The smell is a light pale malt, with grassy/citrusy hop undertones. Very pleasant.

T - A small bitterness bite, but the taste is more malty than hoppy. Notes of toffee and caramel dominate with lighter notes of orange peel following. Very clean tasting. A little bit of alcohol presence as the beer warms.

M - Moderate carbonation and a nice creaminess to the medium body.

O - Very pleasing beer, overall. It's easy drinking and quite flavorful. Being on par with other APA's at $9.99/6 will have me reaching for this one on a regular basis.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 20:38:42 | More by kevinv

MichPaul

Michigan

4.48/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A VERY nice Pale Ale! I usually am not a fan of Pales, but between this and Zombie Dust, I just might become one! Anyway, this Pale is outstanding as far as Pales go. A nice bitter taste and not the full, bready, malt that Pales usually seem to throw at you.
This pours out a tall head, with MUCH lacing. The aroma is also a nice citrus scent that is also inviting.
I am more of an IPA/Stout fan, but if I was to chose only a pale, so far this is one of my faves! (Although, I only think this is my 3rd pale so far...)

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 20:10:00 | More by MichPaul

WMEugene

Virginia

4.4/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours an attractive golden orange color with a good head and nice lacing.

S - A nice blend of floral and citrus hops mix well with a nice, sweet biscuity malt presence.

T - A bit maltier than the nose, sweet biscuit notes mixed with a tinge of hoppyness and bitterness. Crisp and straight-forward. Simple, but very tasty.

M - Medium bodied, crisp, excellent finish. Great mouthfeel.

O - Another winner from Great Lakes. This is an excellent example of a pale ale, it is simple yet refreshing and tasty. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 17:23:51 | More by WMEugene

Luigi

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear copper color with a big off-white two/three finger head. The retention is in check as the head sticks around the glass till the last sip.

The aroma is a nose full of floral and citrus hops evened out with a biscuit malt.

Sharp hop bitterness hits the palate right on. There is no doubt about the cascade hop. Sharp and dry bitterness that lingers. But, there is a good amount of malt in this APA to bring bread flavors to the table.

Light/medium bodied, mildly carbonated, dry crisp finish with hop bitterness lingering.

Overall, this APA is a prime example of a near perfect APA. Beautiful use of the hops and not even an IPA!!! All I can say is "can I have another please" Easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 14:05:09 | More by Luigi

atr2605

New York

4.23/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-pours a orangish amber color with an off white head with good retention that leaves a slight layer of froth on top of the beer
S-sweet malt with a moderate hop aroma of citrus
T-dry biscuit flavor meets with hop bitterness and a bit of pine, and finishes dry with malt in the finish
M-medium bodied
O-very refreshing and not too filling.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 00:56:22 | More by atr2605

tdm168

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a bright orangish-copper with a quarter of an inch of creamy, white head that fades to a thin lacing after a few seconds. The nose light; malty, bready, citrusy with some grapefruit notes. The flavor is lightly malty and toasty up front with smoothly, bitter, piny hop finish. The mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with a crisp, smooth finish.

This is a solid beer. It's balanced, flavorful, and refreshing. It's easy to drink though a little too carbonated for my liking. I would definitely have this again.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 20:41:52 | More by tdm168

Steasy66

Minnesota

2.63/5  rDev -34.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle Poured into a pint glass
A- Golden with off-white head.
S-Ligth malt, grassy hops
T-Very light malt, dank hops, strange finish that is almost smokey and soapy at the same time.
M-High carbonation, light body

Not sure if I got a bad batch or something, but this stuff has a bizarre aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 09:53:04 | More by Steasy66

MuchoCerveza

Ohio

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

Really enjoyed the Burning River APA, but I could have gone for more hops. The smell was nice and not overpowering and really set you up for what you were about to taste. The appearance was nice, looked like an Amber Ale but a little lighter and didn't leave a whole lot of residual head.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2012 17:36:39 | More by MuchoCerveza

raznug

Ohio

4.48/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Burning River pours dark golden to a light copper and is topped with a rather fluffy 1” of white head.
Smell: The aroma coming for the pint smells of citrus, grass, and pine hops, no hint of malt that I can smell.
Taste: The taste is a nice blend of hops and malt. The hops that are present by my best guess are probably Cascade mainly. This is one of the tastiest pale ale that I have had in a while.
Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel of Burning River is just like I would expect out of a pale ale, not so thick that it makes it hard to drink but thick enough that the flavors sticks to your tongue and you can enjoy what you are drinking.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 15:40:03 | More by raznug

scottbrew4u

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a clear orange/light amber color with a bubbly two-finger head that persists.

S: Toasted grains, crackers, honey, and light toffee make out the malt profile. Orange, grassy, spicy and herbal hops.

T: Honey toasted grains meet with spicy, grassy, herbal hops and they duel to see who comes out on top.

M: Light to medium body and a crisp bubbly carbonation.

D: A spicier take for a pale ale but interesting and very drinkable. This one is inviting to look at and easy going down. Could partake in a few easily.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 03:49:10 | More by scottbrew4u

MaximalC

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear amber color with a frothy white head that lingers long enough to appreciate it. Aroma is mild and citrusy on account of the cascade hops. Flavor is crisp and hoppy, but not overbearing. Citrus notes are present, along with lively carbonation, followed by a clean finish. Quite a palatable pale ale, which is a style I'm not especially fond of, so take my numeric rating with a grain of salt.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 03:27:16 | More by MaximalC

ZeroSignal

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle into my DFH Snifter - Brand new to Centre County!

A - Pours a clear amber with a billowing off-white head. Nice retention with a sticky lace.

S - Fruity and citrusy in the nose; smells like a big hop profile for a PA

T&M - My very first thought was "yummy". I'm a bit out of practice on reviewing, but there's a healthy dose of citrusy hops here that I'm in love with. The malt bill is also substantial, and adds a breadiness that balances the hop profile. Medium body with a carbonation level that adds a slight tingle to the back of the throat.

O - I'm standing by my "yummy" comment. This is one of the better PA's that I've ever had, and may be a regular addition to my fridge.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 21:35:55 | More by ZeroSignal