Great Lakes Eliot Ness - Great Lakes Brewing Company

superspak

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce bottle into lager glass, best before 3/4/2013. Pours slightly hazy orange copper color with a 1-2 finger dense cream colored head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings down the glass, with moderate streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of caramel, pear, apple, toast, brown sugar, brown bread, floral, and herbal earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance of malt and fruity notes with good complexity; good strength as well. Taste of caramel, pear, apple, toast, brown sugar, brown bread, floral, light pepper, and herbal earthiness. Lingering notes of caramel, light fruit, toast, brown sugar, brown bread, floral, and herbal earthiness on the finish for a bit. Great balance of malt, hops, and fruity ester flavors; with a nice amount of robustness and zero cloying flavors after the finish. medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth and lightly creamy mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with almost zero warming after the finish. Overall this is a fantastic Vienna lager! Great balance of malt and fruity ester flavors with good robustness; and very easy to drink. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 07:40:28 | More by superspak

Mister_Falcon

Pennsylvania

4.31/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a gorgeous ruby-amber color with nice carbonation that resulted in a fluffy 1/2 inch head. Don't smell much that pops out in a good or bad way so I'll take that to mean this is gonna taste "safe" at very least. Nice, crisp, slightly malty, just a pinch bitter, understated. The beer is crisp, a touch watery and goes down easy leaving the touch just a little bitter after all is said and done. This one is really good if you are looking for something in the amber part of the spectrum. Can't imagine this every wearing on me.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 18:17:02 | More by Mister_Falcon

KFBR392

Illinois

4.69/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Appearance: Beautiful red amber color with very active carbonation. About a finger worth of head on the pour which formed a solid lacing on the outside of the glass throughout. Lacing drags down the glass with each drink.

Smell: Dry hops with a sweet smokey malt presence. The mixture of hops, malt, caramel, and sweet amber seem to mix together so well. The aroma jumps out of the glass and captivates the drinker.

Taste: A light hop front that yields to a wonderfully thick and complex malt body. The transition if flavors happens incredibly quickly and jumps through. Leafy greens blast through, some kale, cabbage, and celery. Many of the traditional touch points of a lager with so much more going on. A very light sweet caramel kiss sits on the palette and keeps coming in waves long after drinking.

Mouthfeel: A dry hops touch, with a medium bodied thickness. Refreshing combination.

Overall: I think this is one of the best beers being made in the United States. Complexity is off the charts. I love that I can get this beer at most places in my area. This is one of the beers I always recommend to those looking to have a great beer without having much beer knowledge. Simply fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 23:34:57 | More by KFBR392

MShirokov

Illinois

2.26/5  rDev -45%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.25

I got this beer on-tap at the local bar yesterday based on the reviews, and expected a fantastic lager. At first I thought they gave me the wrong beer, but I double-checked and it was the right one.

It doesn't really taste like a lager to me, at least as far as the usual German lagers go. It tastes like.. well.. cardboard. My girlfriend said it after taking a sip, and I was amazed, because that same description was in my head the instant I tried it. It tastes like a combination of watered-down whiskey and cardboard. I hope something was wrong with the tap at that place, because it's hard to believe this is the beer that's getting such excellent reviews. The color seems to match though - a dark amber. So, it's definitely "unique" but I won't be drinking it again.

Serving type: on-tap

04-06-2013 04:20:51 | More by MShirokov

Gold

New York

5/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I've been to Munich, Germany and Great Lakes is the next best thing in the U.S. for the greatest lager out there. Perfect, delicious lager and it follows the beer purity laws. This is high quality stuff right here. Highly recommended. The variety pack is a great place to start for Great Lakes wide array of excellent offerings.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 02:52:15 | More by Gold

lilmissbeer

Ohio

4.73/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

I love this beer. Great Lakes is an awesome brewery, I love that they're actually trying to do something for the environment/be sustainable/etc. and are still making great beer. This is the best lager, hands down. All-around great, highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 23:09:46 | More by lilmissbeer

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.24/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

This brew was served from the tap at MacGregor’s Grill and Tap Room in Canandaigua, NY. It arrived in a dimpled house mug, showing a bright reddish amber coloring. It held a one finger tall head of tight light brown bubbles, showing great retention. This left thick sheets and patterns of lacing. No haze or sediment was noted, and carbonation appeared to be light. The aroma gave appropriately adjuncty grain, with significant contributions from pale malts and mild caramels. There were also notes of milky creaminess, big toasted breadiness, savory saltiness, red apple sugars, freshly picked strawberries, faint booziness, and solidly grassy hops. With warmth came more tinny metallics and straight bitterness of yeast. Our first impression was that there were great, fresh hops to blend, but the real show was in the spice and depth to the malts, and the other complex inclusions. The flavoring opened with apple sweetness, light milkiness, black pepper spice, coriander, toasted pale grain, and sweet nectary hop syrups. The middle came to peak with grassy, earthy, and sticky hops blending well with the toasty pale malts. To mix were clovey and medicinal phenols, and clean honey sweetness to top the balance. The end came with strong penicillin medicinals, plastic phenols, sweaty moldiness, lactics, depth of toasty (and almost roasty) pale malts. Hollow saltiness and cone hoppiness were the last notes to leave the palate. The aftertaste breathed of banana esters, grainy caramel breadiness, pale grain, light adjuncts, sweaty saltiness, musk, moldiness, mineral, and earthy and floral hop sweetness. The body was medium, and the carbonation was medium. There was big foam and cream on the sip, with nice slurp, smack, and finishing pop. The mouth was left cooled, with a sticky coating keeping it wet, and never really drying it. The abv was appropriate, and the beer drank nicely.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was the nice blending and balance throughout the flavoring, with emphasis on spice and phenols from front to back. This kept things fresh but deep, but made the hops work extra hard for the final mix. The soft slurp was nicely contributory to the experience. This beer stays nice to the style and is easy drinking, making it perfect for a relaxing night watching the game.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2013 19:20:26 | More by TheBrewo

RyFikes

New York

4.9/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance- Clear, dark amber color. Thick beige head.

Smell- Toffee, caramel, brown sugar, with nutty characters.

Taste- Caramel and toffee notes, little cinnamon and brown sugar. Hoppy sweet finish. Bitter coffee after taste, with a roasted nut quality.

Mouthfeel- Carbonation gives way to a lot of residual flavor. Full body flows really well from one flavor to the next.

Overall- Everything blends perfectly. Very well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 16:52:36 | More by RyFikes

barczar

Kentucky

4.06/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear amber color with garnet highlights and a frothy one inch khaki head that slowly dissipates, leaving sheets of foamy lacing.

Sweet, nutty, bready, toasted caramel malt dominates the aroma. Melanoidin caramelization notes usher in buttery toffee scents. There's a hint of floral hops, but it's very subtle.

Flavor follows suit, but adds in some fruity character and a bit of bitter, lightly roasted malt dryness at the finish. Fairly sweet initially, the dark fruit dampens the sweetness, transitioning well into the finish. Toffee, toasted breadcrust, roasted pecans, and a touch of caramel sweetness form the backbone.

Body is moderate, with slightly higher carbonation than expected, and a fair amount if alcohol warmth.

Very malt dominant brew that has a good amount of sweetness, but maintains a good balance due to the roasty, dry finish. Well developed malt character. Fruitiness is slightly more than I prefer.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 02:02:39 | More by barczar

SportsandJorts

Michigan

4.36/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Type: On-tap pitcher
Glass: pint
From: Old Town in Ann Arbor
Price: ~$13 a pitcher

Appearance: deep amber color, with a nice white foamy head that fades to a lacing. nice clarity and pretty bubbly

Smell: spicy hops, sweet malts, earthyness

Taste: starts of with some sweet caramelly malts, balanced out by hops. some fruitiness and spicy hops. well balanced and complex

Mouthfeel: crisp and clean. refreshing.

Overall: Great Lakes does not mess around with their year round beers. This is another beer that is unbeatable for the price. I haven't had a lager that competes with this one lately. An easily sessional beer that is enjoyable won't break the wallet

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2013 16:17:49 | More by SportsandJorts

Anker13

District of Columbia

4.11/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

1/31/13 | Great Lakes Brewing Company | Eliot Ness | Draft

Appearance- Beautiful amber, really great color, wispy white head, brilliantly clear

Aroma- Super clean and caramel maltiness, slight earthy hoppiness, yeasty fruitiness, light citrus

Mouthfeel- moderate to light CO2, medium-light in body, slightly coating, easy going down

Taste- Crisp and clean, a really great session able beer. Biscuity, slight toffee and caramel, nice bitterness on the end, flavor lingers, juicy.

Residual- Sweet aftertaste, sticky, lingering

Overall- I'm a fan. As with most beers by Great Lakes, this is a high quality beer. Not too sweet for an amber, just enough bitterness to keep your attention

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2013 19:49:05 | More by Anker13

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Great Lakes Elliot Ness

LOOK: Copper colored brew, perfectly clear. White soapy froth leaves plenty of bubbly lacing.

SMELL: Bready malts with minty, herbal hops. Light caramel, toffee and toasted malts.

TASTE: Caramel, rich bready malt profile, and solid earthy hop presence. Richly malty, as well as clean and refreshing.

FEEL: Mediun bodied, well carbonated, very smooth.

OVERALL: Another very solid offering from Great Lakes. A perfect lager for any occasion. I can picture this going just fine with baby back ribs and a loaded baked potato.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2013 21:17:33 | More by Stinkypuss

thlayli87

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - Amber with two finger soapy head that dissipates quickly. No lacing.

S - Pineapple, sweet fruity notes, and pine.

T - Sweetness up front, toasty malt, citrusy notes, toffee, and biscuit.

M/O - Light body, satisfying and highly sessionable brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 14:54:16 | More by thlayli87

DesertRat

North Carolina

5/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I am not a huge fan of pilsners or lagers. Jesus Christ, this lager is so good, it has more bite than a Paulaner, but is still so smooth. I enjoy this beer with a carb rich dinner or lunch. The honey after taste is what really makes me indulge when I start drinking these. I understand why this beer is a stand out across the world, even in Germany.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2013 03:29:53 | More by DesertRat

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3.91/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: shiny copper body, 2 finger head, solid lacing

S: biscuit, sweet bread, ripe fruit

T: toffee/caramel, biscuit, sweet malt, bread finish

M: med mouth, mild bubble/solid smooth

O: Usually not my fav style, but rather good.
Fine balance between sessional + stand-alone brew.

QUITE GOOD; GRAB A BOTTLE!

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 20:44:42 | More by BeerLover99

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.24/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This poured out as a beautiful clear amber color with an off white head on top. The retention and lacing were very nice on this beer. The smell is malty sweet with some mild earthiness. The taste of the beer is malty with a subtle sweetness and a very mild bitterness in the finish. The mouthfeel is soft and creamy with a decent carbonation. Overall it's a really good brew, very surprised with this one... Disappointed I didn't try this one sooner.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 00:30:39 | More by Knapp85

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap in Cleveland Hopkins airport- poured a clear dark amber color, with two fingers of bone white head, modest retention, nice even rings of lacing.

Smell is rich and malty- lots of caramel and some roasted barley. A little bit of citrus as well.

Tastes great- consistent with smell but balanced out by some noble type hops. Caramel up front, followed by toasted malt, to finish out somewhat dry.

Mouthfeel is fantastic- medium bodied, light to moderate carbonation. This is a great amber lager. Same style as Boston lager but way more flavorful.

Serving type: on-tap

01-04-2013 19:48:56 | More by Hopdaemon39

Levich

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a DFH shaped pint glass.

Eliot Ness pours a nice rich amber color with a rosy hue. There is an off white head which leaves a little bit of lacing. The clarity of this beer's appearance allows one to see the constant effervescence. The aroma is clean and crisp with bready notes. There might also be a hint of fruitiness, but the doughy bread is the overwhelming scent. The first sip reveals the rich biscuity caramel notes in addition to the breadiness. The malty notes are balanced with just a hint of bitter hops and there is a lingering boozy alcohol taste at the end. The mouthfeel is crisp and medium bodied with a mild carbonation. It finishes clean with no stickiness. Although Vienna Lagers are not among my favorite styles of beer, this is a great example of one. It is very flavorful and well balanced. I wish I could get this one more frequently.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 18:09:47 | More by Levich

Apellonious

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle out of the mix pack.

A - amber with fire orange highlights. One finger head that quickly dissipates into a thin lace.

S - bread, biscuit, mild malt

T - more bread, some back end bitterness, a barely noticeable fruit twang.

M - slightly thin, but solid.

O- a great lager, not quite awe inspiring but definitely recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 00:43:19 | More by Apellonious

ColdWaffles

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: On point amber color with nice head that sticks around for a good while and leaves a lacing on the glass and the surface of the beer. No complaints at all.

Smell: Didn't pick up much on this serving, I've had this before and picked up more. Picking up a little malt, and a dap of nice hops.

Taste: This is everything I want in a quality amber lager and one of the few amber lagers good enough for me to not just get a Yuengling (the regional favorite for cheap beer) instead. Nice balance of excellent sweet malts and a bit of zesty hops on the end. This is a perfect taste for this beer.

Mouthfeel: Maybe a little thinner than I'm used to given my Yuengling backgroung, but the carbonation is perfect.

This is an excellent beer and one of my favorites.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 00:34:26 | More by ColdWaffles

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

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

The beer is transparenty and amber colored with over an inch of dense, soapy, tan head. The aroma offers malt, lager yeast, fruity notes. The flavor is sweet, with a pronounced lager taste and lingering fruity malts. Biscuits and perhaps some crackers. Light to medium bodied. A bit heavier than your session type lagers. Well done and flavorful, though the sweetness, while not overbearing or cloying, per se, does limit my consumption. A solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 05:29:28 | More by Huhzubendah

tectactoe

Michigan

3.95/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a solid amber color with mild clarity, a touch of haze in the middle of the glass. Light beige head that doesn't last too long and doesn't leave much lacing either. Crisp aroma, almost with some fruit tartness initially; light berries and apple skins. Lightly toasted caramel grains abound in this one, with a slightly floral underbody. The first sip follows through with the crispiness of the aroma, headed by an array of toasted grains and malts, light caramel and toffee flavors. Some mild apples and raisin fruitiness comes through and sweetens things up just a bit. Slight hoppy taste in the background, a tiny floral essence, but they never get very bitter, maybe only a touch to balance the malt sweetness. Tasty biscuit-like yeast in the finish; thin body, medium-high carbonation, with a crispy, clean, refreshing finish.

Wow, this beer really surprised me, although I shouldn't be surprised - I've been very happy with most of GL's brews. Nice mix of hops and malts, not too overpowering on either. Great, crisp finish all around, and certainly one of the best lagers I've had in a while.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 16:06:29 | More by tectactoe

MadCat

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Very amber color with a nicely sized tan head that dissipates at a normal rate leaving some lacing

Smell: Sweet caramel malts

Taste: Hit up front with sweet caramel malts, with a little bit of lingering hop bitterness

Mouthfeel: Medium body, medium carbonation, nice feel

Overall: Pretty good, but not one I would search out GLBC for. Either too sweet or not enough hops to balance the sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 00:36:12 | More by MadCat

CloudStrife

New York

4.05/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a tulip. Freshest by 01/19/13.

A: Pours a mostly clear deep amber with a 1.5 finger white head that is rocky and fiarly quick to dissipate. Leaves some decent lacing. Not much visible carbonation in this glass.

S: Get a good blend from this beer. There is a bittering hop but also some dark fruity yet bready/cracker yeastiness.

T: Balanced brew, I'd lean toward it being slightly more malt forward. Hops balance it out but the malt seems to linger more in the aftertaste, There is a sweetness to it.

M: Light to medium bodied with mild carbonation. A pretty smooth and drinkable beer.

Overall a tasty lager that is a smooth and drinkable blend. Isnt overpowering and I think most people could drink and enjoy this beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 03:07:07 | More by CloudStrife

champ103

Texas

4.68/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: Pours a brilliant, vibrant hazed orange/reddish color. A perfect two finger white head forms. The head is tightly packed with many fine bubbles cascading up. Rings of lace is left behind. You can't make a beer look better than this from a bottle.
S: Warm toasted malts. Baked bread and biscuit with some caramel sweetness. The toasted malts are amazing, and followed by a light kiss of hops. Lightly floral and grassy. Awesome.
T: Yep, amazing toasted malts, baked bread, and grains. A light sweetness, honey and caramel. Balanced with the perfect amount of spicy/floral hops. The toasted baked bread comes out again towards the end that leaves a perfect dryness in the finish. Again, awesome.
M/D: A near perfect mouthfeel. A medium body with crisp carbonation. So smooth at the same time. Incredibly clean and with a perfect dry finish. So easy and enjoyable to drink. The bottle is gone in no time. All day with this.

I thought Dortmunder Gold was one of the best lagers I have had. This is just as good if not more enjoyable for me because the toasted grains are so amazing. One of the best. I can't recommend this enough.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 05:08:21 | More by champ103