Great Lakes Holy Moses - Great Lakes Brewing Company

meepmeep

3.8/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle, best before 9/23/12.

A: Pours a light, slightly cloudy yellow with about a 1.5 finger head. Head dissipates pretty quickly leaving some lacing.

S: Smell is nice, nothing too crazy. Lots of coriander and clove, some pepper and orange, a little bit of chamomile.

T: Drinkable beer, spicy enough without going overboard. Taste is mainly what I picked up on the nose - coriander, clove, pepper, and some Belgian yeast as well.

M: Very smooth beer, light-to-medium carbonation, with a silky texture - again, it goes down very easy!

Overall - the mouthfeel is probably the most notable thing about it, although in general it is very pleasant and drinkable. A nice witbier!

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 19:12:27 | More by meepmeep

Boto

Connecticut

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draught @ Headkeeper: This one pours a straw golden color. It was fairly clear with about a finger of a thick white head. It left a fair amount of lacing. Nose is mainly wheat. Some earthy hops, citrus and spiciness. It has a pretty smooth taste. Hints of grains, some malt, wheat and faint spices. Not bad at all.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2012 16:53:42 | More by Boto

4balance

Oklahoma

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle with many thanks to WesM63…drink by date of 9-22-12, pours a cloudy pale straw color with 1-2 fingers of white foamy head, little lacing clinging to my glass (Ommegang).

Aroma is earthy, spicy, grainy, citrus, sweet bread…yum!

Taste is more intense than the scent, good amount of spice; coriander, clove, some chamomile way off in the distance, some peppery hints as well, sweet belgian yeast, orange zest for a magnificent balance of flavors.

Mouthfeel has a good amount of carbonation, light - medium bodied, airy bitterness that is crisp and clean, refreshing with a bit of dryness that makes me want more.

Overall this is a very well balanced brew that is a real treat. Definitely recommended. Thanks again Wes!

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 01:17:33 | More by 4balance

Rhettroactive

Virginia

3.6/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

From 12oz bottle to Bruges hybrid glass on 5/13/12
*From notes

-- Thanks to Siege for the forceful tick --

A: Cloudy tangerine in hue. A good pour yields a white one finger head. Decent lacing follows as the head falls. A thick and healthy white collar rims the beer as I drink.

S: As you'd expect: just past ripe banana and plenty of clove. As it warms, I get a moderate amount of mint julip.

T: Heavy on the clove from top to bottom. There's also a good amount of cardamon on the front to mid. I'm not getting a whole lot of banana here (sadly), but I do find a generous amount of baking spice. The lingering finish holds that clove note, and it simply won't let go.

M: Easily ranks at or near the top of the wheat-based Mouthfeel Mountain. It's thick, it's rich, it's texutred, it's complex and extremely creamy. The carbonation is absolutely on point.

O: I would never have reached for this, as wheat based brews are just not my kink. But when siege06nd pressures you into a tick, how can you say no?

For those who like their Wit's expressive and full flavored, this one's for you. Big, bold clove is all up in this shit and then some. Plus it's packing one of the best mouthfeels this side of the Ol' Miss. Another accomplishment from one of the best breweries in America.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 21:42:11 | More by Rhettroactive

Danno48

West Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Great Lakes Holey Moses White Ale.
I poured this beer into a glass at 45 degrees F.

A- Looks great. Has the light golden color that you would see when you dream of beer. The head looked like marshmallow cream; light, fluffy, rich. I just did not last as long as I would have liked it to.

S- It had a very light fragrance of yeast, lemon, chamomile, vanilla. I wish I had a better scent of smell, perhaps I could have picked up more. The description of the brewing process made me think I could have been missing out on some unique aromas.

T- This beer does not come at you like a ton of bricks. It is mild, lightly sweet with vanilla and banana notes, and subtle. The unique flavor I could discern was the chamomile; It stood out from beers of a like nature. I would have liked the flavors to last a bit longer.

M- I loved the drink-ability of this beer. Does not cling at all. Very smooth and velvety but it does not linger.

Overall, I really enjoyed the lightness and parallel complexity of this beer. Casual, sophisticated, and balanced. I personally would have liked to experienced a more potent flavor, the flavor at the end felt a bit watered down. If you know someone who feels intimidated by craft beer, this could be the beer that is not overwhelming and very welcoming to the dainty pallet.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 23:22:24 | More by Danno48

DavoleBomb

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a perfect pint.

4.5 A: Well hazed bright yellow color, whatever that means. Two fingers of frothy white head. Retention is very good and a short ring of lacing is left.

4.0 S: Smells great. Perfect yeastmanship going on here. Peppery with corriander. Orange peel and just a hint of chamomile. Incredibly clean with a pleasant neutral maltiness. Well done.

4.0 T: Tastes just as good. Super clean without a hint of any off flavors. Corriander, peppery, orange peel, chamomile, and neutral maltiness. Delicious.

4.5 M: Medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Wonderfully creamy. Very nice here.

4.0 D: Tasty clean beer. It's hard to make a "normal" witbier stick out, but this does. Great craftsmanship.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 01:18:01 | More by DavoleBomb

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

3.63/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 Oz bottle poured into a tulip
Bought a single of the 2012 batch

A- Pours hazy grey yellow with a half finger of quickly dissipating head. Not a beauty but its a Witbier unquestionably.

S- Smells very yeasty and a lot of wheat in here. A spicy fruitness. Pretty decent stuff.

T- A light bitterness up front and a Belgian yeast taste. A lot of spicy wheat in here. A light fruitiness in here. Not a strong taste but fairly pleasant.

M- A smooth body and good carbonation, leaves behind a pleasant aftertaste. A good light feel but still pretty tasty.

O- A good witbier but nothing special to be honest. A little disappointing from Great Lakes but I only bought one so I cant complain.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 02:08:11 | More by TwelveOunces

pschul4

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Last beer (maybe) before DLD 2012 so hopefully its a good one!

A- Nice crisp gold, with a fluffy white head that exibits decent retention.

S- Incredibly faint on the nose. Unfortunately I'm not picking up anything at all

T- Don't mind the nose, the taste makes up for it. Tons of wheat/banana/clove flavor in the mouth which is just downright tasty!

M- Pretty smooth for the style, I like it

O- This one did not disappoint in the least. Way to go Great Lakes!

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2012 23:16:27 | More by pschul4

dorianmarley

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance is cloudy yellow with some head and bubbly lacing.

Nose is plenty of wheat, with not much else.

Taste is light malt, wheat, and oak.

Mouthfeel is mild with mild carbonation.

Overall, there is not a lot going on. It is on-point for style, but lacking memorable texture or flavor.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2012 14:39:14 | More by dorianmarley

ONUMello

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a pilsner glass
A: Light yellow with a 1/2 finger head and plenty of carbonation
S: Tons of spice, particularly coriander and clove. Orange peel and bread dough round it out.
T: Spicy up front like the nose, coriander and cloves. Then an orange midpalate with yeast/bread towards the back.
M: A bit thinner than I remember from previous years. Light and crisp.
O: This and Oberon always mean summer is right around the corner. Overall a well-seasoned light easy to drink beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 19:29:42 | More by ONUMello

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From notes last summer.

Pours a white head. Color is a clear dull golden yellow.

Aroma: Very Belgian like. A lot of spices. Cloves, coriander, orange peel, and lemon zest. Bready and yeasty.

Taste: A lot similar to the nose. Belgian-like with a lot of spices. Fairly fruity as well. Orange and lemon citrus.

Mouthfeel: Crisp and bubbly. Light bodied with a bit higher amount of carbonation. Ends clean.

Overall, a nice easy drinking wit. Decent amount of flavor. Good beer for the hot days.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 02:03:21 | More by mothman

raznug

Ohio

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

Appearance: It pours a hazy pale golden color and is topped with ¾” of white head that dissipates quickly to a thin layer of tiny bubbles.
Smell: This beer smells just like I would expect, spices. Coriander, orange peel, and maybe a flowery scent that I can’t place blast that sinuses right off the bat.
Taste: The taste follows the smells lead and this tastes just like a white ale should orange peel and coriander blend with that yeast flavor that sets a white ale separate from other ales.
Mouthfeel: This is a beer that I prefer to be a bit thinner than normal and it doesn’t disappoint my thinking easy drinking and rather smooth a very well made white.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 15:34:58 | More by raznug

siege06nd

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes. Poured into a British Pint.

A. Pours a very cloudy, pale straw color. A nice finger of white head that dissipates to a quarter finger and lingers. Good lacing.

S. Very good. Banana, clove, some candied yeast. Sweet and bready. For style, this is excellent.

T. More banana bread, some light creamy orange peel, a slight peppery finish. Not overly complex, but good.

M. Finish is a touch thin. Crisp and refreshing, but lacks some complexity.

O. A solid wit. Perfect for a summer session. I'd take this over Oberon, and just about any others of this style save Dancing Man Wheat.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 19:12:41 | More by siege06nd

thain709

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured with a semi-hazy, golden yellow body that showed some carbonation bubbles...the white, two finger head quickly receded to a thin cap...there was minimal lacing left

S - The nose was a bit musty...some bright lemon broke through as well as a melody of Belgian spices

T - Those Belgian spices kick things off on the palate...right up front is some coriander followed by some clove...the wheat and yeast are present in the middle and they add some body as well as some chewiness...citrus flavors (mainly lemon) roll in towards the finish...but the beer finishes with some soft, sweet honey

M - Light bodied...soft carbonation, bright citrus, slight spice, and sweet honey

O - This one started out just average, but things picked up at first sip...everything worked together here and you were left with a refreshing taste

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 15:40:59 | More by thain709

OleJohnnieAle

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a slightly hazy light yellow

S: Nice corriander up front and a hint of orange citrus to finish off.

T: Nice cirrander spice up front, almost a little bitter. Good sweetness and orange peal citrus to finish off.

M: Light body beer with good carbonation and balance. Very smooth.

O: I like this one. This is one of my more favorite summer beers on the boat or when I finish mowing the law. Nice and smooth and always refreshing. Another great beer from Great Lakes.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 22:20:35 | More by OleJohnnieAle

thegodfather1076

Ohio

4.93/5  rDev +29.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This beer was served out of a 12oz. bottle dispensed into a glass....

Presentation - Really great artwork on label in the GLB tradition.

Appearance - Pours out a hazy cloudy golden straw yellow color with a nice 2 finger airy white foam head that dissipates into a thin foam ring. Has a nice amount of carbonation rising from the bottom of the glass.

Smell - Smells of mostly orange citrus and yeast with a peppery spicy hint. Slight hints of hops in the aroma as well.

Taste - Like the smell, tastes of mostly orange citrus with a nice combination of coriander, pepper, and clove for a spicy bite. A great wheat undertone throughout.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium bodied with the perfect amount of carbonation.

Drinkability - Very smooth and tasty with great balance making a highly drinkable brew.

Great overall beer that is very refreshing. It is perfect for summer but would be great at any time of the year. A very good example of a wit-bier. One of, if not my favorite all time beer!!! Highly recommended!!

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 01:00:54 | More by thegodfather1076

BBP

Ontario (Canada)

3.1/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours white gold with slight amounts of sediment. Vigorous carbonation kept a steady head for the duration of the drink. Slight lacing as well.

The aroma is led entirely by spices on a foundation of wheat sweetness.

The taste is light and flavorful at the same time. The beginning is full of wheat and a hint of biscuit malt. The spices are light in the beginning, but show through in the aftertaste and stack up after a bit of drinking.

The body is medium full with slightly over-aggressive carbonation which enhances the fullness a bit.

Overall, it was a leaning to the side of spiciness which is not really my cup of tea. I thought it was good and refreshing, but I don't expect to pick it up again.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2011 19:50:28 | More by BBP

WoodBrew

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The Holy Moses Witbier is quite tasty!!! the appearance is a cloudy yellow beer with good carbonation that forms a nice frothy head that dissipates and laces throughout the draw. The smell includes spice, clove, and hints of citrus. The taste starts with clove, then lemon citrus, then finishes with a punch of spice which comes of the pallet clean. The mouthfeel is very good, at 5.4% it makes a decent session ale especially on a warmer day. Stay thirsty my friends.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2011 02:54:55 | More by WoodBrew

McNealc31

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy transparent gold with a fluffy white head. Smells of fresh citrus and coriander that carries through to the flavor. Smooth, crisp, refreshing, and not the least bit watery. The coriander and hops add a necessary spicy kick at the end. It becomes more herbaceous over time, but not quite to saison status.

A style that isn't a favorite of mine, but this one is a very drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 03:04:57 | More by McNealc31

NeutroMan

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy straw color with a solid white head. Rather bubbly. Spicy and citrusy in the nose; some coriander and orange peel. Has a flavor of breaded malts, yeast, and wheat. Citrus less apparent than in the aroma. Slight hint of chamomile. Mouthfeel is medium-light bodied with the right amount of carbonation. A very well-done wit.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 21:18:10 | More by NeutroMan

tjacobs610

Ohio

2.4/5  rDev -37%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Straw yellow color, with a white and foamy one finger thick head. It has a fairly good amount of retention as well. The lacing is quite thick as well

Smell: Has a light spice smell, also hints of citrus maybe orange. Has a great hoppy smell too

Taste: A very sweet wheat flavor that has hints of citrus as well. The taste is very similar to aroma in this case

Mouthfeel: Has a very frothy feel, with medium carbonation. Has a very nice crisp feel to it as well

Overall: Not much here to this beer, has a good feel and color but other than that it leaves a lot to be desired

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 23:41:40 | More by tjacobs610

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

3.53/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Semi cloudy pale straw yellow in color, enormous fluffy clouds for a head that settles down into a standard froth, leaves behind some decent lacing patterns as well, pretty!
Smell is really quite heavy on the yeast factor. And I do indeed smell a medium strong amount of chamomile tea and orange peel...the coriander...not so much....taste follows the nose pretty accurately, only with stronger wheaty biscuit malt presence. The finish shows up with a new element: lemons.
Light bodied, a very summery beer, refreshing! The chamomile scent is quite interesting.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 20:30:50 | More by WastingFreetime

3.43/5  rDev -10%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Hazy, but clearer than typical for the style. Bright gold colour with a nice head that recedes fairly quickly but never completely dissipates. Lots of carbonation bubbles are visible.

Smell - Not particulalry aromatic, but pleasant with sweet wheat malt, coriander, yeast and a little orange.

Taste - Corainder, chamomile, and bread with a nice spike of carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 00:39:03 | More by

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pour two-thirds of beer, swirl bottle, pour remaining into glass. Yields dense 3cm head, meringue-like, white in color, recedes over a few minutes. This recession leaves sizable continents of lacing all over the glass, which are broken down and renewed with each sip. Body is semi-cloudy, semi-transparent golden straw yellow in color. Carbonation is visible, looking a little sluggish (perhaps due to cloudiness I'm not seeing it all).

Scent opens with yeast and coriander, also revealing a faint hint of orange rind and wheat malt sweetness. Good, but could be a little more aggressive in the nose, I think.

Taste begins with floral and herbal (chamomile and oregano) flavors. This progresses to coriander, citrus rind, and wheat malt. Aftertaste is of lingering floral hoppiness, residual wheat malt sweetness and a little yeastiness. Very pleasant.

Mouthfeel is fairly medium, even medium-heavy, but carbonation levels are a bit sluggish for this, leaving things a bit tired. Finish is quite dry.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 04:50:04 | More by falloutsnow

n2185

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a very slightly hazy pale straw yellow with three fingers of white head that recedes into a thin cap with little lacing.

S: Light spices up front like coriander and cloves. Sweet biscuit aromas follow along with just a hint of orange citrus.

T: Similar to the aroma, lightly spiced notes come up first followed by a sweet and slightly bitter biscuity flavors. Again, just a touch of citrus.

M: Light body with medium carbonation, this beer is nice and crisply refreshing.

O: A pretty decent witbier. Light and refreshing, though not terribly complex.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2011 02:14:16 | More by n2185