IPA - Lakefront Brewery, Inc.

brentk56

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a cloudy apricot nectar color with a very modest head that fades quickly without leaving much lace behind

Smell: Vague aromas of grapefruit and an unusual, but interesting herbacious character

Taste: A bit of caramel up front, but the hops emerge rather quickly with the grapefruit, some pine and that herbacious, tea-like character that I often get in an English IPA; after the swallow, the malt and hops are nicely balanced into the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body, slightly chewy; moderate carbonation

Drinkability: A nice balance between the English and American IPA styles; I enjoyed it

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2009 23:57:39 | More by brentk56

williamherbert

New York

3.68/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The appearance is ridiculously cloudy. Huge particles of sediment. The head is big and foamy. Color is a glowing yellowish orange. Surprising but cool-looking.

The aroma is a nice piney hop, some flowery esters. Only a tiny hint of citrus in there as well. A really good hop aroma with a bready English malt base.

The taste is a major bitter woody/pine hop, with oaky notes. Heavy perfume, serious bite on the back end. Harsh alcohol on the back end. Its strength is shocking to me. Zero malt presence by comparison.

The feel is a creamy body, with some smooth finishing. Closer to an imperial IPA really. Brutally hoppy, incredibly woody. Good but harsh and challenging.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2009 23:41:52 | More by williamherbert

ThickestHead

Wisconsin

4.15/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Six weeks old according to the label. Forms a decent head and the cloudy body is orange-yellow. The smell is grassy and also of citrus (lemongrass?). Taste is more on the mildside than on the wildside, and the mouthfeel is suprisingly lackluster considering how nicely it poured. This is still a very light and drinkable beer, and even though the aftertaste is forgettable that is all the more reason to just have another quaff.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2009 14:37:25 | More by ThickestHead

tr4nc3d

Kansas

2.58/5  rDev -34.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Poured this into my pint glass

It has a murky orange color with a freaking huge slightly off white 5inch head. Very foamy/rocky head that leaves an island of it right in the middle, GREAT head retention. Lacing is scattered all over the sides of my glass, man oh man this beer looks fantastic.

This has a very mildly citrus fruit aroma of mostly lemons/oranges? and some pine with spices, some caramel malt comes in also.

Very mild tasting IPA. Has a small amount of bitterness upfront that mellows out to just the ever so slightly citrus sweetness.

Mouthfeel is very thin and dry on the mouth. Aftertaste is kind of leaning towards cardboard. Maybe I got a bad bottle, but I doubt it.

My thoughts are that besides the appearance, this IPA lacks flavor, so theres no chance I would ever buy this again or drink it.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2009 22:25:23 | More by tr4nc3d

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Some hazey suspension throughout a strong coppery amber. Light, dough head that quickly turns to a film. Great spicey orange and caramel malt aroma. A litte skunky hop flavor fights with caramel and crystal malt aroma. Good session beer, but there is little balance in this IPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2009 17:38:07 | More by scruffwhor

magictrokini

California

3.33/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured clear gold with a HUGE, rocky white head that stuck around for a while. Thick, sticky lacing. Fresh grass aroma, sweeter, citrus hops with some sugar. Light, bubbly mouthfeel. No syrupy residue. Taste was somewhat disappointing. Fresh, grassy hops. Light orange and pineapple hops, some white pepper, but mostly lemongrass. Light malt, crisp. The hop profile is just a bit weak for the style. Tasted more like a hoppy XPA. Still, it was refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2009 05:11:21 | More by magictrokini

alleykatking

Indiana

3.2/5  rDev -19%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a pint glass from 12oz bottle.

A- Pours a nice deep golden color that is pretty clear. Nice 1/2 inch off white head from a hard pour that went away and stayed at an 1/8 inch head leaving some decent lacing on the sides of the glass.

S- From first smell I can detect an underlying big malt backbone (this isn't the freshest I found out later). Some piney hops are making their way to me now. A low alcohol smell can be detected as well.

T- Not as malty as I got from the smell. The hops seemed to keep up with the aged beer (around 3 months). Alcohol sneeks up on you after the piney hops die down. This is really a shell of it's old former self.

M- This beer is nicely carbinated and has a medium mouthfeel to it. I would suspect that at one point in time this beer would be all over your palate leaving a nice hoppy resin over it but not this time.

D- I could drink this beer right now if I had to. I would drink this beer a lot more if it were fresh. I drain poured it about half way through.

I know this review reflects on the age of the beer and when I have had it fresh I did like it. But as of right now...it's a no go.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2009 04:01:18 | More by alleykatking

portia99

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle (bottled in April '09, wk 3 - about 3 weeks old) into a Portsmouth goblet.

A - Poured a hazy, slightly cloudy pale yellowish orange. A medium density white head gave way quickly to a thin ring of fine bubbles around the edge of the glass. Decent lacing.

S - Not what I expected from an IPA. Hops are not very prominent in the nose. Aroma is spicy and somewhat citrusy - mainly oranges.

T - Spice and herbal notes dominate the taste here too. Can't quite place what the combination of spices is though...tastes like maybe cinnamon/mulling spices...a little odd. Not too much in the hops department - spice flavors overpower. Average bitterness.

M - Medium body, prickly carbonation. Nothing wrong here.

D - If I wasn't expecting an IPA, this would be an ok beer. Spices are a little high for my tastes though and hop character was lacking. A fairly drinkable beer, but maybe misclassified in style.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2009 01:09:45 | More by portia99

Seanibus

California

3.05/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Nothing wrong with this beer, but nothing to remember either.

Pours hazy orange with a big fluffy head and amazingly sticky lacing. There were bits of sediment floating in it from a vigorous pour. The aroma is slight and orange-like, with a hint of slightly sour grain behind it. The flavor is a bit malty and bready, with some slightly bitter orange and lemon character. The bitterness is slight and quick to dissipate. The mouthfeel is surprisingly thin, though there remains a sneaky new layer of bitterness on the finish.

Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2009 01:25:08 | More by Seanibus

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A 12 ounce bottle purchased at Abe's in Bethlehem for $2. Poured into my nonic Imperial pint glass. Appears a hazed greenish-yellow color with about two full fingers of fluffy off white foam. The head leaves a minimal lacing on the inside of my glass as it fades. Smells and tastes of floral hops, light caramel malts, slightly sour, pine, and lemon. The nose builds you up and then you are hit with a huge letdown in the taste. Thin, watery body with medium carbonation. One and done for me. I hope this was just a dud bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2009 04:58:52 | More by ClockworkOrange

emerge077

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Decided that I needed to revisit this one to give it the benefit of the doubt. Poured into a Rodenbach tulip glass around 45-50º. Label is notched March "Wk1", so i'm guessing this is fresh stuff, maybe 6 weeks old.

Nice deep glowing orange color, requisite foam and lacing. There's definitely more citrus this time around, almost "catty" in a good way, maybe simcoe? A little floral and malty behind the citrus that would earn a 4.25 if it was possible.

Flavor has a good amount of fresh hop character, grassy and herbal, fleeting citrus, and a low to moderate bitterness. The malt is 60/40 to the hops, not dominating but very flavorful. Dry chalky finish, the body is slightly thin for my taste. Still it's a very quenching warm weather IPA.

Original review: 03-03-2008 - bottle
4/4/3.5/3.5/4

Bottle notched "Dec Wk4"...guessing it's 3 months old?
Memorable "eye" on the label, reminds me of the illuminati symbol on the dollar bill. Strange that this beer has made it from WI to CA, but IL has been passed over. Conspiracy!!

Deep amber tone with suspended particles, a fluffy and craggy head rises above the lip of the glass, momentarily defying gravity. Sparkly bubbles have a soapy quality, but are tightly packed enough to deter further soap allusions. Spotty bits of lacing in the tulip glass.

Aroma is mainly floral, some grassy Saaz hops like a Czech Pils. Not hops of the citrus or conifer variety, that's for sure. A bit understated, but aroma is nice nonetheless.

Dominant pale malt flavor, vague hop bitterness comes through, much too restrained. A honey note lingers in the aftertaste. Very low level of carbonation, it hurts the body a little bit, more reminiscent of English cask ale than anything. Drinkable, but much better options abound in the area.

Cheers to malcontent for bringing this back from WI.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2009 23:03:18 | More by emerge077

cnally

Indiana

2.9/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 1 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

a fresh'un here, bottled second week in march.

pours a nice fluffy off white head and amber oran...wait a second...god, look at all of the disgusting sediment!!!! black flakes prick the appearance. the bottom of the bottle sediment left dark marks on the otherwise nice beer. I realize this is 'beer au natural' you know, unfiltered and how it is supposed to be, but it makes me think bad things about my health should I drink it. yuck.

spicy hop scent up front, with a good dose of caramel and vanilla malt. a bit of clove and cinnamon in there, too.

okay, close your eyes...don't look at the pond water while you drink it...very understated flavor initally. slightly sour, even. the hops bust through on the back end, spicy and bitter.

bubbly and light, but sticky around the corners of your mouth.

well, I hate to 'trash' a beer, but this was...distracting. why not filter your beer? the appearance is really questionable. it creates a situation where this is a mild ipa, perfect for a starter/gateway beer, but the sediment, disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2009 23:55:59 | More by cnally

thekevlarkid

Maryland

4.28/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Out of bottle this beer was a hazy, light-amber color with the usual Lakefront deposit of sediment. The head was one-finger and off-white, retained as a thin cap and left lacing like lace-top-fishnet stockings. The aroma was very appealing, lots of floral hops, citrus and sweet malt; a true bouquet. The flavors were excellent, again pronounced floral hops notes, orange and grapefruit, some citrus rind bitterness in the middle and a crisp finish. I especially enjoyed the balance of sweet malts and bitter hops. The mouthfeel was semi-creamy, the body medium and the carbonation a touch high. Solid, solid, solid.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2009 13:05:21 | More by thekevlarkid

bjoyce12

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A nice, solid IPA offering. First thing I noticed: Super carbonated. Foam spilling from the bottle. Thought someone had shook it up, so tried another and got same effect. Carbonation seems to force the aroma from the ale like a cloud around the brew. Excellent IPA aroma. Taste is solid IPA. Not the best but better than average. Try this with their Fuel Cafe coffee stout; an superior combination.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2009 16:25:01 | More by bjoyce12

albern

Massachusetts

3.18/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Not my favorite IPA by a long shot. It is a good looking beer, it has a nice hazy orangey hued tint to the copper color. It has a nice creamy off white head that laces all over the glass and retains quite well. The appearance is the best part and it goes down from there. The nose on the beer is kind of an earthy citrus smell, and not indicative of an IPA at all. There are sweet clove or apricot like aromas coming from this beer, but no real hop distinctiveness. There is also a slight mustiness in there as well.

The taste is also quite disappointing. Essentially, what happened to the bittering hops. I'm getting a whole lot of citrus sweetness, some creamy biscuitiness in the background, but just no hop. This is really pushing the line on what an American IPA should be. It's drinkable, not bad on its own account, but a really sub-standard IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2009 21:58:13 | More by albern

bonbini26

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap @ the Blind Tiger 03-15-09

Poured a light amber hazy color, with a white head that left behind a sticky lace. Pretty standard IPA aroma here, some light citrus, pine and malt. The taste was bready/malty, herbal hop finish. Medium body at best, not the greatest hop taste. OVerall a pretty middle of the road IPA, nothing special

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2009 21:49:59 | More by bonbini26

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ripe apricot with a stationary cloud of fine yeast that adds character. The head consists of three fingers of pale orange-tinted, ivory colored foam that has an appealing texture and quite a bit of persistence. Yeah, this is pretty much what an IPA should look like.

Some think this is an English IPA. The citric fruity American hops in the nose say otherwise. Probably one or more of the C-hops, with a few English cones thrown in for good measure. It also smells like there's some toasted malt present. Warming opens things up and adds a ganja-like muskiness.

The 'bottled on' notch is between January and February, so this bottle of Lakefront IPA is two months old at most. That explains the impressive hoppiness in what some people refer to as a light or tame IPA. It may not be the most resinous lupulin bomb on the planet, but the alpha acid bite will do you right.

I'm still not thrilled with the malt bill, which adds a toasted earthiness that infringes on the hop flavor to some extent. Still, there's so much fresh grapefruit zestiness and lemon peel that the tastes score is an easy call. With a few more months on it, this would be 3.5 beer without a doubt. But then that's true for a lot of hoppy beer.

The mouthfeel is right where it needs to be for a 7.0% IPA. It's at least medium, holds on nicely, and finishes with more than a little silky creaminess. By the way, this is the exact same beer as Mangey Rabbit.

Lakefront India Pale Ale is one of Lakefront Brewery's more solid efforts. They may not be able to stand toe-to-toe with Wisconsin's best craft breweries, but I have to applaud the generous use of hops. Bottom line: this is a well-brewed IPA that should satisfy even the most discriminating hophead. Drink it fresh!

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2009 12:49:56 | More by BuckeyeNation

KarlHungus

Minnesota

3.83/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a cloudy orange color. The head is half an inch in height, and recedes into a small cap of lacing. The aroma is of citrus, grapefruit, and pine resin. The taste is like the aroma...tons of fruity hops. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with nice carbonation. Overall, this is a good IPA...good, but not great. It seems to lack true complexity, but it is still drinkable. I would drink this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2009 02:36:17 | More by KarlHungus

ROBORB

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a 12 oz Pint glass the beer has a dark orange or copper hue. The head was off white and disappeared quickly. It smells strongly of citrus. The taste follows the smell and has a prickly carbonation. I found the malt in this beer to over-power the hop profile. This would be an OK session beer but I would not search it out.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2009 21:48:48 | More by ROBORB

MitchW

Louisiana

3.05/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Medium, golden-brown color. Gentle carbonation with a thin head which dissipated quickly.

S - light, citrusy hop aroma, but hardly a hint of malt.

T - Faint grapefruit on the light side. Overall, there is more focus on bitterness than the malt can back up / balance up. A mild alcohol taste in the finish.

M - Coats tongue without feeling syrupy. Thick feel, given the appearance. Non-offensive, but low carbonation.

D - Neither a chore nor a great pleasure to drink. I feel I would just as soon move on to another beer as I would open another of this brew.

All around, just an average IPA in my book. I've had it in the past and remember it being better than this. The date on the bottle shows it's pretty fresh, but I'll review it again in the future to see if it's just this batch or if my tongue is on the fritz.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2009 00:42:37 | More by MitchW

Wasatch

Utah

3.53/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks goes out to Buebie for this brew.

Pours a nice cloudy golden orange color, nice carbonation, very nice one-finger creamy off-white head, with lots of nice sticky lacing. The nose is hoppy, with some malts, slight citrus/pine. The taste is hoppy, with some malt notes, citrus, slight pine. Medium body. Drinkable, not a bad IPA.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2009 01:51:54 | More by Wasatch

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz. bottle into DFH specialty glass on 2/10/09.

A - Poured a vigorously carbonated amber/orange-colored body with a slight hazy tint and almost two fingers of frothy, off-white foam that retained quite well and left behind plenty of sticky lace.

S - Lakefront IPA features a simple aroma comprised of citrus hops and caramel malt with an undertone of fruity sweetness.

T - Opens with a surge of sweet caramel malt and a splash of citrus hops. Finishes with a distinct bready/grainy malt character accompanied by a touch of grassy, herbal hop bitterness.

M - Medium body with a light syrupy texture and smooth, creamy mouthfeel overall. Carbonation is pretty lively on the tongue. Finish is a tad dry and mildly bitter on the palate.

D - This is a straightforward, pretty easy-drinking IPA. While it won't knock your socks off, it is flavorful and well-balanced, and has enough of a hop profile to keep you interested.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2009 00:59:31 | More by ffejherb

cswhitehorse

Oregon

3.2/5  rDev -19%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The Lakefront IPA poured a orangish yellow color with a 1-2 finger foam head and not much in the way of lacing.

Aroma was decent and gave a clean hop smell with grapefruit and pine. The taste was malty more than what I am used to. It was gentle and soft in the mouth not making much of presence. It was definitely middle of the road in the wide IPA field.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2009 04:59:30 | More by cswhitehorse

Fartknocker

Wisconsin

2.53/5  rDev -35.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12 ounce bottle

A- appearance is a nicley unfiltered deep yellowish amber
S- combination malt/citrus is the dominant scent combined
T- citrus and bitterness come through equally, with the bitterness lingering a bit
M- average carbonation
D- not the type of beer i would drink more than one or two

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2009 02:57:47 | More by Fartknocker

GClarkage

California

4.18/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

01/28/09- Purchased at Mollie Stones in Burlingame, CA.

Prresentation- 12oz bottle with a marked date strip on the side of the label. Poured into a random pint glass.

Appearance- Deep golden color approaching amber. About a 1/2 inch head on the pour and leaves very nice lace sheeting behind.

Smell- Fruity with citrus notes. Some grapefruit, but a good amount of orange as well. Smells even better when stiffing the empty bottle the next morning. A light mingling of caramel malt in the background.

Taste- Quite fruity as the scent denoted. Even a bit of pine hoppiness thrown in with the orange and grapefruit. Caramel toasted malt swirls amongst the hops to create aw well balanced IPA.

Mouthfeel- Pretty smooth with a about perfect carbonation level. Light bitter aftertaste.

Drinkability- Not sure of the abv, but it may be a touch too sweet to be sessionable, at least for me. But for a single beer, this is good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2009 16:33:45 | More by GClarkage