Style: IPA (American)

ABV: 6.5 IBU: 50.0

86/100

Aroma:	11
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	17
Mouthfeel:	4

Great Lakes Brewing Company Great Lakes IPA

What the brewers say

“A dry-hopped, easy-drinking American IPA.”

What our panel thought

“Hints of cucumber and orange marmalade mingle within the pine and dank notes to create a compelling aroma. The sip brings wet grass and malt-soaked tea, hints of citrus and fruit, and a firm, enveloping bitterness. A bit thin to deliver the full package; the mild malt character and dialed-down intensity temper it a bit too much.”

What our editors thought

“Very light—classic with a soft bitterrness and touch of round mouthfeel. Citrus and forest notes in the aroma and flavor are very light. Minimal in expression without sacrificing character.”

Review printed in: Bright & Juicy & Bitter & Soft IPA (August-September 2021) (View All Issues)

Print Shelf Talker

How We Review

REVIEWS FOR YOU >

pFriem Family Brewers IPA

__Aroma:__ “Orange, grapefruit, lemon, and pine. Grassy, herbal. Some pineapple, mango and a touch of vanilla-like sweetness. The malt is subtle—light and vaguely sweet.” __Flavor:__ Nice sweetness up front. Some notes of grapefruit, a little orange, slight lemon. A little pine. Well balanced with significant bitterness to cut the lightly toasted sweetness. Light body, clean semisweet malt. __Overall:__ A pretty standard West Coast IPA. Nice citrus notes with some pine and tropical fruit. The balance with the bitterness worked well, but it could use a touch of malt complexity. Clean and crisp, and very sessionable for a beer of evident strength.

Great Lakes Brewing Company Dortmunder Gold Lager

Yes! Rich malt depth with hints of dried fruit, toffee, and jasmine. Slightly spicy hop bitterness balances perfectly. Very clean finish with enough body for a nice drinking experience. Something a bit beyond light lager, but still has all-day barbeque drinkability.

Incendiary Brewing Company Head in the Clouds

“Soft bright haze. Tightly woven orange and vanilla notes on the nose. Surprising dash of bitterness greets you in the front of the sip. Orange peel, a touch of pith, grapefruit. Lack of depth on the finish with the citrus-hop notes rising above a soft and disappearing malt structure.”

FRESH BEERS >

The best new craft beers available in a beer store near you. Sponsored content.

New Belgium Dominga Grapefruit

New Belgium wood cellar blender Lauren Limbach was gifted a new foeder that she aptly named Dominga—a play on the Spanish word for Sunday. She first created a mimosa-inspired golden sour called “Dominga: Goddess of Brunch.” Now we are excited to introduce the cocktail-inspired version, Dominga Grapefruit Paloma. Inspired by the classic cocktail of Mexico, Dominga packs a refreshing combo of bright grapefruit and lime flavors, along with agave and a pinch of salt.

Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest

Oaktoberfest is our oak-inspired homage to the great German tradition of Oktoberfest. We go the extra mile of maturing this beer in French oak barrels to create an amazingly smooth mouthfeel. The result is a classic German festbier with a hint of West Coast hoppiness. Grab your stein, don your lederhosen, and enjoy!

Firestone Walker Parabola ’24

Parabola is always a beast of a beer, with intense flavors of black cherry, dark chocolate, vanilla, and roast coffee—yet each annual release also bears its own subtle imprint. For this latest edition, we aged the beer for a year in 12-year Elijah Craig barrels. These coveted bourbon barrels imparted signature notes of charred oak, caramel, and cinnamon, taking the Parabola experience to new heights. Pour some out in your favorite snifter; behold the impossibly opaque color as you allow it to warm up a bit; and then let the dark magic of Parabola stun your palate with its unrivaled flavor and complexity.

Sierra Nevada Cosmic Little Thing Hazy Double IPA

For the latest in the Hazy IPA series, ride Sierra Nevada’s interstellar wave of tropical flavor in this Cosmic Little Thing, a hazy nebula glowing with Comet, Strata, and Helios hops for notes of citrus, berries, and lychee. Head into orbit with this 8 percent ABV hazy double IPA before the next Hazy IPA rotator hits. Look for Cosmic Little Thing in six-packs and 19.2 oz singles.

Firestone Walker Cosmic Crusher Juicy Imperial IPA

Out-of-this-world flavor that packs a punch—take a journey with Cosmic Crusher. “Cosmic Crusher is our crazy adventure into the realm of imperial juicy IPAs,” says brewmaster Matt Brynildson. Cosmic Crusher is built around two ultra-tropical hops—Galaxy and Strata. The result is a level of flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel that can only materialize at high strength, crossing the line into a whole new cosmos of punchy mango and pineapple character. SKUs available: 12 oz six-pack cans, 19.2 oz single serve, and Mind Haze Variety Pack.

Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion

Luponic Distortion is the Firestone Walker trailblazer that continues to break the rules, back for the first time since 2021. The classic Luponic Distortion base recipe returns with an all-new hop blend to deliver a fresh blast from the past. Brewed with a secret blend of new-age hops, the 2024 edition of Luponic Distortion turns up the volume with mind-bending flavors of lychee, peach, nectarine, and strawberry. Available exclusively in the Beer Before Glory IPA Mixed Pack.