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Good Harbor Golden Ale
Leelanau Brewing Company
- From:
- Leelanau Brewing Company
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- Bière de Garde
- ABV:
- 7.5%
- Score:
- 92
- Avg:
- 4.15 | pDev: 9.64%
- Reviews:
- 69
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jun 23, 2019
- Added:
- Nov 20, 2006
- Wants:
- 47
- Gots:
- 16
This Golden Ale is Inspired by Franco-Belgain bière de gardes, but not exactly fitting the profile of its European counterparts, this beer is best described as a Michigan Bière de Garde. Hand-crafted by Ron Jeffries at his Jolly Pumpkin Brewery in Dexter, which is consistantly rated as one of one of the best in the world, all of the Leelanau Brewing Company beers are distingushed by their time spent in a large French oak barrique prior to bottling and re-fermentation. The wild yeasts inhabiting the brewery give all the beers made there a common thread, creating a family of beverages with rare harmony, despite their diverse styles.
Decidedly refreshing despite the 7.5% abv, this style of beer was originally brewed in the slow winter season as payment for farmhands in the summer. We certainly don’t mind sitting down after a long day of work and breathing deep the symphony aromas wafting from the lofty, lacey head burgeoning from our tulip glass. Subtle notes of peaches, apricots, canned pineapple, bitters, and a faint herbaceousness belie the smooth and delicate taste. The slightly malty, fruity body quickly transitions effortlessly to a crisp, dry and somewhat tart finish. Signature hints of French oak and the complex yeast character place this all-natural beer among the best saisons, stock ales, and farmhouse styles of Michigan, France & Belgium.
Decidedly refreshing despite the 7.5% abv, this style of beer was originally brewed in the slow winter season as payment for farmhands in the summer. We certainly don’t mind sitting down after a long day of work and breathing deep the symphony aromas wafting from the lofty, lacey head burgeoning from our tulip glass. Subtle notes of peaches, apricots, canned pineapple, bitters, and a faint herbaceousness belie the smooth and delicate taste. The slightly malty, fruity body quickly transitions effortlessly to a crisp, dry and somewhat tart finish. Signature hints of French oak and the complex yeast character place this all-natural beer among the best saisons, stock ales, and farmhouse styles of Michigan, France & Belgium.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by vrazionale:
Reviewed by vrazionale from Vermont
4.89/5 rDev +17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
4.89/5 rDev +17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
750 mL bottle at refrigerator poured into a snifter.
A - Pours a bright golden hazy yellow with a thin layer of head formation that quickly fades to patches across the top of the brew.
S - Wow. Bright citrus meets musky basement funk. A wonderfully complex combination of citrus fruit, wet hay, musk, bitter and floral honey, sweet grass, sweat, and oak aromas.
T - Wow, again. All of the aromas that showed up on the nose here combine to produce a brew that is truly one-of-a-kind. There is an absolutely invigorating combination of bright citrus fruit, old wet basement funk, honey, vanilla, and salty sweat, with a long finish of mouth-puckering citrus and hoppy citrus and pine. So deliciously balanced and enjoyable.
M - Perfect carbonation - this brew is crisp and addictive. The finish is long, complex, and beguiling on the palate.
D - This is about as good as it gets for me. I can't even begin to describe how wonderful of a brew this is.This brew is a boon to the esoteric beer drinker - its complexity is so enchanting and beguiling, and every sip is unique. I love to pair beer with food, but this brew is too good to drink with any food - just put on some good music, sit back, enjoy every sip, and enjoy life.
Jul 03, 2009A - Pours a bright golden hazy yellow with a thin layer of head formation that quickly fades to patches across the top of the brew.
S - Wow. Bright citrus meets musky basement funk. A wonderfully complex combination of citrus fruit, wet hay, musk, bitter and floral honey, sweet grass, sweat, and oak aromas.
T - Wow, again. All of the aromas that showed up on the nose here combine to produce a brew that is truly one-of-a-kind. There is an absolutely invigorating combination of bright citrus fruit, old wet basement funk, honey, vanilla, and salty sweat, with a long finish of mouth-puckering citrus and hoppy citrus and pine. So deliciously balanced and enjoyable.
M - Perfect carbonation - this brew is crisp and addictive. The finish is long, complex, and beguiling on the palate.
D - This is about as good as it gets for me. I can't even begin to describe how wonderful of a brew this is.This brew is a boon to the esoteric beer drinker - its complexity is so enchanting and beguiling, and every sip is unique. I love to pair beer with food, but this brew is too good to drink with any food - just put on some good music, sit back, enjoy every sip, and enjoy life.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Ciocanelu from Romania
4/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Hazy golden color with a bit of foam. Aroma is quite funky with unripe stone fruit notes. Taste is tart, acidic, quite fruity with nice yeast notes and light fruit vinegar. Light body, acidic, woody.
Nov 20, 2018Reviewed by Dragginballs76 from South Carolina
4.41/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.41/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance - Pours hazy golden color with no head at all few spots of lacing around the glass.
Aroma - Big oak aroma, vinegar, apricots, pretty sweet aroma. Nice yeast with a little funk.
Taste - Really full flavored, vinegar is a little more subdued, lots of oak and yeast. Funky earthy tart up front with a little sweetness on the end.
Overall - Medium bodied, tart slightly puckering nice dry finish.
Overall - A really nicely done beer. Big oak light funkiness very easy drinking. Sometimes it is tough for me to drink a really vinous beer this is wonderfully balanced.
Oct 14, 2018Aroma - Big oak aroma, vinegar, apricots, pretty sweet aroma. Nice yeast with a little funk.
Taste - Really full flavored, vinegar is a little more subdued, lots of oak and yeast. Funky earthy tart up front with a little sweetness on the end.
Overall - Medium bodied, tart slightly puckering nice dry finish.
Overall - A really nicely done beer. Big oak light funkiness very easy drinking. Sometimes it is tough for me to drink a really vinous beer this is wonderfully balanced.
Reviewed by Jwale73 from Rhode Island
3.58/5 rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.58/5 rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Bottled 4/29/11. Pours a beautiful golden orange with no head, just a tight band around the shoulders. Nose expresses notes of oak, tangerines and yeast. Taste is due, a little earthy and a bit medicinal. Mouthfeel is light in body with a mild, even carbonation and a light acidity. All and all, not a bad beer for the style but a bit past its prime.
May 02, 2017Reviewed by BillRoth from Maryland
4.28/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Had at Spuyten Duyvill in Williamsburg Brooklyn. Sitting outside in courtyard. Poured in tall stem white wine glasses at perfect temperature. Short lived but attractive head. Soft golden color really caught the courtyard lights nicely. Aromatics were full and pushed the wild yeast and barrel. Taste likewise with soft but rich tartness. Very nicely done. Wonderfully smooth with gentle carbonation but still plenty to brighten the taste. Overall a very nice if not overly complicated beer. Would enjoy drinking this again, and is perfect for a summer evening like this one.
Sep 12, 2015Reviewed by metter98 from New York
4.15/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A: The beer is hazy yellow in color. It poured with a short white head that died down, leaving lots of thick, wispy lacy lacing on the surface and a small collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of oak are present in the nose along with notes of vinegar.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste has flavors of vinegar along with notes of oak and hints of fruits such as apples and some sourness.
M: It feels just about medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. There is a slight amount of tartness. Sone dryness also becomes noticeable as the beer warms up.
O: This beer seems to be a little sour and tastes like a hybrid between a Bière de Garde and an American Wild Ale.
Serving type: bottle.
Jun 28, 2015S: Light to moderate aromas of oak are present in the nose along with notes of vinegar.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste has flavors of vinegar along with notes of oak and hints of fruits such as apples and some sourness.
M: It feels just about medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. There is a slight amount of tartness. Sone dryness also becomes noticeable as the beer warms up.
O: This beer seems to be a little sour and tastes like a hybrid between a Bière de Garde and an American Wild Ale.
Serving type: bottle.
Good Harbor Golden Ale from Leelanau Brewing Company
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
130 ratings
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