Lake Effect Pale Ale
Mishawaka Brewing Company

Lake Effect Pale AleLake Effect Pale Ale
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From:
Mishawaka Brewing Company
 
Indiana, United States
Style:
American Pale Ale
ABV:
5.8%
Score:
75
Avg:
3.06 | pDev: 17.97%
Reviews:
25
Ratings:
27
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 01, 2012
Added:
Oct 21, 2002
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by matty:
Photo of matty
Reviewed by matty from Pennsylvania

2.68/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Gold to orange colored ale with fluffy thick head.Aroma smells metallic and citrus.Taste is the same metallic and citrus with an unpleasant bitter aftertaste.I'm not really digging this brew and most likely will not purchase again.A definite disappointment!!
Mar 22, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
 
Rated: 3.5 by TheDarkKnight from Delaware

Jan 30, 2012
Photo of betsona
Reviewed by betsona from Idaho

2.42/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
22oz bottle poured into a shaker pint. No brewed, bottled or freshness date on bottle.

A- Perfectly clear golden color, so clear I was able to read the label though the beer. Two finger white head that dissipates into slight covering over a third of the beer. No lacing on the glass.

S- Cereal malt with maybe a hint of caramel. There is something sweet trying come through. A minute bit of citrus hops. A huge funky sour smell however dominates all the other smells. It is mixed with some hay and grass.

T- The malt bill is present, but in extremely sour taste. Strong barnyard taste. It is really funky, which would be fine if it didn't claim to be a APA.

M- light easy to drink body. Good carbonation.

O- Never again. This is one odd tasting beer that I was told was not infected. Could have fooled me. It is drinkable, but never more than one for me.
Apr 05, 2011
Photo of mwa423
Reviewed by mwa423 from Ohio

3.15/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A - Pours a light clear golden color but barely any head. There is a nice soapy lacing that is given by the tiny head, but it really could have used more.

S - Mostly malt bit a tiny hop bite in the aroma. Seems like it could use a bit more hops, but a reasonably well balanced APA skewed towards malt.

T - A pretty common pale ale, mostly a sweet and nutty maltiness and a single hop flavor that is slightly bitter.

M/D - Mouthfeel is reasonably full but ends quite dry. This is a basic simple pale ale that is about average in every way.
Oct 02, 2010
Photo of JamesS
Reviewed by JamesS from Indiana

3.98/5  rDev +30.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured a nice mid-copper color with some decent head and nice lacing throughout. Had a very nice subtle hop/bitter aroma with a decent amount of sweetness underneath from the malts. Very nice flavor, an excellent malt backbone with interesting hop attributes; had both English and American styles -- English in the nose and initial flavor with American slight citrus on the tail end. Went down quite nicely, a very good pale ale overall.
Jul 20, 2010
Photo of yourefragile
Reviewed by yourefragile from District of Columbia

2.59/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2
12 oz bottle. I like the name and label of this beer. Ok, now that I got all the nice things I can say out of the way, let's move onto the review.

As this pours I'm surprised by how clear and pale the beer is and after a vigorous pour settles in an a clear, pale golden yellow with a thin white head of large bubbles that quickly fades to nothing. Aroma is too sweet for me, primarily caramel and malt, mildly fruity, but not hoppy. Body has a strong biscuity/caramel malt presence and a mild hop bitterness. However there is also a weird astringent sweetness that starts halfway through and dominates the finish that ruins the experience of this beer for me and turns this nearly into a drain pour. Mouthfeel is medium-light, and is lacking a little in the carbonation department. Like I said, I like the label...
Dec 07, 2009
Photo of alleykatking
Reviewed by alleykatking from Indiana

2.73/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
Had on tap at The Pub

A- Came to me a semi-hazy yellow/orange color. Little quater inch head that died as soon as it was served to me. Lacing was the high point on the apperance of this beer which I gave an extra half a point to.

S- Bigger malt smell off the bat on the nose. A citrus hop smell along with a faint piney hop smel as well. There is a huge sour funk coming from this beer that I didn't expect. I thought I got a infected beer until I found other reviews which said the same thing. I like sours but for this style it shouldn't have that smell.

T- BIG sour taste in the front and ending of this beer. The malts come through this more than I expected leaving a sweeter undertone than I was hoping for. The hops are lacking in this beer for the most part. I can't get over the sour funk to this beer. I like it but once again it's not in the style at all.

M- Light mouthfeel to this beer. The carbonation is kind of lacking in this even though it's on tap. Leaves a sour style funk on the tounge and palate which is nice if it was a sour beer. Sadly it isn't at all.

D- This beer is drinkable but I would only want 2 before I go onto something else. But once again thsi beer is way off for the style they say it is.
Aug 22, 2009
Photo of danielharper
Reviewed by danielharper from Michigan

3.3/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 2 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Appearance: Transparent yellow body, some bubbles from carbonation, but with absolutely zero head.

Smell: Much better here. Rich, malty, with caramel undertones. Strong hoppy aroma. Reminds me more of Dead Guy than any pale ale I've ever had. High marks for impressiveness, though.

Taste: Sweet with apples but quite tart, borderline sour, with a dry yeasty aftertaste. There's a lot going on here, but it's a cacaphony rather than a symphony.

Mouthfeel: Thin, but it does coat the palate on the finish.

Drinkability: This doesn't really work as a pale ale. I'd rather think of this as an amber.
Aug 03, 2009
Photo of errantnight
Reviewed by errantnight from District of Columbia

2.42/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
Got this as an extra from... leftmindedrighty? I think? joe1510? stfun37? Can't remember. Nor will I remember drinking this beer (no offense friendly person who sent me free extra beer!), as it's primarily non-descript.

Maybe not strong enough. This is truly a non-entity.

Pours with barely a quarter finger of head, no lacing, a little bit sticks around the edges, but this seems undercarbonated.

Despite this, the nose is alright. Mild hop aroma (seems muted, and a bit cardboardy... a bit old?) with a hint of bread and pale malt.

Taste is well balanced, although the bitterness is a little ragged. Some nice biscuit and bread flavors playing through the pale malt, moderate sweetness, finishes dry. Very clean, not real hop flavor.

If this had even moderate carbonation this would probably be a lot better, as it is it seems flat and dead on the tongue (although one wonders if increased carbonation would up the perceived bitterness and wash away the one thing this has going for it: a nice malt base).

Meh, whatever.
Mar 14, 2009
Photo of BierFan
Reviewed by BierFan from Michigan

3.21/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
No abv or freshness date to be found on the label. Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: Slightly hazy yellow/orange. Absolutely no head on this beer.

Smell: Really malty. Caramel and peanut butter aroma. Smells like it would be a really good winter warmer, but it's not the aroma I expect from an American pale ale.

Taste: Malty taste. No real hop flavor, but it has quite a bit of hop bitterness.
Feb 19, 2009
Photo of BoitSansSoif
Reviewed by BoitSansSoif from France

2.12/5  rDev -30.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
A-Bottle barely even went "pfft" when I popped it open. I'm not sure it even did at all. Pours a hazy orange-copper amber w/almost no head to speak of.
S-Sweet honey-like aroma w/citrusy hop bouquet and faint malt. There was something else too and it wasn't until I read the review by emerge077 that it occurred to me: peanut butter. Also some caramel, and possibly a hint of diacetyl.
T-Grainy and mealy w/a strange combination of astringency and unpleasant sweetness at the same time. A tiny bit of hops emerges in the finish with some cereal, which is the most pleasant part, although I find little if anything pleasing about this beer. The combination of flavors is odd and unsettling.
M-Hardly any carbonation, balance is off.
D-Did not enjoy, but I did finish the bottle.
Feb 10, 2009
Photo of biggred1
Reviewed by biggred1 from Indiana

1.91/5  rDev -37.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Pale straw yellow with a tiny head that quickly fades and leaves no lace. Smells faintly of hops but mostly like the arts & crafts paste little kids eat, funky. Taste is bland, very faint medicinal tasting mint and hops and not much else. Watery mouthfeel, not what I like in a Pale Ale.
Jan 27, 2009
Photo of cnally
Reviewed by cnally from Indiana

3.12/5  rDev +2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
a slight head dissipates quickly but leaves a slight lacing. pale apricot dirty orange color

malty scent, alcohol sting on the nostrils

mellow hop flavor initially, with a residual bitterness on the back end. astringent flavor and aftertaste. grainy flavor.

thicker texture on the feel, sticky and dry.

a slightly underperforming flavor and feel leave this an easy to drink but not very appealing pale ale.
Dec 16, 2008
Photo of tmitch75
Reviewed by tmitch75 from Illinois

3.97/5  rDev +29.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clear blonde color with average-sized soft white head and decent lacing.

Faintly sweet malt smell, overpowered by citric and floral hop aromas. Smell is pretty good overall.

Malt flavor is stonger than the smell indicates, and does a better job of balancing the solid citric hop flavor.

Medium bodied, a bit too crisp but otherwise quite good.

A very drinkable APA, definitely the best offering I have had from Mishawaka Brewing.

Tasted on 8/3/08.
Nov 30, 2008
Photo of RedBaron
Reviewed by RedBaron from Illinois

3.28/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
An interesting, if ultimately not that satisfying, brew from the Hoosier state (picked up while spending a weekend in Ft. Wayne, IN).

Appearance: PALE, straw-colored, translucent beer. Nice uneven rocky head.
Smell: Just a faint whiff of hops, light sweet smell of malt.
Taste: Fruity esters up front play with a bit of malty sweetness. Decent crisp and bitter finish.
Mouthfeel: Pretty nice overall mouthfeel which makes you want another one. Probably the dry finish.
Drinkabilty: Although this beer tends to favor the malts (the hops are barely detectable, both in bittering and aroma), the beer is attenuated well enough that the dryness alone is a pleasant feature. This is billed as an "American Pale Ale" and although it certainly is, it reminds me more of a kolsch-style beer masquerading as an APA. Not a beer that was all that thrilling, but then again, that's OK. Might pair nicely with a bleu-cheese burger.
Aug 13, 2008
Photo of therica
Reviewed by therica from Maryland

3.82/5  rDev +24.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Nice offering, had on-tap at the brewery, also took home a 6-pack.

A= light golden, modest head, modest lacing.

S= nice light crisp smell with a little honey, evident hops, interesting florals that reminded me a little of baby-powder, although a previous reviewer's comment of peanut butter on white bread kind of fits, as well.

T= Cascade hops presence is strong, a slight bitterness yet a honey sweetness in the finish. Not a whole lot of depth in flavors but a very clean-tasting beer.

M= evident bitters lingering with a touch of honey sweetness.

D= decent offering, probably would turn my stomach after a few but overall very drinkable.
Jul 11, 2008
Photo of Monkeyknife
Reviewed by Monkeyknife from Missouri

2.53/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Poured from the bottle a golden straw color with a thin, wispy white head.

Aroma is mostly grain with a hint of something medicinal to it.

The taste is equal parts faint caramel, bitterness, and soap. The bitterness lingers in the finish.

Light bodied and moderately carbonated.

This one sits at near the bottom of the APA food chain. Not much to say about it on the positive side.
Jul 07, 2008
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

3.15/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Shared a bomber of this over the weekend.

Looks fairly light and golden in the glass, with ample foam.

Aroma is white bread and peanut butter, strangely enough. The combination of malts seems to mute any hop presence. Fairly mild flavor, pale malts, very light bitterness.

Well carbonated, and goes down pretty easy, but it doesn't really hold one's attention for long.
Jun 09, 2008
Photo of ChainGangGuy
Reviewed by ChainGangGuy from Georgia

2.5/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Appearance: Pours a golden body with a fine, puffy white head.

Smell: Fairly weak aroma of pale malts and citrus.

Taste: Weak, lacking pale malt flavor dissolves into a strong citrus bitterness with an odd vegetal note on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Thin-bodied, with a biting effervescence.

Drinkability: Not at all what I'm looking for in an APA.
Aug 21, 2007
Lake Effect Pale Ale from Mishawaka Brewing Company
Beer rating: 75 out of 100 with 27 ratings