Citra Session
Big Lake Brewing

Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Big Lake Brewing
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
American Pale Ale
ABV:
4.8%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.63 | pDev: 6.89%
Reviews:
4
Ratings:
12
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 24, 2018
Added:
Jun 17, 2016
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
A light beer made with malted wheat and Citra Hops. An easy-drinking session ale, perfect for summertime, or anytime.

26 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.69 by ESchweers from Michigan

Dec 24, 2018
 
Rated: 3.88 by mpolewan from Ohio

Dec 03, 2017
 
Rated: 3.6 by Giggy from Michigan

Sep 16, 2017
Photo of tjwarren
Reviewed by tjwarren from Ohio

3.77/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Light yellow orange. Just a little darker than a macro lager.
Aroma reminds of a pilsner for some reason.
Nice light smooth easy drinker. Pleasant citrus with little to no bitterness. Can't imagine anyone not liking this.
A tad bit thin but smooth and clean.
Very enjoyable overall. I can see me seeking this out in the future.
Jun 03, 2017
 
Rated: 3.49 by chuckgietzen from Michigan

Jan 03, 2017
 
Rated: 4.06 by Tracker83 from Michigan

Sep 01, 2016
Photo of superspak
Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 ounce can into pint glass; no can dating, but is a recent release. Pours fairly clear golden amber color with a 2 finger fairly dense and fluffy off white head with good retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Nice dense foamy lacing clings down the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, peach, mango, lemon zest, orange peel, light pepper/pine, wheat, cracker, lightly toasted bread, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and compelxity of citrus/tropical/pine hops and light-moderate bready malt notes; with solid strength. Taste of grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, peach, mango, lemon zest, orange peel, light pepper, pine, wheat, cracker, lightly toasted bread, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Moderate pine/citrus rind/grassy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, peach, mango, lemon/orange rind, pepper, pine, wheat, cracker, lightly toasted bread, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/tropical/pine hops and light-moderate bready malt flavors; with a nice malt/bitterness balance, and minimal lingering hop astringency after the finish. Light-moderate dryness from bitterness, increasing though the glass. Medium carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, crisp, moderately sticky/resinous, and lightly bready/grainy balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 4.8%. Overall this is a nice American pale ale. All around good complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/tropical/pine hops and light-moderate bready malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and refreshing to drink. A nicely enjoyable offering.
Aug 13, 2016
 
Rated: 3.12 by Cotton_27 from Michigan

Jul 19, 2016
Photo of Barnoloid
Reviewed by Barnoloid from Illinois

3.88/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Decent enough session ale - does exactly as it says on the tin. Light hop profile with a slightly watery body - which really does fit in with the 'session' nature of this beer. Bitterness is balanced, with a bready backend to provide a sort of sweetness. A little one note but sometimes that's what you are looking for. Have a couple of these in the pool or hot tub on a warm Michigan summer night and you'll be feeling good.
Jul 09, 2016
 
Rated: 3.27 by MDM from Michigan

Jun 26, 2016
 
Rated: 3.53 by DanGeo from Michigan

Jun 23, 2016
Photo of StoutHunter
Reviewed by StoutHunter from Michigan

3.56/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
I picked up a can of Big Lake's Citra Session for $2.49 at The Lager Mill. I'm in the mood for something lighter today and I thought I would give this one a try, so lets see how it goes. 2016 Vintage. Poured from a 16oz can into a imperial pint glass.

A- The can looks nice, it's got a nice clean look with some nice info, but it isn't too eye catching. It poured a fairly clear amber color that took on more of golden amber hue when held to the light with almost two fingers worth of creamy white head that died down to a thin ring that stayed till the end and it left some patchy lacing behind. This is a good looking beer, I have no complaints.

S- The aroma starts off with a medium amount of sweetness with the hops being the first to show up and they impart a mixture of citrus, light tropical fruit, light green hop and light floral hops aromas and it's followed by just a little bit of doughy yeast. Towards the end comes the malts which impart a grainy, lightly toasted, bread crust and bready aromas with no wheat really coming through. This beer had a nice aroma, but I wish the wheat showed up.

T- The taste seems to be similar to the aroma and it starts off with a medium amount of sweetness with the hops still being the first to show up and they impart the same aspects, but they are a little lighter this time and they are followed by that same light doughy yeast aspect. Towards the ends comes the malts which are just a little lighter than they were in the aroma, but they impart all the same aspect with the wheat still not showing up and on the finish there's a slightly higher amount of light bitterness with a hoppy aftertaste. This is a nice tasting beer, but I wish the wheat showed up.

M- Smooth, slightly refreshing, crisp, a little clean, on the lighter side of being medium bodied with a slightly higher amount of medium carbonation. The mouthfeel is pretty nice and it works well with this beer.

Overall I thought this was a nice beer and it was a nice example of the style, it had pretty much all the aspect I would expect for a lighter session IPA, but when it came down to it the wheat wasn't noticeable and I just wish the hops showed up a little more in the taste. This beer had ok drinkability, I could drink one, but after that I might start to get bored with it. What I like the most about this beer is the appearance and mouthfeel, they were the highlights of this beer. What I like the least about this beer is that the wheat didn't show up. I might buy this beer again and I wouldn't turn one down. I can't say I would highly recommend it, but if you like your session IPA's on the lighter side it's worth trying. All in all i liked this beer, but I didn't love it, it had potential, it just needs some noticeable wheat flavors with a little more flavor and juiciness from the citra hops. It's not a favorite Big Lake beer and it's a little above average for the style. Nice job guys, but with a little more work this could be a pretty good beer.
Jun 17, 2016
Citra Session from Big Lake Brewing
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 12 ratings