Bird Dawg
Great Lakes Brewing Co.

 

Review taken @ GLBC Brew Pub, March 14th 2015.

This is a new, experimental, pub exclusive on tap only.

Pulled off tap and poured into a Nonic style pint glass at my request.

A - murky, Hazy yellow golden body with what appeared to be a good bit of funk floating about. The head poured decent leaving pretty good stick. A very delicious looking brew.

S - most may not be able to get past it's in depth smokiness, but I found sweet malt, banana, german style spices, clove all mingling below it's smokey character. A splendid salt note is present as you pull the glass away from the whiffs.

T - this is where I found this beer wasn't for me, but I still found it unique enough to finish. The smokiness is present with hints of banana, clove, and a slightly sweet malt base. Yeast is funky which I do like and almost musty the more this warms. Like a deep dark cellar just sitting off the salt water of some distant sea. A semi tart fruitiness as the backbone

M - light in body but a decent texture. It's abv allows for drinkability, but it's unique smokiness and yeast strain may throw some off, but I enjoyed the experience this brought.

O - I absolutely love GLBC, but I doubt I taste this one again. It's unique and fits maybe a select few. I love smoked beers from Germany, but this paired with the tartness just isn't my taste. Good quality and uniqueness is 2nd to none. Definitely worth a try if you go to their fabulous brew pub.

 

 

 

 

This beer is called the Bird Dawg Lichtenhainer Weisse, and at 4.1% ABV it is a brand new, on-tap only, "pub exclusive"available now at the GLBC. Served to me in a standard pint glass. The description for this beer is as follows "a tart sessionable Berliner style with distinct smokiness." This beer draws a very cloudy/hazy golden color with a white head that's about 1/2 in j hick when first served that eventually settles to a medium sized ring lining the inside of the glass along with some decent lacing. The appearance reminds me a lot of a hefeweizen. Aromas of some banana and clove are certainly present (again like they would be in a good hefeweizen) and certainly some yeasty funk. Tastewise there is a hint of malty sweetness upfront that gives way to the aforementioned banana and clove notes and rounds out with some yeasty tart funk with a nice touch of citrusy sourness and almost a hint of salt. Has a crisp, yet smooth and frothy, light to medium bodied mouthfeel with moderate to heavy carbonation. A very interesting offering here.

Eric