Grand Cru
Great Lakes Brewing Co.

Served in a Tulip glass, poured from a 32oz crowler purchased from the brewery on 03/23/16. From the can, 7.8% ABV, 30 IBU.

Appearance: Clear deep copper color with a white head that died back to a persistent ring. Some persistent strands of lacing.

Smell: Yeast, phenol, fruity esters, clove.

Taste: At first, quite sweet, with definite Belgian style fruity esters and a candi-sugar like taste. As it warmed up, some more yeasty flavors, coriander, and leafy/earthy hop finish noted.

Mouthfeel: Very smooth and has a nice thickness to it, but undercarbonated for style. However, I can't fault that too much since I'm at the limit for how long the Crowler was going to hold the carbonation. I suspect it would have been more effervescent if I had served it up right away.

Overall / Drinkability: A Belgian Strong Pale Ale that is among the sweeter ones I've ever tried, but full flavored and quite enjoyable. It needs to warm up a bit to let all the flavors out, and its best to have when fresh, but after 3 days in a crowler, still quite good. Definitely glad I had a large glass of this (I split the crowler with the Mrs.) and I'll have to try again fresh when I see it at the brewery on a future visit. Went well with food, which was pulled pork BBQ and roasted root vegetables (beets, parsnips, potatoes, carrots).

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at the brewery. Listed on the menu as 7.8% abv 30 IBU

Aroma of wheat and peppery spice. In the taste, wheat, pepper and coriander. Bready malt notes and a dry spice bite. Little presence of hops, which come across earthy if anything. Light dusty yeast notes and grainy malt. Mild but tempered sweetness with the spices and dry orange peel. Medium bodied, crisp and well carbonated with a spice bite. Overall, this is a nice little Belgian style gold. A thoroughly enjoyable rarity from Great Lakes.

 

 

 

Appearance: Cloudy orange. Not much foam or lacing.

Smell: Not a lot up front. Slight bit of bananas.

Taste: First thing I taste is the phenols. Little bit of band aid, bubble gum. Definitely speaks of Belgian. Little bit of sweet, little bit of hops. Nicely balanced. Very fruity with stone fruit flavors - peaches, and plums. Slight bitterness at the end.

Mouthfeel: Very light effervescence.

Drinkability: Delicious, but don't chug it. I'd like to try it over a scoop of premium vanilla ice cream or a tart fruit cobbler. Yum!

Serving glass: Poured from tap into Tulip.

Appearance: Hazy orange with very thin white head.

Smell: Bready, orange, some light spice.

Taste: Very bready and fruity. Definite orange. Fairly sweet but the spicy yeast and/or hops keep it in check. Some coriander and clove on the finish.

Feel: Medium to full body, very smooth, moderate carbonation.

Overall: Tastes kind of like a Belgian version of their Christmas Ale, which is a very good thing. Please bottle this in 4-packs!

Pours a hazy orange color with a nice white head. Head disappears after a minute, but leaves some nice patches of lace.

Sweet bread malt up front, with a nice amount of fruity esthers. Maybe some green apple and pear notes. A bit of a Belgian yeasty, spicy feel.

Sweet up front, with a nice bread-like malt similar to other Great Lakes beers. Fruity notes, ripe apples and pears. Slightly earthy and yeasty at the finish, but remains a bit sweet.

Medium body, with a fair amount of carbonation to lighten the body a bit. Just a bit of warmth. Pretty nice beer.

Poured on tap into a pint.

Pours a hazy dull amber color, average head and lacing. Smells sweet, hint of hops, lilac. Average ale, has a subtitle pilsner hoppiness, slightly sweet, Belgian style yeast, well balanced, a little fruity. Nice carbonation, not a pallette offender. Overall a nice BPA, very similar to ommegang's. One of the better offerings from GL brewing.