Burning River
Great Lakes Brewing Co.

Burning RiverBurning River
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From:
Great Lakes Brewing Co.
 
Ohio, United States
Style:
American Pale Ale
Ranked #383
ABV:
6%
Score:
88
Ranked #13,442
Avg:
3.94 | pDev: 11.17%
Reviews:
1,063
Ratings:
3,345
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 26, 2023
Added:
Jul 06, 2001
Wants:
  151
Gots:
  669
A toast to the Cuyahoga River Fire! For rekindling an appreciation of the Great Lakes region’s natural resources (like the malt and hops illuminating this fresh Pale Ale). Crisp and bright, with refreshing flickers of citrus and pine that ignite the senses (not our local waterways).
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by sgoodship:
Photo of sgoodship
Reviewed by sgoodship from Illinois

4.42/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 12oz bottle into an imperial pint glass.

A: Yellowish amber with a hint of haziness. Some visible carbonation pillars rising quickly. Soft white one finger head. Dissipated to a fine head throughout and leaves nice large topographical lacing.

S: Surprisingly aggressive hop nose. Fresh, floral, grapefruit and lemony. It has a strong Cascade character. A little malt sweetness but hop dominates. Malt becomes stronger and biscuity toward the end of the drink.

T: Nice clean grapefruit hop bite with a solid caramel malt backbone. This has to be pushing toward an IPA. I'm not going to complain about that! It is well done. The malt manages to hold it's own and adds levels of sweetness under the hop that make the fruitiness take on more peach type characteristics. Lovely!

M: Light body, crisp, dry mouth. Medium carbonation that is very active but not too aggressive in the mouth. Aftertaste leaves a nice hop bite on the back of the throat.

D: A very enjoyable beer. One of the better APA's I have had. I would drink another if I had one but sadly I don't. I have yet to have a bad beer from Great Lakes - gotta love that!
Jan 22, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.99 by RalphStanley34 from French Polynesia

Sep 26, 2023
 
Rated: 3.93 by dd53grif from Michigan

Apr 01, 2023
 
Rated: 3.32 by MFJB

Mar 10, 2023
 
Rated: 2.59 by JustLikeMyDad from Michigan

Jan 28, 2023
 
Rated: 3.85 by Jcal2023 from Pennsylvania

Oct 25, 2022
 
Rated: 3 by RuffReader from Ohio

Oct 15, 2022
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

3/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
"Best by 11/9/22"; drank 10/8/22 @ the Yarchives.

See-through dull orange rust appearance.

A violent pour yielded a HUGE khaki head; frothy lace.

Grapefruit, fresh bread & baking soda notes in the nose.

Medium mouthfeel.

Mild flavors of grapefruit & baking soda up front; a dry wheat finish.

This is drinkable...but it's not really enjoyable, to me at least. This may have passed muster 20 years ago as "craft beer" but a Bud Heavy tastes better.
Oct 09, 2022
Photo of MrGraybeard
Reviewed by MrGraybeard from Wisconsin

3.41/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
An OK pale ale. Adequate hop bitterness but little in the way of resinous or citric aroma or flavor. On the strong side for a pale ale at 6%. My regular go-to pale, New Glarus Moon Man, has less malt (and alcohol) presence but much more of a statement in the hops.

Honestly, a brewery that can churn out great lagers like Dortmunder Gold, Eliot Ness and Edmund Fitz Porter is wasting its talents on ales like this.
Oct 07, 2022
Photo of izraelc
Rated by izraelc from New York

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a clear amber. Light foam. Light malt aroma. Bread malt body. Some heavy hop bitterness. A little bland. I expected more flavor.
Aug 19, 2022
Photo of DrOfGolf
Reviewed by DrOfGolf from Delaware

3.33/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Got this one from my brother that lives in Sagamore Hills, Ohio. The beer name and picture really caught my eye as I remember reading about and seeing that on the TV when I lived in Florida. Anyway, on with my thoughts on the beer.

Poured out into a clear glass beer mug. Poured a clear and golden color with a white head that didn't last long. The taste was okay and one I'd drink on a very hot and humid day. Decent thirst quencher but would not be my first choice. Expected more from it.
Jul 10, 2022
Photo of HardCider
Reviewed by HardCider from Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
This beer pours a clear, bronze/copper color. It has a moderate, off-white head. The predominate aroma is that of malt and pine. It has a rather dry, malty taste with the right amount bitterness.
Jun 23, 2022
 
Rated: 3.96 by carrcolind from District of Columbia

May 22, 2022
 
Rated: 3.84 by guzzleacoldone from Ohio

Mar 26, 2022
 
Rated: 4.19 by Metalgod666 from Michigan

Mar 06, 2022
 
Rated: 4.1 by tristanrussell36 from Illinois

Feb 27, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by mpenske from California

Feb 20, 2022
 
Rated: 3.9 by MGibbons from Maryland

Feb 06, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by KT3418 from Colorado

Feb 05, 2022
Burning River from Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 3345 ratings