Altbier
Great Lakes Brewing Co.

 

Having this beer on-tap at the brewery. This is yet another one of the GLBC's on-tap only "pub exclusives". Served to me in a pint glass, this beer draws a clear, medium Amber/copper color with a white head that's about 2/3 of an inch thick when first served to me. Head eventually settles to a nice, big cluster swirl of surface fan cover the major of the beer's surface along with a medium sized ring lining the inside of the glass and good lacing too. Aromas of somewhat toasted, bready, caramel sweetness along with a slight citrus, herbal hop presence. The taste is pretty much the same, with somewhat toasted, bready, caramel malt sweetness along with a hint of toffee that's followed by a nice citrus and herbal hop pr since that provides just the right amount of bitterness for some balance. But the malt and other sweet notes do tend to dominate the flavor profile overall just a bit.
Has a crisp, yet smooth and slightly creamy, lifjtbtomedi in bodies mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Has a clean and slightly dry finish. The caramel notes hang around for a nice aftertaste. A good beer that's spot in for this style from the fine folks at the GLBC.

Eric

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at GLBC for Oktoberfest. Served in a pint glass.

The Great Lakes Altbier looks really nice in the glass. It's got great head and amazing lace that looks like a wall of cotton on the side of the glass. The beer's color is copper with orange edges and clarity is slightly cloudy, but rather clear for being unfiltered.

Altbier was sampled next to Oktoberfest, and that comparison made the crisp malt and noble hops of Altbier really stand out. Though it's slightly subdued, the beer delivers scents of flowery, earthy hops and slightly grainy and toasted malt.

The taste is nice and very mellow. The extended aging has made this beer very cohesive. The malt is sweet and biscuit/grainy and the finish is dry. A very pleasant beer for the style.

I felt the body was a touch watery and insubstantial, but the carbonation was great. There's enough substance to make this desireable, but not too much to make it too much of a commitment. A nice, drinkable German session beer.

A- Pours a reddish brown color with a very thin tan head. Head has almost no retention and leaves very little lacing.

S- Smell is pretty faint. Light floral hops, soapy, and a bit of toast.

T- This one tasted much better when I got toward the bottom of the growler and picked up some of the sediment. A great balance of malts and hops. Very good flavour.

M- Fairly light in both body and carbonation.

D- Very easy to drink. A good change of pace from a great brewery.

Review from notes taken a few hours ago. On Tap at brewery. This beer is certainly NOT retired (update message sent).

A yellow brown translucent body with minimal head.

S medium roast barley, hops. Not unpleasant.

T barley is prominent. There is a nice kick of hops but they are mild. This, in my estimation, is right on target for the style.

M Moderate, on target with style.

D very good. Low ABV, satisfying malt barley and minimal hops.

Notes: Nice to have on tap at the brewery today. This is certainly more drinkable and therefore more enjoyable than many GLBC offerings (such as Nosferatu).

Exeptionally smooth, mellow, almost creamy mouthfeel. An all day drinker, not overly flavorfull, but a nice hop prescence and decent malt undercurrent. A 'pub exclusive' at the brewery's pub. Beautiful golden red, with a thick, puffy head that lingered. Mild hop nose, but nothing notable.