Chillwave
Great Lakes Brewing Co.

 

Pours a nearly clear reddish amber color with a 1F head and moderate lacing.

Smells of slightly minerally, piney and floral hops, malt and some citrus.

Tastes of sweet malt, caramel, lemon and apple with a slightly salty, bitter , boozy warm finish.

Medium body with light carbonation. Lightly syrupy, near watery mouthfeel.

This is a decent, mild mannered West Coast IPA.

Not sure how the World Class rating for this brew came to be.

Past glory? Current ratings are not very positive.

Was expecting something more. Just seemed to be lacking in flavor. Enjoyable but had so many better for the style. Glad I tried once but not likely to seek out.

 

3/29/26 date stamp (assumed it the the Best By date or I'm n the future)
Poured into a Teku and generated a 2-finger tight to coarse off-white head which clung and laced nicely after receding to the wall of the glass all above a rich orange hued beer.
Initially released orange aromas which gave way to some grassiness. Taste dominated by hops with little malt to be found.
Medium heavy feel which felt right.
A great IPA but a little lacking as a DIPA.

Clear amber with an off-white big head that dissipates slowly to a ring with wisps and some lacing.
Smells malty with a hint of grapefruit and pine resin.
Tastes boldly malty with a strong sense of grapefruit and pine.
Medium body and a little tingly.
Overall, a really good beer.

 

12oz can, painted can. Looks like the bottom stamp provides a best by date of 'APR 06 26'.
Clear, medium amber colored body. One finger of white head with the pour and this becomes an interrupted cap and higher ring. Not much for lacing, just a few scattered spots.
Aroma is rather subdued, and gives out pineapple, orange, and pine.
Taste is sweet but has a good bit of bitterness. Flavors of caramel malt, pineapple, mango, orange, and pine resin. Bitterness level is not extreme but rather moderate. Metallic note comes in late. Aftertaste remains malty and fruity.
A little more than medium mouthfeel. Hint of stickiness. Resonates in the mouth after each sip (pine resin is most evident). Good carbonation.
Higher ABV% is not an issue but uses the caramel malts to good effect. Pretty appearance.

 

Reminded me of the pre-craft IPA days. An amber brew with a thick off-white head. Picked up grapefruit and pine in the nose. The flavor was also old school IPA--dank, leaning bitter leaving a somewhat metallic aftertaste, featuring grapefruit and resin. Solid but not spectacular throwback.

 

 

Really bitter, not very creamy or fruity. A little dank. No sweetness. Not balanced at all.

 

It came from a tap and was delivered in a clear pint glass. It's mahogany-copper in color, bright and semi-translucent. Its modest head has just a hint of the color of the liquid. The aroma is nicely balanced between malt and hops. The taste brings the same, with an alcohol hit at the back of the throat. Maybe not terrible, but it's enough to be distracting. The hop bite is sharply bitter, but without nuances. The malt brings a certain sweet counterbalance, but not much additional flavor. Still, the body is supple enough to carry the hop bite and taste of the booze. It's a good beer, but it's not among the elite. Even without glass lacing, it's among the prettiest beers you'll set eyes upon.

I happened to remember when they had to change the name from Alchemy Hour because Widmer Brewing sued them for the "similarity" or whatever between its name and Alchemy Ale (as though Widmer coined the word). Looks like Alchemy Ale has been discontinued for several years now. Guess who just poured their first can of the 2025 version of Chillwave?

Dark orange leaning into light amber color, one finger head that maintains. Smells and tastes of mango, orange peel, a bit of pineapple, pulp, and honey malt note. Juicy finish, moderate bitterness. A classic.

Wid-who?

 

always have loved this one