My Turn #021: Mike
Lakefront Brewery


- From:
- Lakefront Brewery
- Wisconsin, United States
- Style:
- American Brown Ale
- ABV:
- 9%
- Score:
- 86
- Avg:
- 3.81 | pDev: 11.29%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 14
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- May 10, 2019
- Added:
- Jan 13, 2017
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 2
Imperial Brown Ale
This was brewed by Mike. He’s a Tour Manager here at Lakefront. This Imperial Brown Ale is the best of both worlds: dark, flavorful, but medium-bodied…it won’t fill you up too quickly. Big and balanced, the toasty and caramel malt notes are followed by coffee and hazelnut, because, as Mike says, “they’re a match made in heaven.”
Brown ales are a versatile partner for many roasted or grilled entrées. Hazelnut-crusted pork tenderloin, chicken, or Portobello mushrooms will bring out the mild hazelnut notes in My Turn: Mike. Can’t go wrong with nutty hard cheeses like Gouda or Comte, either.
14 IBU
This was brewed by Mike. He’s a Tour Manager here at Lakefront. This Imperial Brown Ale is the best of both worlds: dark, flavorful, but medium-bodied…it won’t fill you up too quickly. Big and balanced, the toasty and caramel malt notes are followed by coffee and hazelnut, because, as Mike says, “they’re a match made in heaven.”
Brown ales are a versatile partner for many roasted or grilled entrées. Hazelnut-crusted pork tenderloin, chicken, or Portobello mushrooms will bring out the mild hazelnut notes in My Turn: Mike. Can’t go wrong with nutty hard cheeses like Gouda or Comte, either.
14 IBU
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Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
3.83/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Had on tap. Pours dark brown with a ring of bubbles. Smells of coffee, toffee, and sugar roasted nuts. Taste is more subdued, with nuts being the base, especially hazelnut, toffee, coffee, and surprisingly chocolate starring, but all pretty mild overall. Body is a little thin and watery, really would help flavors out if thicker
May 10, 2019Reviewed by q33jeff from New Jersey
3.88/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
3.88/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
**
08/20/2017
Side by Side comparison of 7 Brown Ales with Coffee Added. 4 of these were the sampler from Terrapin that has the same base beer with four different coffees from arond the world.
Founders Sumatra Mountain Brown (4.19) was tops and the only one I had tried before.
It LOOKed dark brown with a healthy beige head. The AROMA was full of strong earthy coffee, roasted malt and cacao. TASTE was similar, strong on the coffee with a brown sugar sweetness. FEEL: It had a medium to full body with above average carbonation. Very smooth sipping and enjoyable.
Lakefront My Turn #21, MIKE: (3.88)
This brew was unique in this tasting because it had Hazelnut added in addiiotn to the coffee. The Hazelnut gave it a nice AROMA. Coffee, hazelnut, smoke, pastry dough. The LOOK was a little thinner in brown color than all the others. Medium off white head. TASTE: Mold, sour grape. Also something like a butter cookie. Not bad, but strange that it tastes so different than it smells. FEEL is flat with a medium body.
Terrapin-Indonesia (3.87) was the best of the Terrapins. While the LOOK only garned average marks, it had a wonderful AROMA packed with bitter coffee. Mold, peat. The TASTE added flavors of Ginger, Pepper, and a light and dry nuttiness. The FEEL was a bit thinnish on all of these Terrapin beers. Seemed like maybe too much volume of coffee was added which thinned out carbonation and body.
Terrapin Kenya (3.66) was 2nd amongst the Terrapins. See the Indonesia for LOOK and FEEL notes as they are the same. Kenya had a moldy eartly coffee AROMA. TASTE was sweet with notes of Raspberry, Grape and Brown Sugar.
Terrapin Ecuador (3.45) had a floral AROMA along with the earthy, moldy smells of some of the others. See the Indonesia for LOOK and FEEL notes as they are the same. Light fruity finish in the TASTE with a malty coffee base.
Evil Twin Wet Dream. (3.25)
The only one poured from a can to a snifter. The others were all bottles.
LOOK: Wet Dream had the best head and retention. Medium Brown color.
AROMA: Coffee, Cola, Wheat?
TASTE: Coffee, baking soda, a touch of bitter mineral.
FEEL: lively enough, fizzy, medium body.
Terrapin Costa Rica (3.01) was the weakest. See the Indonesia for LOOK and FEEL notes as they are the same, except that the Costa Rica was slightly lighter in color than the others. AROMA: some coffee, malt. Faint. TASTE: Coffee, bitter malt, leather, floral notes.
**
Aug 21, 201708/20/2017
Side by Side comparison of 7 Brown Ales with Coffee Added. 4 of these were the sampler from Terrapin that has the same base beer with four different coffees from arond the world.
Founders Sumatra Mountain Brown (4.19) was tops and the only one I had tried before.
It LOOKed dark brown with a healthy beige head. The AROMA was full of strong earthy coffee, roasted malt and cacao. TASTE was similar, strong on the coffee with a brown sugar sweetness. FEEL: It had a medium to full body with above average carbonation. Very smooth sipping and enjoyable.
Lakefront My Turn #21, MIKE: (3.88)
This brew was unique in this tasting because it had Hazelnut added in addiiotn to the coffee. The Hazelnut gave it a nice AROMA. Coffee, hazelnut, smoke, pastry dough. The LOOK was a little thinner in brown color than all the others. Medium off white head. TASTE: Mold, sour grape. Also something like a butter cookie. Not bad, but strange that it tastes so different than it smells. FEEL is flat with a medium body.
Terrapin-Indonesia (3.87) was the best of the Terrapins. While the LOOK only garned average marks, it had a wonderful AROMA packed with bitter coffee. Mold, peat. The TASTE added flavors of Ginger, Pepper, and a light and dry nuttiness. The FEEL was a bit thinnish on all of these Terrapin beers. Seemed like maybe too much volume of coffee was added which thinned out carbonation and body.
Terrapin Kenya (3.66) was 2nd amongst the Terrapins. See the Indonesia for LOOK and FEEL notes as they are the same. Kenya had a moldy eartly coffee AROMA. TASTE was sweet with notes of Raspberry, Grape and Brown Sugar.
Terrapin Ecuador (3.45) had a floral AROMA along with the earthy, moldy smells of some of the others. See the Indonesia for LOOK and FEEL notes as they are the same. Light fruity finish in the TASTE with a malty coffee base.
Evil Twin Wet Dream. (3.25)
The only one poured from a can to a snifter. The others were all bottles.
LOOK: Wet Dream had the best head and retention. Medium Brown color.
AROMA: Coffee, Cola, Wheat?
TASTE: Coffee, baking soda, a touch of bitter mineral.
FEEL: lively enough, fizzy, medium body.
Terrapin Costa Rica (3.01) was the weakest. See the Indonesia for LOOK and FEEL notes as they are the same, except that the Costa Rica was slightly lighter in color than the others. AROMA: some coffee, malt. Faint. TASTE: Coffee, bitter malt, leather, floral notes.
**
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
4.23/5 rDev +11%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev +11%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
12 oz bottle served in a snifter. 28 Dec. 2016 bottling date stamp.
Pours slightly hazy with a dark brown body. The head is short and short-lived, save for a ring.
Aroma: strong dark malts with hints of coffee and toffee. Lots of roasted nuts.
Flavor: follows the aroma; very nutty. About equally bitter and sweet.
Mouthfeel: smooth, medium body; medium carbonation; little sign of the 9% ABV.
Overall: a delicious brown with dangerously well hidden alcohol.
Jul 15, 2017Pours slightly hazy with a dark brown body. The head is short and short-lived, save for a ring.
Aroma: strong dark malts with hints of coffee and toffee. Lots of roasted nuts.
Flavor: follows the aroma; very nutty. About equally bitter and sweet.
Mouthfeel: smooth, medium body; medium carbonation; little sign of the 9% ABV.
Overall: a delicious brown with dangerously well hidden alcohol.
Reviewed by Czequershuus from Minnesota
3.77/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This beer pours a clear ruby brown with an average head. The aroma has a huge blast of hazelnut, even praline, with strong coffee, almond, roasty malts, and a light blackberry quality in the background. The flavor is less bombastic than the aroma, much gentler, thought still dominated by the hazelnut quality, with the additional flavor of butterfingers, both the filling and the chocolate, and just a hint of coffee towards the finish. It is somewhat sweet, but finishes fairly dry. The motuhfeel is medium bodied with bright carbonation. Overall this is a solid flavored beer, but nothing spectacular.
Apr 12, 2017Reviewed by Hyptochrons from Massachusetts
3.86/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.86/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
pour is brown/ruby color with a light khaki head. minimal lacing. nose is sweet roasted nuts, brown sugar, caramel, breadyness... awesome and bold hazelnut aroma. mouth is similar but a bit overpowered with cloying sweetness. decent brown sugar and nutty notes, some roastyness, but doesnt come together well as a whole. light-medium bodied. overall its decent - great looking, huge nose, decent mouthfeel ... but the most important category, taste, falls short for me. still decent beer to have a single of, and glad to have gotten this as an extra in a trade. cheers!
Apr 01, 2017Reviewed by Danmullens1 from Wisconsin
3.83/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Holy hazelnuts Batman. The nose on this thing is very unique for a beer–straight up nut. Really enjoyed the smell but worried it was leading to a sickly sweet taste. I was pleasantly surprised, taste was good, but a little taxing on the pallet by the bottom of the glass. Enjoyable, but a one and done for me.
Mar 11, 2017Reviewed by bbtkd from South Dakota
4.21/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Lakefront My Turn Mike, 9% ABV, 14 IBU. Pours thick and dark brown, with a half-finger tan head that left some lacing. Nose is malt, alcohol, and strong hazelnut. Taste is heavy hazelnut, sweet malt, with some carbonation burn, and almost no bitterness. Excellent mouthfeel and overall outstanding. Best brown ale I've had. Hope I can find more.
Mar 10, 2017Reviewed by Walleybeer from New Jersey
5/5 rDev +31.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +31.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Just a beautifully done imperial brown ale, really nice brown color, smooth taste and finish!! For a 9% you can just keep drinking this brew! Well done highly recommend.
Feb 23, 2017Reviewed by BSiegs from Illinois
3.58/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
3.58/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
Dark ruby in color, extremely clear. One finger of off white foam that recedes fairly quickly. No lacing. The adjuncts certainly pop on the aroma. Huge hazelnut aroma with layers of coffee underneath. Subtle sweet malts of the brown ale do come through faintly. On taste, hazelnuts come through first and most powerfully. Again, coffee notes are also strong, with faint malt of the brown ale. Body is medium, moderate carbonation, slightly dry finish. Overall, this is a solid beer. Hazelnuts come on a bit strong for me and mute the other flavors.
Feb 02, 2017Reviewed by Stevedore from Oregon
3.41/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.41/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
12oz bottle. Served in a snifter glass. Pours a medium brown body, offwhite one finger head, short retention, not much lacing. Smell is coffee and toffee, slight nuttiness, grainy malt, a bit of chocolate syrup, slight earth and a bit of booze. Flavour is more coffee, not so much any hazelnut but a slight nuttiness as on the nose, artificial tasting chocolate syrup, caramel and toffee. Weird beer, doesn't work for me here. Seems overall artificial in flavour. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, a bit lower carbonated than expected, slight heat on the finish. I don't get Lakefront sometimes; they just don't seem to execute beers as well as the descriptions make them sound. I like that they're experimenting and allowing employees to give it their shot, but they just have a lot of misses.
Feb 01, 2017
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