Fixed Gear
Lakefront Brewery, Inc.

 

 

 

Had this a few years ago, disagreed with the rating on the side that had the "hoppy" meter all the way to 10.

Pours a reddish and light brown color. 1/2" off white head. They dry hopped with all the old school C hops, Cascade, Centennial and Chinook give a woody pine like vibe. Earthy malty presence, bring the caramel tones.

Taste, a little bitter, the hopping contributes almost nothing to the taste profile, just massive amount of grapefruit like bitterness. Caramel sticky, hefty malt presence. Alcohol had a tad of sting on it. For me there is just too much of a malt presence to be enjoyable with the bitterness. All that talk about achieving balance doesn't work for me. Make it taste good, IGAF if its "balanced".

In the end its one of those sticky bombers that reminds you of double ipas in the 90s. Loads of malty caramel and toffee, loads of IBUS, minimal flavors you like. Would not recommend to anyone other than that old guy who wears one of those conductor hats.

Medium carbonation with a slightly thin body
Aroma is bitter earthy hops, malt. Grass citrus, bitter grapefruit
Taste seems to go hand in hand with the malts and hops with the hops winning in the finish. Very mild sweetness which eventually gets washed out by botter hop taste

 

 

Tall, thick, yellow-ish off white rocky head from a vigorous pour, receding leisurely to a very bumpy surface, leaving spotty lacing. Head has dropped to a rocky cap in 3 or 4 minutes. Deep and hazy amber with visible bubbles rising and lots of fine particulate matter suspended. Very slight aroma, faint citrus if anything. Hoppy, bitter initial taste, some citrus notes, with a solid malt backing. There is a musty bitter taste that is predominant from the initial through to the aftertaste. I keep mentioning the bitterness not because it is especially strong, but mostly because it and the mustiness are pretty much dominating the taste. Thin feel. The overall impression is relatively unbalanced, like the brewer attempted to convert an amber ale into an IPA (a theory which the name history of this beer supports).

 

 

 

10/3/18 (Chicago): $4.50 12oz bottle poured into standard pint glass at The Garage Bar & Sandwiches. 6.8% ABV. Copper pour, thin off razor thin head and lacing. Thin citrus aroma. Citrus hops taste, thin watery mouth feel, nominal carbonation. Overall nice beer.

 

Smells and looks better than it tastes. For a red IPA, should be smoother and less bitter. Its okay although not likely to buy it again,

Poured from 12oz bottle into glass. Best by date on label is '03 NOV 18',
Medium amber, slightly murky, colored body. Two finger light tan head settles to thick cap and ring. Leaves behind sheets and spots of lacing.
Lots of herbal hops in the aroma, along with caramel malts.
Sharp and slightly sweet taste of bitter hops and caramel malts. Quite a tasty balance. The after taste retains the citrus pith bitterness.
Medium, creamy mouth feel. Good carbonation.
Good food choice pairing with spicier meals. On its own the beer has a good combination of the sweet malt and the more bitter hops.

 

Not an Ale fan, and this is a quality Ale, but a no go for me. “Someone tried really hard to make this taste like this.” If you like hip ales this is for you.