Fixed Gear
Lakefront Brewery, Inc.

Fixed GearFixed Gear
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From:
Lakefront Brewery, Inc.
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Ale
ABV:
6.8%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.71 | pDev: 12.67%
Reviews:
181
Ratings:
963
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 26, 2020
Added:
Feb 24, 2010
Wants:
  25
Gots:
  191
The energy and audacity of the fixed gear courier inspired us to create Fixed Gear, a big, bold American Red IPA. It pours a glaring crimson tone with a rocky white head and a brilliant floral-citrus aroma, thanks to an aggressive Centennial, Cascade, and Chinook dry hopping. Gratuitous amounts of dark caramel malts lend Fixed Gear its immodest, malty spine, while Chinook and Cascade hops impart its balanced citrus bite. This one’s got an attitude!

The hop flavor in Fixed Gear mingles well with Indian spices like tamarind, coriander, and cardamom; try it with tandoori chicken or pork vindaloo with rice on the side. Also goes great with grilled burgers, steaks, or baby back ribs.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mjstacker:
Photo of mjstacker
Rated by mjstacker from New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%

Sep 09, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.79 by B-rett from Wisconsin

Feb 26, 2020
 
Rated: 3.52 by SWChi from Illinois

Feb 19, 2020
 
Rated: 3.91 by Hefsbeercaps from Ohio

Feb 15, 2020
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.11/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
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.
Jul 29, 2019
Photo of HoppingMadMonk
Reviewed by HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey

3.52/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
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
Jul 29, 2019
 
Rated: 3.63 by moundbz from North Dakota

Jun 21, 2019
 
Rated: 4.33 by ThomasD from Wisconsin

Jun 16, 2019
Photo of MNAle
Reviewed by MNAle from Minnesota

3.23/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
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).
Apr 30, 2019
 
Rated: 3.94 by Rollmeaway2loadout from Illinois

Mar 03, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by -Andrew- from Michigan

Jan 15, 2019
 
Rated: 3.88 by Zaktcc from Maryland

Nov 22, 2018
Photo of ChicagoJ
Reviewed by ChicagoJ from Illinois

3.46/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
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.
Oct 08, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by drstalker from Illinois

Sep 23, 2018
Photo of MoreBeer4me
Rated by MoreBeer4me from New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
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,
Aug 19, 2018
Photo of MonDak_Joe1953
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
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.
Aug 09, 2018
 
Rated: 3.48 by FrancisM12 from New Jersey

Jul 22, 2018
Photo of Alchemistbbc
Reviewed by Alchemistbbc from Wisconsin

3.07/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.25
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.
Jul 19, 2018
 
Rated: 3.85 by Mdrake0209 from Minnesota

Jul 04, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by Chilmer from Iowa

May 23, 2018
Fixed Gear from Lakefront Brewery, Inc.
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 963 ratings