Lift Bridge Brown Ale
Keweenaw Brewing Company

Lift Bridge Brown AleLift Bridge Brown Ale
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From:
Keweenaw Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
American Brown Ale
Ranked #372
ABV:
5%
Score:
80
Ranked #36,829
Avg:
3.48 | pDev: 13.51%
Ratings:
124 | reviews: 61
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 24, 2025
Added:
Mar 03, 2008
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  7
Reportedly the widest and heaviest double-decked lift bridge in the world, the Portage Lake Lift Bridge connects the cities of Houghton and Hancock here in Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula. So get a lift from this American Brown Ale; a rich, dark brown color, complex malt flavor with hints of chocolate and caramel and a mild hop finish.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Tsar_Riga
Reviewed by Tsar_Riga from Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Pours out dark but largely transparent, brown with just a hint of orange-red in the highlights, off-white head, fading to a minimal cap and lacing.

S - A note of dark bread is out front, honey, molasses, and grassy hop notes act as highlights.

T - Open is molasses bread, dark and sweet, with honey and dark toast in the middle, and soft, slightly dry finish.

M - Moderate weight, clean, and a softly drying close that keeps things moving nicely.

O - A solid, drinkable Brown, quite delicious, and surprisingly clean. I'd pick this one up again.
Nov 24, 2025
 
Rated: 4.19 by SeymourDunn from Wisconsin

Jun 25, 2025
 
Rated: 4.05 by mmmbeer89 from New Mexico

Sep 02, 2024
 
Rated: 3.5 by imperialking from Illinois

Jan 12, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by MonkeyPilates from Minnesota

Apr 11, 2020
 
Rated: 3.5 by Rostie from Michigan

Aug 02, 2018
 
Rated: 3.43 by peritectoid from Idaho

Jun 28, 2018
 
Rated: 3.46 by johnverduin from Indiana

Mar 09, 2018
 
Rated: 3.41 by labisch from Michigan

Feb 15, 2018
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.75/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured into a mug, the appearance was a dark amber close to brown color with a finger’s worth of sustaining white foamy head. Some lace. The aroma had some toast, caramel, toffee, earthy hops, light grassiness. Ends with a little bit of woodiness. The flavor mildly leaned towards the malts trying to pull in some light sweetness. But some light roast and some bitterness came in for a decent balance. Nice malty aftertaste. Some wood dryness and earthy hops in the finish. The feel was about medium bodied with a decent sessionability about it. Good carbonation. ABV felt right. Overall, pretty good brown ale to me. I’d have again if I could get it.
Jun 25, 2017
Photo of dd53grif
Reviewed by dd53grif from Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a hazy, brown color with a foamy head that lasts quite a while. Aroma is brown sugar, caramel and malt. Tastes sweet up front. Finishes with a hoppy bitterness.
May 30, 2017
Photo of mooseisloose
Reviewed by mooseisloose from Florida

2.98/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Big bridge. Is the beer as big? Let's give it a whirl. Popping the top I get a waft of molasses and hops. Pours to a deep brown with a tan head that recedes quickly. On the taste this brew is a little thin on mouthfeel up front then starts with earthy hop metallic flavor that is consistent throughout. Not much backbone at all. Hopping is good but where's the malt. I throw this one back, not a keeper.
Sep 24, 2016
Photo of Victory_Sabre1973
Reviewed by Victory_Sabre1973 from Minnesota

3.74/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
This beer pours fairly dark. The head was frothy, but did dissipate fairly fast. The nose is got a maltiness to it. The taste of this beer has a bit of smoke to it. It does feel a bit watery, but not a bad beer at all.
Jul 19, 2016
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

2.58/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
Could barely tell the difference between their brown, amber and Scottish. All had the same hue, same body, same aroma, same consistency (watery). Nothing memorable here, folks.
Feb 12, 2016
Photo of thebeerman25
Reviewed by thebeerman25 from Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 4.25
appearance-dark brown

smell-smells very sweet. no chocolate or caramel as stated on the can.

taste-has a sweet and smooth taste. easy drinking. no chocolate or caramel as stated on the can

feel-i really dont know

overall-overall its a good beer. my favorite from the keweenaw brewing company.
Nov 14, 2015
 
Rated: 3.12 by LXIXME from New Mexico

Jul 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by thebigredone from Wisconsin

May 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.62 by olafphysics from Minnesota

May 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by Bingja18 from Wisconsin

May 07, 2015
 
Rated: 3.55 by UPBrewer92 from Michigan

Mar 29, 2015