Great Lakes Brewing Company - Chillwave

Smoker Friendly's at the Highlands next to that shitty Fusion Japanese Steakhouse. Owner thinks its the best beer ever he buys like 20 cases.

 

I'm keen to try it again, but I thought it was average too so did the few people I sent bottles to.

 

Definitely seems to be an isolated problem. I've only had one so far but it was excellent, and most of the posts above seem to agree. Great beer.

 

Just picked some up at the Anderson's. It tastes the same as it always has to me. *shrugs*

FWIW, I've had a decent amount of Chillwave over the years and I've never really got a lot of hoppiness from it. This year's batch doesn't seem any different. Didn't get any of the skunkiness that you're getting, though.

$9.99/4-pack.

 

Damn good beer. Had my first one last night. Thought it one of the better DIPAs I've had.

 

As anticipated, whatever issue I encountered with my first 4pk was an anomaly. I purchased a second 4pk in SE Michigan that is tasting fine and had it on draft at Ale Mary's which was on another level. Damn good.

 

That's good to hear. Definitely a great beer.

 

Found mind pretty fresh, $11.99 + tax 4/pk.

I have to say I really enjoy drinking this much more than Sierra Nevada's Hop Hunter, just too much for me but its cool to see SN experimenting.

 

Chillwave $9.99 4pack this is a damn good DIPA the best IMO Hop juju smells better but chillwave wins the taste lucjy for me bunch of 4pavks still around columbus

 

You're kidding---right? Everyone knows seasonals were better last year because the brewery changed the recipe.

 

Not sure if you're looking for feedback here, but in my opinion you shouldn't be comparing Chillwave and Hop Hunter. Two very different beers trying to achieve two very different things.

 

My apologies, you're right in interpreting that, but comparing the two wasn't my intention, I was simply saying that drinking Chillwave was a better experience in general, I misspoke.

 

Still have not found any yet.

 

This week you should. That's what I'm hearing anyway.

 

I moved out of GL's distribution area about 6 months ago and have had anxiety about not being able to get any Chillwave this year.
Luckily, my friends paid attention to my whining and my first shipment will be arriving tomorrow.

 

what's the bottled on date mean for chillwave? I have a beer with a best by date of 6/1 so was just curious how fresh it is. I'm not sure if GL had 2 or 3 months ahead

 

Think chillwave is actually 4 months. I remember last year's bottles were dated best buy in May, this early June which would make it early Feb brew date

 

this says Chillwave was released in March though? https://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/uploads/Beer/Chillwave Beer Profile Sheet 2014.pdf

I think they had their release party in late Feb. some bottles earlier in this thread were bottled like 5/1, and i don't think they were bottling this in january. idk if it's four months. i wouldn't be surprised if it was 90 days though -- this one is somewhat maltier than i remember but still, i could also see it at two months.

the store i went to acually had some that said best by 5/1 on the shelf, and some that said best by 6/1 sitting on the floor recently stacked (as if they just got it) so i grabbed a 4-pack of those. here in NJ we often get month-old IPAs as "new deliveries" but two months is certainly odd. maybe the store was keeping it in back for some reason. i was there last week and the 6/1 bottles weren't there.

 

Personally, I would just like to say that beers of this magnitude tend to hold up very well past their best by date. I am willing to bet that in August, Chillwave will be just fine so long as it was stored properly.

 

https://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/uploads/Beer/Chillwave Beer Profile Sheet 2014.pdf

ah it seems like this link answered our question lol. at the bottom it says "Shelf Life: 90 Days" so I guess it's safe to assume the brew date is 90 days prior to the best by date. a little over a month seems about right for this one. slightly malty but still citrusy easy drinking.