Great Lakes ... something changed?

Never had their beer before, but I've noticed how much my palate has changed in the last year. Stuff I used to think was huge in flavor, now seems weak. Any chance that could be the issue?

 

I feel like Christmas Ale is not nearly as good this year. It has about no carbonation at all, just doesn't seem quite the same. Definitely more watery too. I haven't noticed with the others, I had Eddie Fitz on draft recently at the brewery and it was fantastic as always.

 

Also note that beer, like wine, can be impacted year over year by growing conditions of ingredients. With this said, I'll try my Christmas Ale shortly and see what I think. Had Fitz in bottles recently and over years. Did not notice much difference.

 

I'll have to go back to Edmund Fitz one of these days, since everyone swears it's a benchmark of the style, but when I had it years ago I thought it was really watery with little flavor. *shrug*

 

Their core 4 have always been steady and rock solid for me. The biggest changes I've noticed are in Commodore Perry, Chillwave, and Lake Erie Monster; changes which have made me gun-shy of purchasing their seasonals

 

All I know is their Oktoberfest was one of the worst beers I had all year.

 

A co-worker brought me a bottle of Oktoberfest and it seemed about the same as it had in years past. Could be your memory playing games with your palate.

 

Two words that will get you back on the Great Lakes track...Blackout Stout

 

The only one that I noticed a substantial difference in was Lake Erie Monster. Had a Belgium feel to it. Didn't like it at all.

 

I've been hearing from my customers that Great Lakes Christmas Ale is actually a bit better this year than in previous years, and a blind tasting comparing it to other spiced beers supported that; it did a lot better this year than last. That said, Lake Erie was undrinkable to me this year, way too sweet, while Nosferatu was just kinda meh.

 

I've run into some bottles of Eliot Ness that seemed off, and then others that seemed fine. I haven't noticed any issues with Ed Fitz. Oktoberfest seemed a little off to me, but I only had a bottle or two. I have yet to try the 2015 Christmas Ale (although I have had 12 Dogs already, great as always), but I'll check back in once I've tried it.

There was also the recent BA Christmas Ale incident, though infection seems to be a rarity for GLBC.

 

Eliot Ness felt like it lost something when I had it about a month ago. Could have just been a bad batch but it's funny you noticed a change too.

 

I had a Christmas Ale just a few days ago that I thought was very good, and in fact I rated it higher than last year (although I have to admit I didn't remember drinking it last year, but the review was on untapped). Haven't tried the others you listed either this year or last though

 

It's the water, they have to set the Cuyahoga River on fire again to get the water right.

 

This year and last year I though Christmas ale was lightrer then years past I did not mind the change. Chill wave www amazing I thought it was same as last year.

 

The Lake Erie Monster was one of the best beers I've ever had and it was this years. Whatever potentially changed must have been for the better.

 

I agree.

Dortmunder Gold was the best German Lager I had ever tried stateside in a bottle.

Right after they did their label graphics change, I bought it on two separate occasions and it was flat and flavorless. Not quite sure what happened, but it was very frustrating.

Hopefully Chillwave remains the same in terms of quality.

Seems as though they also expanded their distribution footprint, right around the time that they did the label change, so there is the possibility that either the brewing process or the ingredients were trimmed down to meet higher demand.