Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale

Brewed by Great Lakes Brewing Company
Style: American Pale Ale
Cleveland, Ohio USA

Sampled at the Flour City Brewers’ Fest 2008. Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale is a clear, slightly carbonated golden ale. The head is thick, foamy and off-white. It has great retention and leaves nice lacing on the glass. The aroma is a little muted by the head, but it’s mostly fresh citrus, probably Cascade. It is medium bodied, a little starchy in the mouth and the finish is dry. It has pretty good balance, OK bitterness. There is a slight phenolic flavor. Not bad!

Tbliig fan of tblurning rivers. While at times it’s difficult, it can be quite rewarding. Whether its an IPA or APA...its freaking good! Forcereal, this is jagood. Nice and fruity, tblursting with flavor, this is one of my go to tbleers. Mmmmmmmm...

Poured from bottle. Hop/malt/floral aroma. Bronze amber. Hop and malt in the flavor, with roasted notes in the aftertaste. A nice pale ale.

It pours a pale copper color and maintains a decent head. The flavor is of hops and has some citrusy notes. Not a bad beer, but not a favorite either. It’s a good brew, just not my type.

Gold pour with a thin head. The aroma is nice and hoppy with some floral and citrus C hops. A decent malty sweetness provides balance in aroma. A nice citrus bitterness combines with a good malt backbone. Lingering hops in the finish. A nice IPA. I would like more and perhaps a fresher sample.

I’ve reviewed this in a bottle but I wanted to try this on tap. Well I got my chance on a layover in the Cleveland Airport. I stopped by the Great Lakes Brewpub in the airport. Poured a 1 finger head into a 22oz glass. Aroma is very Citrusy, , strawberry, cherry Taste is quite solid. The hops are bursting with freshness. A delight! Mild bitterness lingers on the palate afterwards. Mouthfeel : very creamy - perfect level of carbonation. Drinkability excellent. The only thing stopping me from having a couple more is the flight I have to get on in a half hour. I think this is their flagship beer -- what an awesome, awesome brew. I tried to take a keg with me but they wouldn’t let me. I plan to keep lots of Ohio friends who can send me GL beer until I see this in Texas. Serving type: on-tap

Bought a sixer of this at Chuck’s Liquor in Bowling Green, KY. Very inconsistent throughout the six pack. 4 good, 2 bad. Pours a clear amber color with a thick whitish head. Piney hop aroma. Flavor was mildly hoppy with some citrus and earty notes. A little heavy on the malt in my opinion. The good ones from the sixer were very good.

Cleveland, Oh - On tap at the brewpub. Medium copper pour, thick off-white head, very sticky. Faint wisps of chocolate in the aroma along with the spruce. Flavor has some muted citrus, a hint of chocolate and some caramel. Not as citrusy as most IPAs. Thickish mouthfeel. Good after dinner meal settler.