Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale

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

This is truly the best pale ale I have ever had. The aroma and bitter taste left on the palate ... what a memorable experience. Only problem is that it’s not available in my area ... thank god for friends! I’ve had other pale ales available in the NE area, but none compare to Burning River! They have mastered the art of brewing!

A fantastic ale. World Champion in 1994 for good reason. Blows away Sierra Nevada. Too bad its not pastuerized - you have to be in Ohio to get it.

Wonderfully hopped pale ale with a nice touch of malt in the finish to create the perfect ending.

I love this beer, this might be my all time favorite American Pale Ale. American Pale Ale aka APA much like American India Pale Ale or AIPA are much different from their British inspirations. APA has a much more assertive hop character than a British pale ale. APA uses American hops and its those signature PNW hop varieties such as Cascades, Columbus, Centennials, and Chinooks. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale was the prototype for APA, and the classic example of the style. Burning River Pale Ale is pale ale with an aggressive hop character, and a rock solid, pale and caramel malt base. Great Lakes brews very robust and flavorful beers. What I love about their beers are they are so vibrant, these beers aren’t for the timid, you drink a Great Lakes beer, your going to get BIG flavors. Their IPA, called Commodore Perry is a total hop blast. Burning River is aggressively hopped, but that rock solid malt backbone makes this beer almost balanced, and an outstanding APA. Burning River Pale Ale pours to a deep orange color, with a nice white head, and a good carbonation. The nose on this beer is very fragrant with hop aroma, its that classic piney, citric hop character. There is also a good bit of caramel malt presence in the nose as well. The palate is firm, good pale and caramel malt flavors. There is really nice "juicy" fruity, estery flavors present as well. This beer finishes with more malt sweetness, then dries to a long, citric, bitter hop bite that lingers. What a delicious beer. Match this beer with very spicy cuisine such as screaming hot Buffalo wings, Indian, Mexican, or Thai dishes.

Best pale ale yet. Thanks Matt for brining this down just for me and letting me use your laptop for this review. Oh shit gotta get back to the Megadeth DVD.

The best Pale Ale I have ever tried. I never heard of this beer until this past weekend when I went to Akron, Ohio for my wife’s 20 year high school reunion. The bartender at the hotel recommended it a boy am I glad he did.

My favorite pale ale. It has surpassed Deschutes Mirror Pond and is now my #1 Domestic Pale Ale. One of the few Gold Medalists in Cleveland. Now if only the Tribe can get to the World Series again!!