Great Lakes Commodore Perry IPA

Bottle – has a orange-gold pour, amber around the edges, a white head, a faint pineapple floral fragrance, sweet, pale malt and fruit fragrances, sweetness resembles a cake mix, faint caramel aroma, taste is malt sweetness and pale malt, good mouth feel, some fruit flavor, hop bitterness on the tongue with each sip, not as hoppy as some IPAs, more in line with the English style of an IPA, toasted malt and malt flavors, some pine needles, this may be an ale that is a mixture of an English IPA and American IPA? Hop bitterness trails off but lingers into the finish.

(Bottle) Pours a clear golden body with a thick foamy off-white head. Aroma of pine, herbs, and light citrus. Flavor of hops and caramel malt with a dry finish.

Bottle courtesy crizay. Pour is pretty much golden in color with some weak orange hues, nice one finger head on the top, decent retention, and surprisingly decent lacing given the Hop Devil glass used (normally doesn’t promote good lacing). The aroma was fresh piney and citrus hops, not much else. The flavor was firmly bitter hops, some pine and citrus both, finishing with some bready, herbal, and even fruity type notes, perhaps a bit of the malt influence there, although this thing is more bitter than malty for sure! A very crisp and refreshing IPA, GL sure can brew some nice stuff. Thanks, Chris, a great one, and I must go read more about Commodore Perry now!

I got this beer via trade (thanks bunkypop) and really had no expectations. Maybe just another IPA I thought. I was sharing it with friends and they all took first sips and that immediately told me I was in for something special. The golden brew doesn’t erupt with hops in the nose, rather subtle be ever present notes of grapefruits, cottoncandy, apples and a touch of pine along with caramel malts. The first sip malts hit the front of the tounge and then the hops hit the back. Well balanced, grapefruit more present here, bitterness starts to show itself as I swill the beer around my mouth. Full bodied. Finishes dry, slightly warming (the alcohol % was a bit of a surprise) with moderate bitterness and lingering grapefruit after taste. Not going to knock you over, but just a nice session IPA, albeit very strong. Thanks again bunkypop. I am glad only shared two bottles of this. Still have several more in the fridge.

Citrus flavors are pronounced but not overpowering, adding a nice, refreshing flavor to the hops. Very smooth and crisp, it seems ideal for hot weather. Not anywhere near the best IPA I’ve ever had, but not a bad attempt at the style. Pleasant head, minimal lacing.

Bottle courtesy of HogTownHarry. Pours a clear bubbly orange with an average size lasting white head. Decent hoppy aroma with some sweetness and light breadiness. Hoppy, fruity taste with a dry bitter finish -- quite easy to drink. Alcohol’s completely hidden. Medium bodied. A simple yet pleasant IPA, I’d buy it regularly if it were available locally.

Lighter golden color with a medium, but persistent soapy-white head. Aroma has a crisp lemony-grapefruit citrus essence with some gentle grass, flowers, and a slight hint of malt. Flavor is lighter than some IPAs, but crisp, hoppy, and smooth – light citrus flavors flowing into a sea of grass and flower. As good a “summer” IPA as you can find. Hops linger, but don’t overpower. Not the greatest around, just one you wouldn’t mind sipping while manning the grill.

A good example of an IPA but very similar to the Burning River. The only difference betwen the two is the grapefruit/citrus flavor is much more pronounced with this offering.