Great Lakes Nosferatu

12 oz. into wineglass. Beautiful hazy dark amber color with a very rich and creamy off-white/light tannish/yellowish/orangish head that leaves great lace (this may be the first non-black beer I have given a 5 on appearance too!). Really remarkably balanced and screamingly fresh aroma of juicy citrusy (grapefruit, lemon and lime) hops with a gentle but definite malt support. I can;t get over the juiciness of this hoppy aroma, one of the best I have encountered (just barely not strong enough to warrant a 10). The flavor presents a similarly beautiful hoppyness that doesn’t quite match the glory of the aroma. The hops are less juicy and more bitingly bitter (but I like this too) - more piney than citrusy. There is also a much more robust malt character to the flavor than the aroma; after the initial shock of the resinous hops comes a woody, oaky, caramel malt character that works pretty damn well with the hops. Despite the sift from hops to malt, the hops still manage to linger through the finish. The beer exhibits a dense medium body with low to medium carbonation and a very sticky mouth feel due to the hop oils and rich malt bill. Overall: beautiful ale that is outstanding fresh and might prove very different, though potentially uniquely delicious with some age. My question: Why doesn;t GL/RB consider this a IIPA, especially since it is ’’referred to as Burning River Pale Ale’s big brother’’? Oh well. Long live Nosferatu!

12oz bottle considered by GLBC to be the big brother of Burning River. Quite a hefty title. Pours blood red with a 1 1/2 inch off white head. Lots of hop in the aroma with some citrus, pine and a touch of bread. Flavor is huge hops with a slight touch of sweetness for balance. Full-bodied and very good.

Pours a dark, clear amber color with a small tannish head. Great nutty aroma, malty, muted hops. Rather big mouthfeel, slightly sticky, sweet, and malty. Nutty, dry finish. Hops add character, but aren’t the star here. Well rounded, excellent.

One bottle in trade with JB. Pours a great deep amber color with small white head. Aroma of hops. A pretty sweet beer with a big hop bite and caramel malts. Alcohol is hidden well. Great balance and very tasty. Thanks JB

Pours a glowing deep clear garnet with a medium thick frothy beige head. Pineapple, maple syrup and bacon aroma. Very earthy hop flavor, way bitter, sugary sweet, not a whole lot of interesting flavor, slightly burnt caramel malt, quite biscuity. Medium/light bodied with larger carbonation.

Bottle . Pours a big amber body with an off white head. Floral hopes and pine. Sweet and malty with caramel, orange peel and big warming.

Poured a nice dark cherry color with a medium sized tan colored head. Left great lacing all the way down. Citrus aroma that seemed a blend of fruits that I could almost but not quite pick out, nice hops in the nose as well. Spicey malt flavor covering a subdued citrus flavor. Ended with a bitter piney finish that did not linger to long.

A fruit salad lurks inside this giant cherry pit of bitterness. Absolutely perfect mouthfeel and palate. The lacing is a work of art-a vampire bat cave. My favorite Great Lakes beer, I hope this is a keeper for the brewery.