Great Lakes Nosferatu

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

12 oz. bottle in trade from RCL- thank you! Served in trappist glass- what a way to celebrate Halloween; watch a classic horror film (Nosferatu) while drinking a brew with the same name. Poured copper with a hard ruby tint when held to light, low carbonation. Aroma of malt, citrus, and hops. Hits the mouth with high medium, hops kick in from the start and carry well after the finish, malt is hearty and enjoyable, a touch of sweetness at the end. I could have 1, 2, or 20 of these- but that’s for another time. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

From bottle. Part of October Dayton Beer Tasting event. Pours deep amber with plenty of citrus hops. Full mouthfeel supported by malt and hops balance.

10/29/08: On draft.
Garnet brown body with a full head and plenty of lacing. Aroma of grapefruit and malt. Flavor is predominantly hoppy and also offers a nice amount of caramel malts. Finish is bitter but sweet. A solid autumn offering by Great Lakes.

Deep amber color, well carbonated. Aroma of hops and malt and what I can only desscribe as a ’green’ smell. Thicker and more hoppy tasting than anticipated, with distinct hickory overtones and caramel, almost like it was cask aged. The sour aftertaster takes a bit away frm the overall impression but this is a good, not great, beer.

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