Great Lakes Nosferatu

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

Pours a bloody amber with a small off-white head. An upfront rush of hops is quickly tamed by a nice malt backdrop. Sweet sugar and grapefruit float in the flavor, as well as a bit of orange peels and spices. Finishes slightly syrupy, and lets you know the abv. An interesting bend from an IIPA, but not quite what I think of when I hear ASA.

yum! Delicious floral hop character inside a beer whose alcohol content is very well hidden. Delicious.

12oz Bottle $10.99 4-Pack Binny’s Orland Enjoy by 12/5/07 Nosferatu exits the bottle a highly polished crystal clear copper. A two finger soapy, dirty white head formed on the pour and fell rather quickly to a nice crown. On it’s way down it left behind small patchy lacing. A good looking beer but the head seems to be somewhat slacking. The aroma has a strong hop presence but keeping up is a generous helping of caramel and toasted grains. Over the top of the maltiness lays brown sugar coated grapefruit and a faint whiff of alcohol toward the back. Unfortunately the smell is a little faint. It picks up a little with each swirl but disappears just as fast. Things start off with a solid caramel backbone but a buzzsaw like hoppiness cuts directly through. Bitter grapefruit and pine combine to obliterate the caramel maltiness. This beer, to me anyways, has all the qualities of a IIPA. There’s a squeeze of orange on the finish just before a spicy alcohol kicks in. The alcohol is noticeable and warm but adds to the depth instead of getting in the way. Medium body with smooth creamy mouthfeel. Carbonation is sluggish and lets all that hop resin linger on the tongue longer giving it that freshly stomped on feeling. This is an easy beer to put away but it will tear up the tastebuds. The alcohol warmth gets the cheeks warm after half a glass and will warm you up rather quickly. Nosferatu is another good beer froom Great Lakes. I guess that goes without saying. I believe the American Strong Ale category is designed to be a catch-all of sorts but this beer is more along the lines of a IIPA. Great Lakes calls it a Stock Ale. Try one and decide for yourself. 12/7/07

Bottle from Rockinout. Light mahogony color with small head. Faint burnt malt aroma. Taste starts with lightly burnt malt but is incredibly balanced. Lots of piney hops. No alcohol burn, and the balance makes this an easy drinker for 8%. Very good, well made and balanced brew.

Pours ruby red with off white head and some lacing around the rim of the glass. Caramel malt aroma that really intrigued me. Citrus zest on the mouth-feel and a piney clean finish. Another great effort from Great Lakes

Bottle via trade from dankman38. Thanks Mike! Pour was a gorgeous crystal clear ruby and orange color with a creamy, off-white head that was two-fingers tall and persistent. Decent lacing. The aroma was sweet, biscuity malts with nice caramel hints that aren’t too much. Then the soft citrus of oranges takes over right before the pine and floral hops introduce themselves. The flavor maintains the balance noted in the aroma. From soft caramelly sweetness up front through citrus, floral and pine hops. Nice dry finish. Above average mouthfeel. Incredibly drinkable. Alcohol not noticed. I got your session beer right here.

One of my favorite beers of all time. Had most recently on draft at Mad Mex. Pours such a wonderful blood red. I just can’t wait to taste it when it’s poured. Great balance of carmel hops flavor. Never a disapointment.

Bottle, thanks to after4ever. Sweet caramel and pine nose. Pours clear dark amber with a fluffy, lacy off-white head. Light body and medium carbonation. Brown sugar and spice taste. Soft pine finish.