Great Lakes Nosferatu

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

12oz bottle that has been sitting in the fridge for what seems like ages.... pours a deep transparent garnet red with a thin soapy off-white head.... dark ripened fruit, a hint of cough syrup, and somewhat papery caramel malt.... flavors improved dark fruit and caramel upfront with a nice hop component that works its way into the equation and on through a drier finish.

Yes. Great Lakes got it right (again)! Excellent balance of hops & malts. Visually very appealing dark ruby color. I like every aspect of this ale.

On tap at Professor’s Pub into pint. Lots of lively fine carbonation, dark clear amber pour with a slight off-white head. The abv is pretty upfront but not overwhelming. It’s got some spice but nothing too offensive.

Purchased at Elmwood Beer Market (0r whatever it is called) in Buffalo, NY. Aroma has some sweet, caramelly notes present, but it is mostly dominated by a nice hempy, citrus orange hoppiness. Some toasted malts also make a brief appearance. Quite quaffable. Slightly hazy amber body with a nice off-yellow head that leaves good lacing. This has a nice up-front chewy sweet maltiness. The middle has some tannin like notes, while the hops bring up the rear. Nice hop profile on this. Spicy, herbal, and piney hop bitterness leaves the drinker wanting more. Seems like an "imperial red". It drank pretty good.

Great beer for the fall. Very strong, but balanced. Has a tea/herb aroma note with plenty of hop notes. The initial taste is very heavy with hops, perhaps too strong at first. This balances out by the maltiness that follows. Underneath it all is a creaminess that is unusual for an ASA. It isn’t a clean, crisp finish of a hoppy ale, but a smooth, lingering, almost even smoky finish that I would associate with a good porter. If its "Often referred to as Burning River Pale Ale’s big brother," I’d say its more likely the lovechild of Burning River and Edmund Fitzgerald.

Rich amber with light cream colored, multiform head. APA aroma. Reasonably good malt/hop balance, but definitely on the hoppy side. ABV is noticeable, lifting the hops too far, esp. later in the drinking. Could be too much ABV...definitely. Big hop burp. (on tap at Broadway Pub, Granville, OH)

Malt and hops are strong with this one. All around well balanced and very smooth of palate. Great fall beer.

I am amazed that I had not rated this one sooner for I have had it several times over the years. Sampled from a 12 oz brown bottle this beer poured a ruby-hickory color with a large beige head. The aroma was caramel, sour nutty malts and light fruity hops. The flavor had strong fruity and light floral hops with a nutty hop base and a lightly sour and bitter long fruity hop finish. Fairly full bodied. Nice.