Great Lakes Nosferatu

Here is what the Brewer Says:

Name Origin: Like vampires (most especially, the notorious German vampire from the 1920s film era), this beer has a bit of a reputation as “the Beer with the Bite.”

Style Origin: American red ale has its origin in the earliest days of the American craft beer

revolution. Faced with a dearth of traditional English ingredients, brewers had to use American ingredients. Imperial or double red ales grew out of this medium-bodied style and emerged with intense hop bitterness, flavor and aroma.

Flavor: Highly hopped and rich with flavor, yet remarkably balanced

Ingredients:

Malt 

Harrington 2-Row Base Malt: Allows color and flavor from other specialty malts to come through; makes for very clean beer

Crystal 77: Contributes to reddish color and adds slight aroma and flavor; contributes great deal to body of beer

Special Roast: Contributes subtle hints of toasty and biscuit flavors

Hops

Simcoe: Unique, non-traditional bittering hop; provides high levels of bitterness with

smoothness

Cascade: Popular in American pale ales; provides citrusy/grapefruit aroma and flavor;

complements heavy malts

ABV: 8.0% ABW: 6.4% IBU: 70 GRAVITY: 18˚P

My Thoughts:  This brew poured a somewhat hazy amber/red color with average tan colored head and sticky lacing throughout.  The smell tells you right away you are in for something special.   Pine hops burst through with a hint of toffee and caramel sweetness.   The taste follows the nose very closely and starts with a wonderful pine and citrus hop profile that is balanced by a mild malt sweetness.   As you continue to drink this beer it actually gets better sip by sip.  The hops come out more and more and the lingering bitterness is addictive!  The mouthfeel is a little thicker and for this style of beer it is perfect!  Carbonation is also spot on...not too little and not too much!  Drinkability...well lets just say that I could drink this all night long and never get tired of it!  This is a perfect 50-60 degree day beer and I look forward to this release every single fall.

Serving Type: Draft and Bottle

My Rating:  Overall 98/100

Look-4.5  Smell-4.75  Taste-5  Feel-5  Drink-5