Great Lakes Holy Moses White Ale

Brewed by Great Lakes Brewing Company
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
Cleveland, Ohio USA

Pours a light golden color with thin white head. Aroma was of citrus and spices. Flavor was the same. A good beer but I can’t see myself drinking it often.

(01.26.06) 12 oz brown bottle purchased from DiCarlo’s, Mundelein, IL. 5.4% ABV. Bottle label states to finish by 05/15/06. Clear golden yellow hued ale having tiny diminishing white head. No carbonation. Fruity spicy aroma. Light particulates. Light-to-medium bodied ale that starts with light sweet malt and light spice (coriander) citrusy flavors. Finishes dry and clean. Very good drinkable refreshing ale.

On Tap@Great Lakes Brewpub

Poured hazey yellow. 1-inch thick white creamy head. Aroma citrusy and quite spicy. Flavor spicy from the coriander, mildly fruity orange notes in the back. As it warmed the spicier it got. I actually couldn’t finish it. Big wheat backbone. It reminded me of Hoegaarden.

(12 oz bottles: Obtained in trades with bkelley68 and OhioDad, thanks Brian and Scott!) I have two bottles of this beer, one that the brewery requested be consumed 18 months ago, and one that should be consumed right about now. Think the 18-month old witbier is nasty and gross? Think again!! The only discernible difference (and it’s pretty damn slight) is that the flavor of the older bottle is just a touch less bright. Really, I’m extremely impressed by this side-by-side comparison. But moving on to the actual flavor, I’m even more impressed. Wow, this is some really good beer here, and I’m not really even much of a fan of witbier. Coriander and wheat are all pretty light flavored, but the orange peel really comes on strong to dominate the finish, and I’m totally digging on the chamomile. Lightly sweet, somewhat fruity, hints of tea and flowers, what a complex cornucopia of flavors. In the nose, I find lots of orange citrus, sweet flowers and that wonderful chamomile again. Light bodied, pleasant and satisfying on the palate, but not crisp or clean from the sweetness and spices. Vibrant yellow color shows moderate haziness and on close inspection, hundreds of small particles suspended in the beer. The smallish, white head gradually fades to a small ring and leaves modest lacing on the glass. Very original recipe, and with the coriander not being a major player here, it’s very much to my liking. It may not be "to style", but what do I care?! It’s damn tasty!

Bottle. Citrus scents on the nose. Not a very long lasting head. So far, I have liked Great Lakes beers but not this one. Overly acidic, bitter were the predominant flavors. Really poor, maybe a bad bottle. I most certainly hope so.

Very flavorful with hint of fruit and spice together, another great one from Great Lakes, gotta hand it to Cleveland

Bit thin, bit wheaty, weak citrus flavors. OK beer, but not in the top half of the Great Lakes beers.

Not bad, would be great in the summer. It pales in comparison to the Grand Cru -- a good beer, but not quite as powerfully tasty.