Great Lakes Independence Ale

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

Draft from Party Source. Poured a clear dark copper color with an average frothy white head that was mostly lasted and had good lacing. Good malty and earthy hop aroma. Medium body with slick dry texture and soft carbonation. Moderate to heavy balanced smooth flavor with a medium bittersweet finish of moderate duration. Good brew.

Draft at Dublin Pub in Dayton. Bright but dark copper with a pleasantly rolling bubbliness. Nice rich caramel malt forms the basis of this, but there’s also a nice crisp hoppy bite to bring it together. Yummy. (#3576, 7/4/2009)

Draft at GL. Pours an amber body with a white head. Sweet and malt with hints of hop bitterness. Decent brew.

On draught at Winking Lizard. The beer pours a clear reddish-amber color with a medium white head that diminishes steadily. Thin sheet of lacing on the glass. Hoppy aroma with grapefruit accents along with some malt. Medium body with a moderately bitter hops character. Notes of citrus and bready malt as well. The finish is citrusy hops and mild malt with a lingering bitterness. Above average overall.

Props to the barkeep, Payton for scraping me up the dregs. Pinky orange, clear with a light tan oatmeal head. Strong hop aroma with some light vinegar - malt in abundance. Tangy west coast hopping, medium sweetness. Body is creamy, then turns sharp with the bittering. Initial finish is sweet, then the hops linger. goes vacant. Decent, but I’d go for the Elliot Ness or the Burning River.

Rating #15 for this beer.
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7/07/2008: GLBC Independence Ale has a cloudy amber/resin color topped by a small, frothy, beige/tan head. The aroma is lively and earthy with pine and citrus hops. There is also a good caramel malt presence and a mild to moderate amount of bitterness. The flavor has a nice caramel maltiness with resin, pine, and earthy hops. There is also a touch of citrus in the finish. This beer has a medium to medium-full body and is balanced and easy to drink.

Draught sample (ABV 6.0%; IBU 45) at the Great Lakes Brewing Company Brewpub in Cleveland, Ohio.
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7/02/2009: Great Lakes Independence Ale is bright and hoppy with fairly generous bitterness. The hop characteristic is grapefruit with plenty of sticky resin. There is just enough underlying toffee maltiness and toast to keep the beer somewhat balanced, although it still leans toward the hoppy side. Tangerine or clementine comes through in the finish. As far as appearance goes, it has a copper color with a lasting beige head. I would put this beer into the Pale Ale or even IPA category due to the fowardness of the hops and the level of bitterness. I like this beer quite a bit. It has lots of flavor and is more than interesting enough to warrant putting down a growler of it!

Draught (growler fill) from The Party Source.

(draft @ 2009 Flour City Brewer’s Fest - Frontier Field - Rochester, NY) Clear orange pour with a fluffy white head. Aroma is loaded with dry and floral hops. When I first smelled it, I thought it was an IPA. Flavor is incredibly floral and bitter with some mild citrus. Mainly dry hops. Tastes exactly like an IPA. Finishes dry, bitter, and cloying.

Odd slightly freshly cut veggie aroma. Creamy head on a beer with an iced tea look. Strong odd flavors. Not too sue what to thinkl about the personality of this beer. Difficult at times. Bitter medicine finish. Virtually flat. Better give this one another chance, not as smooth as I expect for an amber. Yes, you can certainly tell this is 6+%.