Lakefront Bridge Burner Strong Ale

Brewed by Lakefront Brewery
Style: American Strong Ale
Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA

Uhhhhh. . . . Picture Homer with tongue hanging out on couch. Camera pans over to floor. Three empty Bridge Burner Ale bottles lying on floor. This is what I aspire to most days. And with the high alcohol count, three would probably do it. I leave the fruit and flower comparisons to the other raters; to me this is as good as a hoppy ale gets. After consuming a significant number of these since Lakefront came out with it, I’m forced to reevaluate my dislike of Pale Ale. This is not, by the way, listed as or called a pale ale, but it is very similar to one (but heavier, more alcohol). Through from Milwaukee, I’m only marginally a fan of this brewery’s other beers--I’ll drink ’em in a pinch. This one is different--a true keeper and my favorite ale!

22oz bottle. Medium brown - reddish color. Tall, foamy light tan colored head. Lots of lace. Aroma of ripe grapefruit, lots of them. Nice dark caramel and a bit of fruit. The flavor is big and bold. Rich toasted malts, lots of toffee and caramel. A bit of woody hops add to the bitterness along with big citrus rind. This is a great beer. An Imperial ESB with big American Hops!

I tried this on while on the Lakefront tour, and if nothing else had come out of that tour than the glass of amber, amber brew with a citrusy/ pine nose, it would have been well worth it. The palate was interesting. Toffee dancing with pine, cinnamon and cardamom against a fantastically yeasty base and lovely, fruity hops. The only negative on this beer? Too smooth, masking the alcohol. I did NOT drive home. :)

This one surprised me, in a good way. Poured deep ruby-red with lofty and lasting head that left behind sticky, foamy lace. Mouthfeel was full, creamy and smooth. Rich malt flavors were full of dark toast, nuts, and woodsy molasses. Hops were zingy and electric, with snappy twinges of pine, grass, weeds and orange peel. Healthy amount of bitterness balanced well with the sweetness. Surprisingly good beer.

Spectacular ,grain earthy hop aroma, unlike anything that Lakefront has done with a hop emphasis,one of the best hop aromas that didn’t have citrus and pine dominance, intriguing dark amber copper color,that you wouldn’t suspect to be pumping out all this hop fragrance, taste is also dominated by rich hop flavors small hints of sweet malt balance and a slight red fruitiness lurk in the shadows, but this is all about that dead nuts hopping. Someone really nailed it. I t breaks down a little to quickly for a strong ale,could be beefed up with just a little more body ,but I believe this would get my vote for the best Lakefront brew ever. The team that made this should tackle the long awaited Imperial IPA

Dark copper color. Smell of pine, hops, caramel, grass, flowers, root beer, citrus, bread, pepper and malt. Tastes the same. I think this is a solid brew and one of my new favorites from Lakefront! Great job!

Pours deep coppery with ruby highlights and 3-fingers of off-white head. Nose is toasty caramel malt, hops, brown sugar, spicy yeast, figgy fruit. Tastes very hoppy, with caramel malt, brown sugar, figgy fruit, port, berries, and some spicy notes. Palate is rich, complex, malty, hoppy, and fruity, with a nice balance. My 2 year old daughter smelled this and said, "Strawberry" Indeed.

Aroma is strong and rather hoppy, but not fiercely so, with a subtle fruity undertone. It pours a clear dark coppery amber with a fairly thick, slightly yellow beige head. Flavor is hoppy but not too bitter, and has a firm undertone of orange. Texture is thick, smooth and fizzy, leaving a hop-bitter aftertaste.