Leinenkugels Special Ale

Brewed by Leinenkugel Brewing Company (MillerCoors)
Style: American Pale Ale
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin USA

Recent addition to the draught offerings in Washington, DC. Have had this several times and have enjoyed it immensely. Dark amber appearance, slightly hoppy aroma with a large frothy white head. Taste is pleasant, but bland. Perhaps this one brings back more fond memories than actual enjoyment of the beer, but a nice standyby.

Cheeseburger in Paradise Tap: Tan color with the typical small, short-lived head. Could detect hops in aroma. Since Cheeseburger in Paradise insists on serving beers at 33 degrees it was difficult to really asses the taste. Eventualy noticed some caramel and light hops. Overall clean and refreshing.

On Tap-Cheeseburger in Paradise Island Ale. Poured out a clear amber color w/a slight white head. Always a little leary ordering a beer I don’t know what it actually is or who makes it, & no one here could/would tell me. Actually had a hop aroma up front. Had a little hop bite on the front end w/a nice bitter finish. Some traces of caramel & toffee. Definite sesson ale, as I’m sure it was intended-since it was the "house brand". Good beer to have a Burger with, very much reminded me of an Amber Ale. Smooth easy drinking brew, far & away the best Draft choice if you find yourself here!

Tap at Cheeseburger in Paradise. Small, quickly receding head tan head on a light amber body. After letting the beer warm up for a bout a half hour... cookie malts, mild hops and a tart-apple quality appeared in the aroma. In the mouth, this beer opened with vanilla and bready qualities. Some spicy hops then appeared, followed by yeasty tartness. It finished with pine and citrus hoppyness. I have to admit, I was surprised, I normally am not a huge fan of Liene’s products, but this, although not true to style at all, was a fine drink.

Tap at Cheeseburger in Paradise (Island Ale). Clear amber pour, not much head at all. Taste was pretty straightforward, not much going on. I would have preferred with food, because this had a bit of an edge to it without something to clean the palate.

Sampled at Gunflint Lodge under the label "Gunflint Ale". NOTE: I had this brew after being in the middle of the wilderness for 3 days. No running water, no flushing toilets, nothing. On the day I had this we had paddled roughly 20 miles, the first 10 in rough water on big lakes. So needless to say when we got here at 11:00P.M. this tasted like BA Speedway! But lets be objective... Clear amber color, small white head. Decent lacing. Aroma is clean, is that hops i smell!?! Drinking this is crisp clean, very well brewed pale ale. Great session ale, and was perfect when I drank it.

(Tap) Pours amber with almost no head. The beer was served way too cold; 35 degrees or so. When it warmed up, the caramel and molasses notes were pretty evident. A pretty good beer, especially with a burger.

This is a great solid beer, but it almost has to be drank with food. I really think that is what it is brewed for, this is a definite cheeseburger and hot dog beer. Superbly clean, with a disticnt flavor of caramel and toffee maltiness, with just the slightest bit of herbal grassy hoppiness. I really enjoyed this in the moment.