Leinenkugels Special Ale

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

Tried as Island Ale at Cheesburger in Paradise. Evenly flavored beer. Pours nice reddish/amber color and malty aroma. Well balance malt flavor with a bit too much CO2.

I was a big fan of this beer. I swear it was called numskull at the Applebee’s in Green Bay, but I did see that it said "Leinie’s" on the side of the tapper. I have been looking for hints of this to show up in bottles somewhere, but haven’t seen anything. I thought it was great. My favorite Leinenkugel is the Red, but this may challenge that.

Tried this as "Coyote Roadhouse Howling Ale". Not much aroma in this one. Has a copper, transparent appearance. After waiting for it to warm so I could taste anything, I give it a try. It reminded me of Leinenkugel’s red with a hint of orange peels and honey. Almost like a weak Belgian without the finish. Dry, smooth finish. Too bad they don’t bottle this - it is one of the better beers they produce in my opinion.

22oz mug on tap at Cheeseburger in Paradise in Columbus Ohio as Island Ale - Pours copper with a short tan head. Aroma is malty caramel malts and grassy hops. Flavor is robust for a beer of it’s color. Nice copper malts and some grassy hops come through in the flavor. Palate was medium bodied and very smooth and drinkable. I found this surprising better than expected..

At the time I had this it was called Brett Favre Voodoo Ale. This is a special brew available at Curly’s Pub in the Lambeau Field Atrium in Green Bay. Amber in color with a slight cream colored head. Very strong aftertaste. If you are in Green Bay you have to stop into Curly’s and have a brew. Also, do the stadium tour it is unbelievable.

Split Rock Ale. This was pretty good for Leinenkugels. I had this at the Minneapolis St Paul Airport while waiting for a flight back home. Kind of a dry ale, nice hops flavor. Fairly run of the mill.

The story behind this beer is as follows: Several years ago, the chain "Applebee’s" approached Leinie’s for an on-tap beer marketed as a local ale. Leinies only sells the beer to restaurants in 1/2 barrells--not available in bottles or cans. Also, if you go to the Leinies Lodge in Chippewa falls, this beer is NOT available. Easily the best brew that Leinies makes...hoppy for their own style, but if you can find it, try it.

On draft at Mission Grille in Sister Bay, WI (as Leinie Mission Ale). Poured a clear deep amber/brown with a thick creamy off-white head (lasted for a few minutes). Hoppy aroma with light berry accents and some sweet caramel malts. Was nice, but would have been even better if it were a bit stronger. Crisp and bitter on the palate. Light-bodied. Sweet and malty at the front of the palate... followed by citrus hoppy bitterness and some faint berries through the finish. Rather tasty specimen from the brewery.