So, I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it: Great Lakes Project X is an awesome event. And it happens every month, so I hardly have an excuse for missing it so damn much. If you’re not familiar, Project X is run by Great Lakes Brewery. Each month they brew up a couple of interesting/one-off/sometimes-disturbing beers, and serve them up to legions of fans. Pretty simple really. It’s generally hosted at the brewery, though of late they have been taking them afield. The event is nearly always the second Thursday of the month, and the next one (following that pattern) is April 12th, and it will be at the Victory Cafe. As that’s about 20 minutes closer to my house than the brewery is, I can only imagine they were sick of me missing them too. When I popped by the brewery to pick up the beer for last Friday’s beer break on the Edge, Mike passed me a bottle of Lake Effect IPA too, and I thought reviewing it would be a good way to promote the next Project X. Watch out for more Lake Effect coming up in the months to come.
Lake Effect IPA - Great Lakes Brewery
From a 650ml bottle with a Project X neck-hanger on it, Lake Effect IPA pours a dark yellow, with a tawny/orange centre. A big fluffy 1″ head sticks around for ages. Like, From when I poured and photographed it till now was nearly 40 minutes (had to bounce the baby to prevent great sorrow and tribulation) and it’s nearly the exact same. Aroma is big and hoppy. Citrus, with lemons and grapefruit showing up, some tropical fruits like lychee and pineapple, and something a little floral. Malts are present, but you’ve got to look for them; there’s a bit of a sweetness that borders on caramel mixed in there. Taste is just amazing, big bitter hops that you feel before you taste. They aren’t sticky, just full and robust. There’s more lemon and lychee, and now a resin bitterness that knocks nearly all the malts from the palate. There is some sweet little hits, a bit like a dinner roll, mid-way through the sip, but the start and finish are big old hops. Bitter citrus peel lingers on and on and makes me want more and more. The mouthfeel is lovely too, smooth and creamy. Out of the bottle, it drinks like a draught ale, just soft and well rounded and so enticing. For a beer that is 6.5% and labelled 84 IBU, I sure could drink a lot of this. Lake Effect IPA is definitely not an entry-level IPA; if you like your hops, but don’t want to have your palate beaten-up by them, this is your beer. Totally worth a trip to the brewery to pick some up.
Cheers to Great Lakes, another rock-solid brew!
About The Brewery
Brewing Against the Grain! Established in 1987, Great Lakes Brewing Co. is Toronto’s oldest craft brewery. Brewing unique seasonals, bold and adventurous ales and easy drinking lagers, we’ve got you covered. Our award winning beers are handcrafted in small batches adhering to traditional brewing methods. Your Local Brewery?
