beer_name: Great Lakes Anniversary Ale
text: Thanks to AKSmokedPorter for picking up a bottle for me on a recent trip to Cleveland to watch the Tribe. The beer poured a lovely orange color with a pale orange cap of head that diminished somewhat slowly but left no cap/ring/or lacing. Smell was typical, with a little bit of mintiness to it and a mixture of some different types of hops. A nice citrusy backdrop for the beer. However, the smell of alcohol permeated the beer and kind of diminshed from the overall aroma. Flavor was good, up until the finish. I don't know if I've been in North Carolina too long, but the alcoholic finish detracted from the overall flavor. A touch disappointing. A good sweet caramel beginning to the beer which moved to a citrusy, somewhat bitter finish that was then dominated by the burn of ethanol. Allowing the beer to warm helped mix the alcohol flavor in and mute it some, but it still dominated and detacted. Body was sticky and solid but became more loose as it warmed. Overall, I was a touch disappointed by the brew, but only because it seemed unbalanced and over-the-top with the alcohol.