Comments on: Beer of the Week – Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale http://www.tasteto.com/2007/05/01/beer-of-the-week-great-lakes-orange-peel-ale/ Food & Drink In Toronto Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:40:56 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Greg Clow http://www.tasteto.com/2007/05/01/beer-of-the-week-great-lakes-orange-peel-ale/comment-page-1/#comment-99 Greg Clow Thu, 03 May 2007 14:19:56 +0000 http://www.tasteto.com/2007/05/01/beer-of-the-week-great-lakes-orange-peel-ale/#comment-99 No need to apologize, Stephen. We like a bit of cantankerousness around here. Keeps things interesting. ;) No need to apologize, Stephen. We like a bit of cantankerousness around here. Keeps things interesting. ;)

]]> By: Stephen Beaumont http://www.tasteto.com/2007/05/01/beer-of-the-week-great-lakes-orange-peel-ale/comment-page-1/#comment-98 Stephen Beaumont Thu, 03 May 2007 12:43:58 +0000 http://www.tasteto.com/2007/05/01/beer-of-the-week-great-lakes-orange-peel-ale/#comment-98 Well, I went out yesterday and bought myself a bottle of the Orange Peel Ale, and guess what?, I like it. It's a bit of a one trick pony, for sure -- by the end of my glass, not the bottle, but simply a glass of it, I was getting quite bored with the perfumey orange thing -- but it is well made, with big, brilliant aromatics and a subtle enough orange presence in the body. My principle complaint, aside from the lack of interest-building complexity, is the sharpness of the finish, which struck me as overly citrus oily. Head, shoulders and a generous proportion of a torso above the Winter Spiced Ale, for certain, and a definite step in the right direction for Great Lakes. BTW, I was a bit cranky yesterday, which I think explains the generally cantankerous nature of my previous post. Apologies. Well, I went out yesterday and bought myself a bottle of the Orange Peel Ale, and guess what?, I like it. It's a bit of a one trick pony, for sure -- by the end of my glass, not the bottle, but simply a glass of it, I was getting quite bored with the perfumey orange thing -- but it is well made, with big, brilliant aromatics and a subtle enough orange presence in the body. My principle complaint, aside from the lack of interest-building complexity, is the sharpness of the finish, which struck me as overly citrus oily.

Head, shoulders and a generous proportion of a torso above the Winter Spiced Ale, for certain, and a definite step in the right direction for Great Lakes.

BTW, I was a bit cranky yesterday, which I think explains the generally cantankerous nature of my previous post. Apologies.

]]> By: Greg Clow http://www.tasteto.com/2007/05/01/beer-of-the-week-great-lakes-orange-peel-ale/comment-page-1/#comment-96 Greg Clow Wed, 02 May 2007 20:54:01 +0000 http://www.tasteto.com/2007/05/01/beer-of-the-week-great-lakes-orange-peel-ale/#comment-96 Interesting comment, Stephen. Personally, I found the Winter Ale to be decent, and I've sampled a fair number of spiced ales, albeit in bottled versions that travelled to me rather than me travelling to them. It wasn't an outstanding ale, but pleasant enough for what it was, and certainly a step up from Great Lakes' regular lager line-up. I know that some people commented at the time on differences between the draught and bottled versions, and I also think there were at least two batches made. Given their relative inexperience with ales, maybe it took a try or two to get it where they wanted it? I'll be curious to know what you think of the Orange Peel Ale. I think you're generally less forgiving than I am, and a more experienced taster as well, so maybe you'll hate it as much as the Winter Ale. :) Interesting comment, Stephen. Personally, I found the Winter Ale to be decent, and I've sampled a fair number of spiced ales, albeit in bottled versions that travelled to me rather than me travelling to them. It wasn't an outstanding ale, but pleasant enough for what it was, and certainly a step up from Great Lakes' regular lager line-up.

I know that some people commented at the time on differences between the draught and bottled versions, and I also think there were at least two batches made. Given their relative inexperience with ales, maybe it took a try or two to get it where they wanted it?

I'll be curious to know what you think of the Orange Peel Ale. I think you're generally less forgiving than I am, and a more experienced taster as well, so maybe you'll hate it as much as the Winter Ale. :)

]]> By: Stephen Beaumont http://www.tasteto.com/2007/05/01/beer-of-the-week-great-lakes-orange-peel-ale/comment-page-1/#comment-94 Stephen Beaumont Wed, 02 May 2007 13:11:30 +0000 http://www.tasteto.com/2007/05/01/beer-of-the-week-great-lakes-orange-peel-ale/#comment-94 I've not yet had the chance to sample the Orange Peel Ale, Greg, but I'm befuddled by some of the reviews the "perfect for the holidays" Spiced Ale from Great Lakes received. I found its spicing confused and heavy-handed, its body muddy and flat-tasting and its general character completely overbearing. Plainly put, I couldn't finish a sample glass of the stuff. I'm fortunate enough to travel quite a bit, and so have been able to sample many a spiced ale from the U.S. and Europe, and I wonder if the generally positive notices the Spiced Ale received were at least partly because most Ontarians had not previously encountered such an animal. Reminds me of the accolades the Glatt Barleywine received several years back, when it couldn't even stand alongside some of the second tier barleywines from the States and Britain. I've not yet had the chance to sample the Orange Peel Ale, Greg, but I'm befuddled by some of the reviews the "perfect for the holidays" Spiced Ale from Great Lakes received. I found its spicing confused and heavy-handed, its body muddy and flat-tasting and its general character completely overbearing. Plainly put, I couldn't finish a sample glass of the stuff.

I'm fortunate enough to travel quite a bit, and so have been able to sample many a spiced ale from the U.S. and Europe, and I wonder if the generally positive notices the Spiced Ale received were at least partly because most Ontarians had not previously encountered such an animal. Reminds me of the accolades the Glatt Barleywine received several years back, when it couldn't even stand alongside some of the second tier barleywines from the States and Britain.

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