Big Lake Brewing
Microbrewery
in
Holland,
Michigan,
United States πΊπΈ
Associated Venue: Big Lake Brewing
Established in 2013
Contact
Description
Founded in 2013 by Travis Prueter, Nic Winsemius, and Greg MacKeller, Big Lake is committed to being an owner-operated brewery. They brew a variety of beers for consumption in their pub, and their mainstay products are also brewed and canned for distribution across the state of Michigan.
8.5/10
Tried
on 28 Sep 2019
at 18:31
7/10
Tried
on 25 Sep 2019
at 22:06
6/10
Tried
from Draft
on 06 Sep 2019
at 19:32
7/10
Tried
on 02 Sep 2019
at 22:32
8/10
β
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
16 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 7/29/2019. Pours very hazy/cloudy deep golden amber color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy off white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice dense spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big juicy, lightly tart/tangy mangoes, fruit skin, tangerine, red grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, honeydew melon, blueberry, gooseberry, citrus peel/zest, peppercorn, pine, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, light honey/biscuit, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of mangoes, citrus/fruity/tropical/light earthy hops, and bready malt notes; with big strength. Taste of big juicy, lightly tart/tangy mangoes, fruit skin, tangerine, red grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, honeydew melon, blueberry, gooseberry, citrus peel/zest, peppercorn, pine, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, light honey/biscuit, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Light pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, grassy, peppery bitterness; and fruit tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of lightly tart/tangy mangoes, fruit skin, tangerine, red grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, honeydew melon, blueberry, gooseberry, citrus peel/zest, peppercorn, pine, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, light honey/biscuit, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of mangoes, citrus/fruity/tropical/light earthy hops, and bready malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness and tart/tangy fruit balance; with no astringent hop/fruit flavors after the finish. A bit crisp finishing. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitterness, tart/tangy fruit, and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, fairly sticky, and lightly acidic/tangy/resinous/rindy mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5.5%. Overall this is an excellent fruited NEIPA. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of mangoes, citrus/fruity/tropical/light earthy hops, and bready malt flavors; very smooth and pretty refreshing to drink with the mellowly bitter/tangy/drying finish; great soft feel. Great Citra, Mosaic profile. Awesomely juicy hops/fruit, with light dank/earthy notes; and a great wheat/oat/malt backbone for the ABV. Light residual sweetness with lingering dryness. A bit over-carbed, but not overwhelming. A very enjoyable offering, and impressive style example as expected. The whole series has been very consistent.
Tried
from Can
on 31 Aug 2019
at 18:38
8/10
β
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
16 ounce can into pint glass, canned in 7/2019. Pours fairly hazy/cloudy pale golden yellow color with a 1-2 finger fairly foamy and fluffy of white head with solid retention, that reduces to a thin spotty lace cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big lightly tart/tangy orange juice, lemon, lime, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, melon, red apple, wheat, cracker, and white bread dough; with lighter notes of banana, clove, pepper, herbal, floral, wood, grass, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of oranges, fruity/spicy yeast, pale/wheat malts, and light-moderate earthy hop notes; with big strength. Taste of big lightly tart/tangy orange juice, lemon, lime, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, melon, red apple, wheat, cracker, and white bread dough; with lighter notes of banana, clove, pepper, herbal, floral, wood, grass, and yeast earthiness. Light herbal, floral, woody, grass bitterness; yeast spiciness; and citrus/wheat tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart/tangy orange juice, lemon, lime, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, melon, red apple, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, light banana/clove, pepper, herbal, floral, wood, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of oranges, fruity/spicy yeast, pale/wheat malts, and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; with a great malt/bitter/spiciness and tart/tangy fruit balance; with no puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitter/spiciness, tart/tangy fruit, and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/grainy, and fairly crisp/sticky/acidic/tangy mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 4.3%. Overall this is an excellent shandy. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of oranges, fruity/spicy yeast, pale/wheat malts, and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; very smooth, refreshing, and fairly crisp to drink with the mellowly bitter/spicy/tart/tangy/drying finish. Very flavorful and not watery for the ABV. Great balance of juicy/vibrant citrus and American wheat yeast; with a great pale/wheat malt backbone, and earthy hop presence for the style. Minimal residual sweetness with crisp dryness. A very enjoyable offering, and impressive spot on style example as expected. No complaints.
Tried
from Can
on 31 Jul 2019
at 21:48
8.1/10
β
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
16 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 7/8/2019. Pours moderately hazy medium golden yellow color with a 1 finger dense and rocky off white head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice dense spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big mandarin orange, red grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, pear, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berries, citrus peel/zest, black tea, wood, onion, mint, light peppercorn/pine, wheat, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and bready malt notes; with big strength. Taste of big mandarin orange, red grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, pear, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berries, citrus peel/zest, black tea, wood, onion, mint, light peppercorn/pine, wheat, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Mild pine, citrus peel/zest, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of mandarin orange, red grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, pear, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berries, citrus peel/zest, black tea, wood, onion, mint, light peppercorn/pine, wheat, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and bready malt flavors; with a nice malt/bitterness balance, and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, creamy/bready/grainy, and lightly sticky mouthfeel that is fantastic. Minimal lingering resins/rinds. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5.5%. Overall this is an outstanding NEIPA. All around awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and bready malt flavors; very smooth and refreshing to drink with the mildly bitter/drying finish; fantastic soft feel. Fantastic Idaho 7 Hash profile. Very juicy, vibrant, dank, and earthy hops; with a great balancing oat/malt backbone. Light residual sweetness with lingering dryness. A highly enjoyable offering, and outstanding style example. Their best and most accurate non fruited NEIPA so far.
Tried
from Can
on 30 Jul 2019
at 21:43
8.1/10
β
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
16 ounce can into pint glass, canned on 6/3/2019. Pours moderately hazy/cloudy pale golden yellow color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with great retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Nice spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big tart/tangy lemon juice, lime, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, melon, red apple, wheat, cracker, and white bread dough; with lighter notes of peppercorn, clove, banana, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of lemons, fruity/light spicy yeast, pale/wheat malts, and light-moderate earthy hop notes; with big strength. Taste of big tart/tangy lemon juice, lime, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, melon, red apple, wheat, cracker, and white bread dough; with lighter notes of peppercorn, clove, banana, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate citrus peel/zesty, herbal, floral, grassy bitterness; fruit tang/tartness; and peppery yeast spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart/tangy lemon juice, lime, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, melon, red apple, wheat, cracker, white bread, peppercorn, clove, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of lemons, fruity/light spicy yeast, pale/wheat malts, and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; with an awesome malt/bitter/spiciness and tart/tangy citrus balance; with no astringent hop/fruit flavors after the finish. Moderately crisp/clean finishing. Moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitter/spiciness, tart/tangy citrus, and carbonation. Medium-plus carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy/sticky/peel/rindy, and fairly acidic/tangy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 4.2%. Overall this is an awesome lemon shandy style. All around awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of lemons, fruity/light spicy yeast, pale/wheat malts, and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; very smooth, crisp, clean, and refreshing to drink with the modestly bitter/spicy/tangy/drying finish. Very flavorful and not watery for the ABV. Awesome balance of super vibrant lemons/peels and American wheat yeast; with a great pale/wheat malt backbone and earthy hop presence for the style/ABV. Minimal residual sweetness with crisp drying. A really enjoyable offering, and impressive spot on style example. Pretty much perfectly balanced between all flavors. --- Beer aliased from original tick of Lake Shandy on 08 May 2018 at 01:12 - Score: Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5. Original review text: 16 ounce can into pint glass; no can dating, but is a recent release. Pours fairly hazy pale straw color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big tart/tangy lemon, lime, pear, red apple, citrus peel, wheat, cracker, white bread, light herbal/grass, and yeast earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance of lemonade, fruity yeast, pale/wheat malts, and light earthy hop notes; with great strength. Taste of big tart/tangy lemon, lime, pear, red apple, citrus peel, wheat, cracker, white bread, light herbal/grass, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/acidic tartness and light herbal/grassy/citrus peel bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart lemon, lime, pear, red apple, citrus peel, wheat, cracker, white bread, light herbal/grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice robustness and balance of lemonade, fruity yeast, pale/wheat malts, and light earthy hop flavors; with a great malt/tartness balance, and no puckering flavors after the finish. Moderate increasing dryness from tart/tangy lemonade and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately crisp, and grainy/acidic/sticky/tangy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 4.2%. Overall this is a very nice shandy. All around nice robustness and balance of lemonade, fruity yeast, pale/wheat malts, and light earthy hop flavors; very smooth, crisp, and refreshing to drink with the modestly tart/bitter/drying finish. Very flavorful and not too watery for the ABV. Perfectly balanced between vibrant lemonade and wheat beer flavors. A very enjoyable offering, and spot on style example. One of the better ones I have had.
Tried
from Can
on 30 Jul 2019
at 21:07
8.1/10
β
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
16 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 6/3/2019. Pours slightly hazy pale golden straw color with a 1 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with solid retention, that reduces to a minimal spotty lace cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big juicy/tart/tangy lemon, lime, orange, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, melon, red/green apple, white grape/wine, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, light peppercorn/lacto funk, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of lemons, fruity/acidic yeast, and moderate pale/wheat malt notes; with big strength. Taste of big juicy/tart/tangy lemon, lime, orange, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, melon, red/green apple, white grape/wine, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, light peppercorn/lacto funk, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tartness fruit tang; light zesty bitterness and spiciness on the finish. Lingering tart/tangy lemon, lime, orange, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, melon, red/green apple, white grape/wine, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, light peppercorn/lacto funk, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of lemons, fruity/acidic yeast, and moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; with an awesome malt/tartness and tangy fruit balance; with no puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Moderately crisp/clean finishing. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering tartness, tangy fruit, and zesty bitterness. Medium-plus carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth and moderately creamy/grainy/acidic/tangy/zesty balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 4.2%. Overall this is an awesome fruited session kettle sour. All around awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of lemons, fruity/acidic yeast, and moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, clean, and refreshing to drink with the mellowly acidic/tangy/drying finish. Very flavorful and not watery for the ABV. Awesome balance of super juicy/vibrant lemons and Lacto complexity; with a great pale/wheat malt backbone against acidity for the ABV. Minimal residual sweetness with crisp drying. A really enjoyable offering, and impressive style example. Fantastic summer beer.
Tried
from Can
on 30 Jul 2019
at 21:02
8/10
Tried
from Can
on 29 Jun 2019
at 21:10