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Great Lakes Eliot Ness

Published September 2011, Volume 32, Number 4

Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Cleveland, OH

Available: DC, IL, IN, KY, MI, MN, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, WV, WI

Eliot Ness is an amber lager with rich, fragrant malt flavors balanced by crisp, noble hops. It’s considered “untouchable” in world beer tasting competitions – much like a certain former Cleveland safety director (who the beer is named after and who also employed Margaret Conway, mother of co-owners Patrick and Daniel Conway, as his stenographer).

ABV: 6.2
ABW: 5.0
Color: Amber
Bitterness: 27
Original gravity: 1060

  • Charles Finkel

    Most craft breweries brew ales, so when a really good lager like this comes along it’s a rare treat. Deep amber, with reddish highlights, bright with an ecru head. The nose is a balance of fresh, earthy malt with the subtle floral tones. The flavor is malty, with just the right amount of hops, i.e. more than most German brewers use. An ideal food beer, we relished this beer with warm organic potato salad and a char-grilled pasture finished hamburger, roasted onions, and cheddar cheese.

  • Charlie Papazian

    Clear, red/amber and appealing cover of froth. A classic modern German-style dunkel―malty sweet with lurking hop balance a pretense for great drinkability. Along with toast malt aroma, honey-like hop floral squeaks through the red glow. Medium body and quite satisfying 12 ounces, a pint or a liter at a time! Wonderful, copper amber lager.

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  1. 1
    Robert (July 31, 2013 at 10:43 pm)

    This is a great, rich beer. The flavor of every sip is complex and delightful.

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