Beer of the Week - June 9 - Orange Peel Ale

650 mL bottle
SEASONAL/LIMITED QUANTITIES
Price: $ 4.95
5.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : 3
Made in: Ontario, Canada
By: Great Lakes Brewing Co. Inc.

I was hesitant to try this one and have picked it up each week, held it in my hand, then placed it back onto the shelf and grabbed something else. Putting orange in beer just doesn't sound right. Sounds more like a beer cooler than a beer.

Having enjoyed another seasonal offering from Great Lakes Brewery, last December, their Great Lakes Winter Ale, I decided to finally give this one a try.

Glad I did. The beer is more a golden colour and has a good head. There is a hint of orange or citrus in the aroma, but just a hint. It was not sweet as I expected as they use orange rinds in the mash which adds a pleasant, slight, orange bitterness to the bitterness of the hops. The aftertaste lingers refreshingly asking me to take another sip.

In 2008 this brewery won many awards at the Ontario Brewing Awards, including a peoples choice for this beer.

I can see why.

There will be more coming home with me this summer.