ABV: 9.10%
Purchased at: On tap @Vintage Estate – Boardman OH
What makes this beer different: Not a ton but its a really good beer
Will I be drinking this again: Pretty rare but if I find it yes.
Grade: A-
5/19/2010: Does Great Lakes make a bad beer? I can’t think of one. With that said they don’t make anything “spectacular” either. I’ll bet the Barrel Aged Blackout Stout is amazing, but its also impossible to find unless you go to the brewery. Lake Erie Monster is pretty rare as well, but Phill out at Vintage Estate got some on tap somehow.
Lake Erie Monster is a bit sweeter smelling than most DIPAs. The hops are there but mostly fruity. The taste has a lot of sweet caramel/biscuity malt, with the fruity/citrus/grapefruit hops right behind. This is the type of ratio I like in a DIPA, about 60% malt, 40% hops. The mouthfeel is very creamy for an Imperial IPA, and hides the 9.1% VERY well. I wasn’t even thirsty but I took down the entire pint in about 10 minutes. I would have had another if I didn’t have to trek it back to Pittsburgh after.
Picture of the day: This has been around for awhile, but I haven’t seen it in a long time. When in doubt eat the evidence.
The name's Drew. Just a normal 32 yr old guy from Pittsburgh with an abnormal obsession for craft beer, web design and photography. I run my own web design business over at 
This great beer is now their spring/summer seasonal and it’s available at least in Ohio in 4pks for $9.99. It was released to retail stores just a month ago, on May 7, 2010. It sells out as fast as we can get it in at The Anderson’s in Northwood, Ohio. We stopped at the Cranberry PA Save-On Beer and noticed a large inventory of Great Lakes products. You might check with the local GLB distributor to see if it’s going to be available. Cheers!
Awesome thanks for the heads up Janet. I have always wanted to stop at that save-on-beer and now I have an excuse!