Leelanau Brewing Company Good Harbor Golden

Good Harbor Golden

 

Leelanau Brewing Company in Lake Leelanau, Michigan, United States 🇺🇸

Brewed at/by: Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Farmhouse - Bière de Garde Rotating
Score
7.41
ABV: 7.5% IBU: - Ticks: 15
Inspired by Franco-Belgian bière de gardes, but not exactly fitting the profile of its European counterparts, this beer is best described as a Michigan Bière de Garde. Hand-crafted by Ron Jeffries at his Jolly Pumpkin Brewery in Dexter, which is consistently rated as one of one of the best in the world, all of the Leelanau Brewing Company beers are distinguished by their time spent in a large French oak barrique prior to bottling and re-fermentation. The wild yeasts inhabiting the brewery give all the beers made there a common thread, creating a family of beverages with rare harmony, despite their diverse styles.

Decidedly refreshing despite the 7.5% ABV, this style of beer was originally brewed in the slow winter season as payment for farmhands in the summer. We certainly don't mind sitting down after a long day of work and breathing deep the symphony aromas wafting from the lofty, lacey head burgeoning from our tulip glass. Subtle notes of peaches, apricots, canned pineapple, bitters, and a faint herbaceousness belie the smooth and delicate taste. The slightly malty, fruity body quickly transitions effortlessly to a crisp, dry and somewhat tart finish. Signature hints of French oak and the complex yeast character place this all-natural beer among the best saisons, stock ales, and farmhouse styles of Michigan, France & Belgium.
 

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7.5

Tried from Bottle on 28 Aug 2020 at 20:46


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

How: Bottle. Where: Had at home. Appearance: Hazy golden colour with a white head. Aroma: Fruit, citrus, tart, acidic, sour. Body: Medium body and carbonation. Flavour: Fruit, acidic, citrus, sour.

Tried from Bottle on 28 Dec 2019 at 21:04


7.6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

Pours unclear blonde. Small white head that fades fast. Smell is malty, typical maltyness I get from a US style sour, which makes mle believe this one's gonna be tart as well. Nice aroma, medium intense, and clean in terms of fermentation. Taste indeed is tart, rather sharp, full malty undertone. green apple-style tartness ( no acetyldehyde ) fresh, even though the 2-ish years on it ( if i remember the purchase date somewhat correct ) it shows no signs of oxidation at all. Very easy drinker. This was a bit more of an expensive beer, and I feel it doesn't have the extra 'magic' to justify that price point, but nonetheless, it's flawless and nice to drink !

Tried on 27 Sep 2019 at 00:24


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Bottle (from koht). Pours golden. Aroma is aour, fruity, sugar, baked apples. Flavor is sour, bitter, funky, apricots. Finish is sour, acidic. Overall: ok.

Tried from Bottle on 01 Dec 2017 at 16:33


6.3
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Fast klare goldene Farbe, geringe weiße schaumkrone. Geruch minimal säuerlich, mild fruchtig, hefig. Geschmack nach Ananas, helle Früchte, mild.

Tried on 07 Nov 2015 at 14:16


5.9
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

Heller, trocken und mild säuerlicher Antrunk. Leicht steigende Säure, minimal herb, vollmundig. Trockener heller Nachhall, spritzig. 10/9/9/9/6/9

Tried on 07 Nov 2015 at 14:06


7.5
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Bottle - Tart, citrus, white grape and a nice sweetness. Clear gold with a thin white head. Effervescent and well carbonated. Lots of tartness and white grape. Easy drinking and quite nice.

Tried from Bottle on 24 Dec 2014 at 21:56


8.6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 10 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8.5

Bottle @ home, thanks to readbaron. This beer rocks! Hazy golden orange appearance with a thin white head. The carbonation is a bit dull but this is an otherwise great beer. There’s a massive amount of bubblegum, pineapple / tropical fruit brett, and candy in the nose. Some moderate acidity - both lactic and acetic. Some cheese, lots of tropical fruit, mango, passion fruit, and pineapple. There’s vanilla and oak in there as well. Moderately tart. Tons of candy. Low bitterness and sweetness. If the carbonation was higher, this would be a 4.5-4.6. Supremely chuggable. JesusOfCO- this is what you should be aiming for. Fuck yeah.

Tried from Bottle on 14 Nov 2014 at 22:58


7.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle. Thanks to Jay for picking this up for me. Pours clear gold with white head. Nose and taste of Brett, lemon funk, canned peaches, citrus and orange zest, tart pear, light bread and oak. Medium body.

Tried from Bottle on 05 Jun 2013 at 16:38


8.8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 4/29/2011. Fast gusher upon opening as expected, but didn’t lose any. Pours very cloudy golden straw color with a 2 finger dense and fluffy bright white head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with plenty of carbonation streaming off the sediment. Aromas of huge tart lemon, peach, sour apple, pear, apricot, pineapple, pepper, clove, oak, hay, straw, funk, and earthy spiciness. Incredible aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity, spicy, and funk notes. Taste of big peach, tart lemon, sour apple, pineapple, pear, apricot, clove, pepper, hay, straw, oak, funk, light leather, and earthy spiciness. Moderate tart acidity on the finish; with lingering notes of tart lemon, peach, pear, sour apple, pineapple, apricot, clove, pepper, hay, straw, oak, light leather, and earthy spiciness on the finish for a while. Fantastic complexity and balance of tart fruity, spicy, and funk flavors; with nearly zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a crisp, acidic, and lightly prickly mouthfeel that is very nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an absolutely incredible barrel aged wild golden ale. Huge complexity and balance of tart fruity, spicy, and funk notes; and very smooth to sip on. A highly fantastic offering. As the carbonation died out because of the gusher, it became slightly harder to drink; but with full carbonation this was absolutely insane.

Tried from Bottle on 11 Mar 2013 at 20:20