Goose Island 10/12/08

Hey Guys, hows it going? I know I haven't been posting much, sorry about that. I have been 'busy' writing and playing Warhammer Online. Lame, I know. Last weekend myself, Kristina, Ben and Chad tried to go to Kuma's Corner to have some incredible burgers but they had a TWO HOUR wait. So we opted to go to Goose Island, a choice I was of course pleased with. Ben and I bought some pitchers and he took some photos with his I-Phone. This is going to be a bare bones post, but at least its something!


'Liquid Inspiration Stout 5.9% ABV
Trying to think of a name for the new brew on the eve of the beer premiere, our pub brewer opened a bottle of Goose Island Summertime for “liquid inspiration” and behold the name was born. An “American-style” Stout, with medium malt sweetness, a moderate hop bitterness but, with high hop flavor and aroma. Served in a Pint glass.'
-Goose Island.com

What is it about stouts that make them taste better in the fall and winter? Right now Chicago is enjoying the two week window we get in between Summer and Winter and this stout definitely did the trick. Liquid Inspiration might be a little thinner than most stouts but it is chock full of the nutty flavors you would expect. Not the most artistic stout on the market, or even on Goose Island's menu, but it is a great beer for the Fall transition. This pitcher went fast and was pretty cheap at $12 (I think, might have been $14).

'Harvest Ale 5.7% ABV
As summertime fades, the sun shines less bright, and evening comes a little sooner. Harvest time arrives – it’s a time to reap the benefits of a great summer. Fresh picked cascade hops from Washington and the richest Midwestern malts makes Goose Island Harvest Ale an extra special beer worthy of your devotion. Served in a Pint glass.'

I am not an 'ESB guy' but sometimes the mood strikes me for one. Actually, that has been happening a lot lately so maybe next year you will see me waving the ESB flag around like I did for IPAs earlier this year. Who knows what I will do next, I am an idiot.

This beer has some sticky, sticky hops to it that either make it or break it for you. I found it appealing but I know Ben didn't like how this beer basically sucked all of the moisture out of your mouth. I can tolerate that, but it kind of was hard to get through a pitcher of this stuff. I would follow this beer up with something lighter and more 'refreshing' if I was at home, but the two of us had drank a pitcher each on a Sunday afternoon so it was hard to fit more beer inside us. I find the Harvest Ale to have an earthy, herb(y?) taste to it that almost feels as if it should be healthy or something.

Oh yeah, those are shot glasses you see too. We got hammered! Actually, we did. I think we drank until two AM or so. If you own a white minivan on the south side and you woke up monday morning to find your back bumper with puke all over it, that was Ben. Sorry for that, I feel responsible.

Goose Island Clybourn

'As announced earlier in the year, the Goose Island Brewpub on Clybourn will close with the expiration of its lease at the end of this year, more than twenty years after beginning the renaissance of brewing in Chicago, and earning its reputation as a world class center of excellence in brewing.
While we all - employees, customers, friends and lovers of beer - feel an immense sense of loss of this remarkable part of our history, the rich heritage that the brewers and staff of Clybourn have developed over the years will continue to grow at the Fulton Street Brewery and at Goose Island Wrigleyville, where we will continue to serve our many loyal customers and visitors with traditional, innovative, and excellent beers inspired by the best of the world's great brewing cultures and from our own imaginations.
Goose Island Clybourn will call 'time' on Sunday December 21st. The Goose Island family invites all of you to be there with them to savor that final pint.'

I'll be there without about two pitchers sloshing around in my stomach, care to join me?

Goose Island Brewpub 6/26/08

Oak Aged Saison- Another attempt at breaking into 'sweet beers' this summer that went pretty well. The oak aging goes a long way to add some bitterness to this beer that most saisons lack. I liked this beer quite a bit but after awhile the sweetness of it began to break through the wall of bitter and my interest waned. I can taste some citrus and some peach in this beer which I was okay with even though I normally cannot stand how peaches taste. I also really, really, really hate the texture of peaches but that has absolutely nothing to do with this beer.

Goose Island's Oak Aged Saison is about as fruity and sweet as I can take. I was ready to move on to something with more of a kick to it but I still went away feeling this was a victory in my quest to appreciate the Belgium style of beer.

I rolled a critical, if you will. $6 Draft 6.5% ABV.


Hopscotch Ale- My very helpfull waitress originally recommended the Rotweizen Red Wheat Beer but they ended up being out of it so I tried a few samples and settled on the Hopscotch Ale. Excuse the picture, it was dark as hell at our booth.

This brew is like an American Pale Ale with the hops turned down a notch. After the sickly sweet saison I had just had this beer might as well have been a hop bomp the first few sips but after I was halfway through with it I came to realize it is fairly mild.

This brew is standard but somehow dodges becoming mediocre because of that. I couldn't put my finger on why I was enjoying this beer as much as I was but I blame Goose Islands tinkering. I could see this becoming one of their (already crowded) mass produced beers as it is fairly simple but still damn good. $5 draft 5.0% ABV.

The countdown for the Clybourn location has begun. If you are in the Chicago area and you don't check this place out before it closes at the end of the year, you are doing yourself a disservice.

Goose Island IPA

'Our IPA recalls a time when ales shipped from England to India were highly hopped to preserve their distinct taste during the long journey. The result, quite simply a hop lover's dream. And this classic ale adds a fruity aroma, set off by a dry malt middle, to ensure that the long hop finish is one you'll remember.

ABV- 5.9%

IBU- 58'

It took me awhile to get around and do a write up of this beer. This is one of the first IPA's I tried and back then I did not like it very much. These were the dark ages of PBR and Early Times whiskey, before I had a taste for decent beer. That is exactly what Goose Island's India Pale Ale is- a very decent beer.

I have grown accustomed to IPA's pushing the limits with how hoppy a beer can get. Goose Island ditches that for a more accessable IPA but that doesn't mean it is any weaker in regards to quality. a beer that is reasonably priced and widely distributed Goose Island's India Pale Ale is a gem, a definite 'go-to' fridge filler and a good one at that.

Three yeard ago I would have told you 'Goose Island is for yuppies'. What an idiot I was, not drinking perfectly good beer because of my preconceptions.

Musical pairing: Queen- A Night at the Opera (quite a kick yet oh so sophisticated)

Goose Island Clybourn 6/20/2008

It was a nice breezy day when Kristina and I wandered into Goose Island after doing a little shopping (I bought a few videogames, like usual). A bit of a farewell visit actually, since this location is going to be closing shop in a few months and no new location has been announced.

Given the weather I decided on something light- the Midwest Wheat like a good pick. Chock full of citrus with what I imagined to be some sour apple in the aftertaste the Midwest Wheat certainly delivers the fruit. This beer was not nearly as hoppy as advertised but that didn't detract from the overall experience much. A standard wheat brew that met my expectations even if it was a bit too malty for my tastes. Definitely went well with the weather though, which is exactly what you want with this style of beer! 5.5% ABV on tap for $5 a pint.


Bourbon Barrel-Aged Aviator Dopplebock- this definitely intrigued me when I saw it on the menu. At $8 it could be a bit of a budget buster but it was definitely worth it in my opinion.

Up to this point in my sudsy adventures I have only had bourbon barrel stouts so a doppelbock seemed like a bizarre combination but one that could work. Luckily the Aviator is more to my liking than a traditional doppelbock which is much sweeter and with a good amount more yeast. I find that beers that date back to the dark ages definitely benefit from an update, this beer being no exception.

So how was it? Excellent by a mile. Creamy vanilla, sweet sticky bourbon and that 9% ABV had me rambling by the time the check came. My favorite thing about this beer is that the aging process subdued all the flavors I dislike about a d-bock. The yeast was nowhere to be found rather than at the forefront, milky aftertaste rather than a dry finish and I didn't feel like someone just dumped sugar packets in my beer. All in all I was once again wowed by one of Goose Islands more artistic brews. Feel free to start posting 'fanboy' in the comments.

Goose Island Summertime

'Kolsch, the clean and refreshing beer style of Cologne, Germany, quenches summertime thirst. This pale golden ale with a lightly fruity aroma is cold-conditioned or lagered after its primary fermentation. More simply, our Summertime uses only the finest malts and German hops to create the perfect beer for hot Summer days and warm Summer nights.'

I think I prefer a wheat beer over this style of beer, but this was pretty good. Lots of fruit and bubbles made it a bit on the feminine side for me, but not every beer has to put hair on your chest now does it? I made sure to drink this stuff on a nice hot, sunny, humid day and it certainly was just as refreshing as advertised.

After drinking a few of these I felt like moving on to something a little more substantial. Goose Island Summertime is a nice summer distraction but a beer I don't see myself picking up with any consistency. It is definitely time to bring on the seasonal beers! I feel a theme coming on...

Musical Pairing: Boston- Boston (as far as dumb summer rock records go, this is the best)

Goose Island on Clybourn closing over lease

I stole this little tidbit from our friend over at BrewBits. This bums me out for numerous reasons. Not only is this place in walking of my apartment the other location is in the most hated neighborhood of Wrigleyville. Looks like I am going to have to start going to Piece now! I hope I can find an off day for them, Sundays maybe? That place is chock full of yuppies at all hours.

RIP Goose Island Clybourn, hope you guys can find a new location!

Goose Island Stout Fest 2008

The fest was a really fun time, lots of nice people, great beer and the staff at Goose Island was very welcoming. We came in for brunch beforehand and basically were allowed to camp at the same table for 4+ hours, ordering some pretzels here and there.

It is VERY hard to taste little nuances after you have had a few stouts, so imagine how I felt sampling fifteen. At the end of the fest I was just drinking whatever and hanging out with my buddy Andy. I'll throw a few highlights out there for you guys who couldn't make it.

Flossmoor Station- The Milky Way stout was a nice change of pace after the five or so high ABV and very dry stouts I had tried at this point.As you would expect it was exceptionally creamy, I plan on grabbing a growler of it when I go to the station in mid April. The Iron Horse was a very good but average tasting brew that helped me kick off the day. It was pretty roasty with some chocolate in there. Good stuff. According to their blog they are starting to bottle some stuff, if this is the case I hope to see both of these beers on shelves soon!

Blue Cat brought their 'Anniversary Ale' which I kept going back to as a palate restart, but damn it was good stuff. I liked their Irish stout too, but at this point of the week I was sick of anything with the word 'Irish' in it.

America's- They had a killer Bourbon Barrel Imperial that had been 'taking up space' for 2 1/2 years. I am a real sucker for this style of beer, being a big fan of bourbon and stouts. Their Sweetness Stout tasted bland in comparison, but after a few buffer drinks I came back for another and it turned out to be great. At this point in the afternoon my mouth tasted like all sorts of nuts so sadly everything started to blend in. I would definitely purchase this beer to check it out and give it the proper review treatment.

I also had a few rounds of the Goose Island Bourbon County Grand Stout once I decided my memory was done. I love this stuff, have since I first tried it. It is not something I could drink every day but it goes a long way to warm the cold in your bones. I'm going to save a bottle or two for rainy days when I am ok with being knocked out by two beers. Strong stuff, tasty stuff.

Probably the highlight of the day was Harrison's Black Diamond Stout. It isn't flashy but it is a beer I could drink year round, with pleasure. This was a discovery that made my entrance fee worth every penny. Another place I am going to have to check out! my list is getting awful long.

I will definitely attend this event next year as it was a lot of fun. Stout Fest put an end to 'fake Irish beer week' because I sure as hell didn't even want to look at a beer for two days, let alone another stout. Poor planning on my part, but I doubt any of you will mind much.

PS. The drunk guy who clapped me on the back in order to say 'Fuck the Cubs' made my evening. Thanks dude.

Goose Island Brew Pub

I only recently started chipping away at the Goose Island beer list instead of periodically just drinking their standard beers. I have been quite impressed with what they have to offer in their seasonal and limited brews. Here you see me drinking one of their Oatmeal Stouts that I had previously reviewed in bottle form, needless to say it is even better on tap.

The burgers at Goose Island are pretty good too, especially with a nice hearty beer. I went across the street and picked up some Goose Island Bourbon County Grand Stout after dinner, mainly because it was $10 to get one at the bar! If you have never had their bourbon stout, it is incredible and you should pick it up when you see it since it can be scarce. At $20 a 4 pack though it is a steep price to pay, but it really is one of the better beers I have ever had. I will be writing something up for it tonight or tomorrow.

Back to the pub- It is a little yuppie, which cannot be helped because of the neighborhood it is in, but the service is excellent. Food and drink always arrive quickly and in good amounts which makes up for the slightly expensive prices you have to pay. Paying for a premium is fine though when what you receive back is good food, excellent service and a great beer list to take a stab at.

Goose Island 312

'Like the digits suggest, it's a beer that's densely populated with flavor and loaded with character. We don't filter it, so none of its life and soul is stripped away. The first thing you notice is the hazy, cloudy appearance. That’s how you know it’s unfiltered. What hits you next is the spicy aroma of Cascade hops, followed by the crispy, fruity ale flavor delivered in a smooth, creamy body, the result of blending barley malt with torrified wheat. It’s not like any other Goose Island Beer, but no less that you’d expect'

Although not the best beer that Goose Island makes, this is one of the better wheat beers I have had. There is some citrus going on here to counteract the bland taste most wheat beers but it isn't like a lambic or anything. This stuff is easy enough to drink, but its nothing I could drink in excess as the sweetness starts to build up after a few bottles. It pours a milky yellow that looks like lemonade with a bright white head which fades rather quickly. Not the prettiest beer, but that doesn't mean it isn't tasty.

I would enjoy this more if it wasn't one of the more boring beers in the Goose Island stable, even though it is much better than most wheat beers. I guess since I am using this arbitrary rating system now I would give it a 3.25 out of 5. Thats a luke warm recommendation, although I do want to bump this up a notch because it comes in very affordable 12 packs. I personally couldn't sit down and drink 12 of these in a sitting though, but they are a great 'starter beer'. You know what I mean. Recommended.

Goose Island Pere Jacques

Wow, this stuff is very sweet, but not sugar packets sweet more of a nectar sweet. If you read my blog you have probably noticed I am not often a fan of this type of beer. Pere Jacques is an exception to this rule because it is very much to my liking but I am having trouble pinpointing exactly why. There is a shit ton of malt in this, to use the scientific measurement. The enzyme looking stuff floating around in there? Whatever it is it tastes good, extremely good.

I am noticing that there is very little citrus in this compared to most Belgian style brews. Maybe thats it, maybe that is what sets Pere Jacques apart from its peers. This is also the smoothest 9% ABV beer I have ever tasted, I didn't even realize the high alcohol content until I read the bottle. That is very rare indeed.

This beer is interesting stuff. I want to drink more of it because it is so complex, it feels like I could spot a different flavor every beer. This beer is also $11 for four bottles. Four bottles! You get what you pay for, in the case of Goose Island's Pere Jacques you get a lot. Definitely not something you get drunk on, something you drink to enjoy. Recommended.

Goose Island Kilgubbin Red Ale

Kilgubbin was the name of a neighborhood that later became Cabrini-Green in Chicago. The Irish neighborhood was known as 'little hell' and actually wasn't very far from Goose Island itself. It was in fact a center for bootlegging during prohibition, and lots of murder. I can walk there from my apartment... but yeah its Cabrini-Green now so I am going to have to pass on that.

Kilgubbin the beer is one of Goose Island's flagship beers. I bought this particular sixer at the grocery store by my house, less than a mile from the neighborhood it was named after. This beer looks perfectly amber with a nice off white head that settles in after about a minute or so. This beer has almost no aroma to it which is rather strange since it has plenty of flavor. Slightly bitter, slightly sweet with some caramel flavoring in there. A complex beer that goes down rather smoothly even though I can taste almost no malt whatsoever, which is odd. It is also a good winter beer, which is really hitting the spot on a day like today. Recommended!

Goose Island Oatmeal Stout

The bottle itself says 'Oatmeal stout from Goose Island will make you forget every stout you've ever tasted' Well I don't know about all that, but it certaintly is better than most oatmeal stout I have had, although I have to admit stouts are not my expertise.

Many oatmeal stouts I have had in my life have an overwhelming chocolate taste in them that I do not like, luckily Goose Island avoided that with their oatmeal stout. Stouts are not the kind of beer that is drank by many people who are not beer people, with the exception of Guinness which has somehow gained acceptance among the collegiate masses. Why something like chocolate is added to make it more appealing to a market that will probably never even try the drink in the first place escapes me. The absence of chocolate makes Goose Island taste much more like a Russian Stout than anything we see from most breweries. All in all this is a very manly beer that would make a very good toast on armistance day or with a hearty meal consisting of meats. All in all a great beer from a hit and miss distillery that only beer enthusiasts will really appreciate.