goose island

New Beer Blog Goose Island The Ogden Belgian Style Tripel

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out one of two special high-end brews from Goose Island.  The first one is The Ogden Belgian Style Tripel.  This brew is named after the first mayor of Chicago.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this midwest craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Goose Island.  Let us get into this Tripel Ale.

This beer has a clear golden color with a white constant head on this tripel ale.  The aroma has some tropical fruit notes.  The taste has a tropical fruit notes with a slight hint of Belgian spice notes.  The aftertaste has a dry hop to a tropical fruit finish.  It is pretty drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

We dry hopped our Belgian Style Tripel to balance spicy, tropical American hop flavors with an unique Belgian yeast, giving it a bold, move complex palate.

Here is a description from their website (www.gooseisland.com):

Brewer’s Notes:

William Ogden opened Chicago’s first brewery. He was the city’s first mayor. And he added the North Brand channel to the Chicago River that created the island from which we take our name. Three good reasons why we gave our first-ever Belgian Style Tripel his name. We dry hopped The Ogden with American Citra® and Brewer’s Gold hops to add spicy, tropical flavors. Then we fermented it with a unique Belgian yeast to give it a bold, complex palate.

Recipe Information:

Style: Belgian Tripel

Alcohol by Volume: 9.0%

International Bitterness Units: 35

Color: Straw

Hops: Brewer’s Gold, Citra, Saaz

Malts: 2-Row

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

Closing, as many of you know, I am a huge fan of this midwest craft brewery.  They have one of my favorite IPA’s on the market.  When I finally saw this hit the shelves in Michigan, I did not think twice.  I was getting ready to trade to get at least a bottle of each of these newer beers from Goose Island.   I picked up a few bottles of the The Ogden and The Illinois.  I thought I would share my thoughts on these beers.  I will start with The Ogden and you can find the other review today.  I love the Belgian tripel style.  I love the funkiest and the aroma to the taste profile that the hops kick off.  Brett Porter and his staff did this one different and a twisted on this classic beer style.  I believe they did a great job.  I will be picking up more this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Goose Island The Illinois Imperial India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog,  we are going to sample out The Illinois Imperial India Pale Ale that is the second of two high-end beers released this year from Goose Island Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on  their beers, you know the history of this Midwest craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear dark copper color with a white constant head.  The aroma has a heavy floral to a tropical fruit notes.  The taste has a heavy tropical fruit to orange notes with a nice dry hop bite to a creamy. It has a heavy citrus notes throughout the drinking experience. It is a nice sipping Imperial IPA.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

“The Illinois” is in homage to the mile high skyscraper Frank Lloyd Wright designed for the City of Chicago that was never built.  Had it been built, it would still be the tallest building in the world today.  Inspired by this big idea, Goose Island’s brewers crafted a beer with towering hop character.

Here is a description from their website (www.gooseisland.com):

Brewer’s Notes:

The first Imperial beer of the year is The Illinois, a 9.0% ABV 95 IBU Imperial IPA that pushes the limits of hop flavor and aroma. Deep gold, complex citrus aroma, balanced clean bitterness, medium to full body.

Recipe Information:

Style: Imperial IPA

Alcohol by Volume: 9.0%

International Bitterness Units: 95

Color: Deep Gold

Hops: Chinook, Cascade, Citra, Meridian

Malts: 2-Row, Special Pale, C-20, C-60, Cara Red

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

In the end, this was one of my favorite Imperial India Pale Ale back in the day. This one is different than the one back in the day.  I love my IPA’s.  I love the hops that they used in this one anf The Ogden. The aroma and taste profile is tropical fruit city.  It is not in your face bitterest like most Double or Imperial IPA’s on the market.  This is a lay back devil that will sneak up on you.  It does come off extremely drinkable for the beer style.  I would be very careful because it will hit you.  This is a great beer at a great price.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Goose Island 312 Urban Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample the old but new 312 Urban Pale Ale from Goose Island Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this Midwest Craft Brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Goose Island Brewery.  Let us get into their new Urban Pale Ale.

This pale ale has a clear copper color with a nice white constant head.  The aroma has a touch of caramel with a nice citrus notes.  The taste is citrus notes with citrus dry hop aftertaste.  It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

We are from the city that invented the skyscraper. We constructed our Urban Pale Ale on a balanced malt backbone, so the citrus hop aroma and crisp flavor can stand tall.

Here is a description from their website (www.gooseisland.com):

We are from the city that invented the skyscraper. We constructed our Urban Pale Ale on a balanced malt backbone, so the citrus hop aroma and crisp flavor can stand tall.

Recipe Information Style: Urban Pale

Alcohol by Volume: 5.4%

International Bitterness Units: 30

Color: Marigold

Hops: Amarillo, Mt. Hood, Nugget

Malts: 2 Row, Crystal 60

Serving Suggestions: Preferred Glass: Nonic Pint

Cellaring Notes: Enjoy within 180 days

Availability: Year Round

Bottles: 12 Pack, 6 Pack Cans: 12oz Cans 12 Pack, 16oz Cans 4 Pack

Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @GooseIsland

In the end, if you lived or visited Chicago, you might have had a beer from Goose Island called Green Line Pale Ale.  Green Line a nice drinkable and session pale ale.  They brew the beer with everything in the Chicagoland area or the state. It was only available in Chicagoland area.  There has been rumors for a very long time that they were going to package it.   They ran into production issues because of lack of supply to the market.  The demand of their beer went right through the roof.  They were sold to ABInbev to expand their brewery and keep up with demand.  Years went by and I moved back to Michigan.  I was sad because no Green Line here because of the exclusive to the Chicagoland market.  Here is 312 Urban Pale Ale.  I have to say it is nice drinkable and crushable beer.  I love the aroma and taste profile.  This is a great American Pale Ale.  They might have used different hops but they act the same way as the hops in Green Line.  Hello, Green Line in package and welcome to the rest of the country.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Goose Island Endless IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample the next Limited Release beer, which is Endless IPA, from Goose Island Brewery.  If you read my earlier beeer blog posts on Goose Island’s beers, you know the history of this Midwest craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read those posts to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a clear dark golden to a clear copper color with a white constant head on this session ale.  The aroma has a floral notes.  The taste has a light carbonated cirtus notes with a dry bitter finish that disappears quickly.  It is extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a descriation from their website (www.gooseisland.com):

Long days and warm nights awaken the city. The list of neighborhood festivals is endless. As is the great music that brings us together in parks and parking lots. We brewed our Session IPA to be easy drinking and endlessly refreshing, so you can enjoy every encore.Bright note of fresh oranges and other citrus fruit with a mild body that is crisp on the palate.

Recipe Information:

Style: IPA

Alcohol by Volume: 5.0%

International Bitterness Units: 35

Color: Wildflower Honey

Hops: Amarillo

Malts: 2-Row, Carapils, C-60

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @GooseIsland

In the end, I am pretty excited with all the new beers that Goose Island is releasing this year.  I love the Ten Hills Pale Ale.  When I saw this one being release, I needed to run out and pick up a bottle.  Session IPA are a huge and growing beer style in the IPA world.  The first one that I know of is from the Midwest came from Founders Brewery.  It is their All Day IPA.  I have to say when I tried it.  I was not too impressed.  I figured Goose Island has never really let me down on their beers.  I have to say was not impressed.  This beer is pretty average.  It is a let down from Ten Hills Pale Ale.  I will retry it one more time.  I just feel I might have picked up a bad bottle.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Twitter:  @djweiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Off Color Brewing Troublesome Wheat Beer

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Another beer before the road, Troublesome Wheat Beer from Off Color Brewing is the second brew to be reviewed on this beer blog.  If you read my beer blog from yesterday of their Scurry, you know the history of this upcoming craft brewery out of Chicago.  If you have not, please, read yesterday’s beer blog post to get to know Off Color Brewing.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a cloudy yellow color with a semi white head on this wheat ale.  The smell is lemon like but that comes from coriander notes.  The taste is a heavy citrus to coriander notes with a citrus aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable.

Here is a description from their website (www.offcolorbrwing.com):

TROUBLESOME

Blended Wheat Beer

Most brewers spend a lot of time and effort keeping lactobacillus out of their breweries; it was the first thing we brought in (it still has to stay in the corner though). We blend together two different beers to make Troublesome. The first is a somewhat uninteresting wheat beer and the second is an overly acidic & funky beer fermented solely with lactobacillus. We blend the two beers together with coriander and salt at the tail end of fermentation to create a mild, lemony tartness and a fuller sensation of mouthfeel. And yes, it’s hard to make.

ABV:4.5%
HOPS:Northern Brewer
IBU:10
MALTS:Pils, Wheat Malt, Flaked Wheat, Flaked Oats

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.offcolorbrwing.com

Twitter:  @OffcolorBrewing

Closing out the beer tab, I am not a fan of wheat beers.  I love German Hefeweizen but not too many wheats.  I love Upland Brewing Wheat and this beer from Off Color.  I just realized both of these craft beers are not even in my market.  Now that is pretty funny.  I will have to do some road trips.  What I like about this Wheat Beer, you do not taste the wheat or yeast like most American wheat beers.  I love the coriander that is used in this brew.  It has a nice lemon notes that kick off through out the beer drinking experience.  There is not over the top aftertaste from the beer and lemon notes.  It is just right.  They do some brewery tours and I would check into that to get to know this brewery a little bit more.  I highly recommend this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

2013 in review Thanks For All The Support!

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,500 times in 2013. If it were a cable car, it would take about 42 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Thanks For The Support!

Bill DJ Weiser

New Beer Blog Goose Island Ten Hills Pale Ale

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In this new beer release blog, we are going to get into one of the first new beers from Goose Island Brewery from Chicago.  I am talking about their first beer, which is their Ten Hills Pale Ale, in the series called “Limited Release.”  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on this craft brewery, you know the history of Goose Island Brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

This new brew from Goose Island has a clean copper color with a white head.  The smell has some piney to earthy notes.  The taste has some earthy notes with a dry hop finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.gooseisland.com):

Ten Hills traces its story to Elk Mountain Farms in Idaho, famous for growing hops of exceptional quality  and character. With hops from the “first ten hills” grown for Goose Island at Elk Mountain, we crafted a pale ale that delivers both a herbal and citrus hop character. We hope you’ll find the intriguing balance of flavors in this beer to be truly unparalleled.

Recipe Information:

Style: Pale Ale Alcohol by Volume: 6.2 International Bitterness Units: 48 Color: Copper Hops: Perle, Cascade, US Saaz Malt: 2-Row, Caramel 20, Caramel 40, Munich

Availability:

Seasonal (December – March) Bottles: 4/6pks 2/12pks Draft: 1/2bbl 1/6bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @GooseIsland

In the end, just what, I said in review of their Coffee Stout from the Bourbon County Stout line.  I love the direction that Goose Island is going with Bret Porter as their Brewmaster.   I love the hops and I am glad they are only available for Goose Island use only.  It makes this brew a little bit more special.  It has a nice balance between the hops and malty backbone.   I am really not a fan of the aftertaste but overall, this is a great beer.  I just cannot wait for the next release.  I highly recommend this brewery.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Goose Island Bourbon County Coffee Stout (2013)

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In this limited edition beer run, we are going to sample out a beer that makes Black Friday Shopping different after Thanksgiving Day.  I am talking about the run of beers that are released around the country by Goose Island Brewery.  This one is their Bourbon County Coffee Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read those posts to get up to speed with this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color without a head on this stout.  The smell is a heavy coffee notes.  The taste is a heavy coffee with bourbon notes.  The aftertaste is chocolate with hints of coffee.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.gooseisland.com):

Everyday Goose Island smells the wonderful coffee roasting next to our brewery at Chicago’s Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea. This world class roaster puts the same passion and skill into their coffee as Goose Island does with its beer. This excellent stout is made with a different coffee from our friends next door each year. With the change in coffee comes a change in the flavor profile, making each release truly unique from the previous years.

2013 Release – Intelligentsia Los Inmortales 2012 Release  – Intelligentsia La Tortuga Beans 2011 Release – Intelligentsia Anjilanaka Beans 2010 Release – Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso Beans

Recipe Information:

Style: Imperial Coffee Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels Alcohol by Volume: 13.4% International Bitterness Units: 60 Color: Midnight Hops: Willamette Malt: 2-Row, Munich, Chocolate, Caramel, Roast Barley, Debittered Black Coffee: Intelligentsia La Tortuga Beans

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Snifter Food Pairings: Flourless Chocolate Coffee Cake Cheese Pairings: Capriole Bourbon Chocolate Torte Cellaring Notes: Develops in the bottle up to 5 years

Availability:

Limited Release Bottles: 12oz Draft: 1/6 bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @GooseIsland

Closing out, Goose Island is heading into the right direction now since being took over by evil empire.  I never doubted any of their products and I still look at them as craft brewery.  I like the fact they are putting out more and more of Bourbon County Stout into the markets.  It is still limited but it is expanding.  I love the no balance of these stouts.   They are designed like that and Goose Island was the first to the party to do this type of beer stytle.  Some little craft brewery in Europe can stop being jealous of this brewery.  I love the heavy coffee notes and how bourbon does not overpower the coffee stout part.  If you can get a bottle, this is a must try for a craft beer drinker.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Goose Island Oktoberfest

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In this 400th blog post, we are going to get into new fall seasonal from Goose Island.  It is the return of their Oktoberfest after six years absence.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Chicago craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blogs to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear amber copper color without a head on the beer.  The smell is caramel.  The taste is a heavy sweet creamy caramel without an aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.gooseisland.com):

Brewer’s Notes:

Brewed in the traditional Märzen style our Oktoberfest pours a brilliant copper over rose color with a bone white head. Notes of toffee and burnt sugar in the aroma and flavors of sweet dried apricots are delivered in a dry malty body with the mild earthy bitterness that is the hallmark of Hallertau hops.

Recipe Information:

Style: Märzen Alcohol by Volume: 6.4% International Bitterness Units: 17 Color: Copper Hops: Hallertau Malts: 2-Row, Carapils, Munich 10, C-20, C-40,  C-120

Availability

Seasonal Bottles: 6pks Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter;  @gooseisland

In closing, over the years, I have grown to start to dislike fall beers.  It just seems like they disappointment me every year to year.  I was happy to hear that Goose Island brought back their Oktoberfest in package.  This beer does not have that Goose Island taste like the rest of their beers.  This beer is a little different.  It is little bit more hoppier than the normal Oktoberfest.  This beer is not my favorite but it is really good brew.  It also gives me hope for all the fall seasonals again.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Goose Island 25th Anniversary Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going get into another beer from Goose Island.  It is their 25th Anniversary Ale, which is a beer that is planned and brewer by Bert Porter, who is the current brewmaster, Greg Hall, who is the former brewmaster, and Nick Barron, who is the brewpub brewmaster.   If you read my earlier beer blog on their beer, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a nice amber color with a semi white head. There is a fade caramel but not really a smell. The taste is a malty citrus but hop part is fade. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

Closing, Goose Island is a giant in the Chicago market and they have been around here around in 1988.  These three talent brewmaster took their flagship recipe and took it to another level.  If you ask anyone in Goose Island or wholesalers, they would call this beer style Imperial Honkers.  I can see that.  I say this is Imperial ESB and if any brewery knows anything about ESB, it would  be Greg Hall and Goose Island.  I will be honest I was expecting something else from this beer.  However, Goose Island did make a great beer, I hope they package it up into another classic beer style.  Could it be that if this brewery would have opened today, this beer would have been their flagship?  I did enjoy this beer but this is not my favorite beer style.  I do highly recommend you trying this beer.  It is a limited beer and you will need to hurry up to pick up this  beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser