Goose Island Imperial IPA

Brewed by Goose Island Beer Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Chicago, Illinois USA

Cheers. Pours a murkey copper with a cream head. Smells of big hops, grapefruit and sweet pineapple. Taste as it smells. Big and agressive in every way. Feels medium in the mouth with good carbonation. The big ABV is non existant. Sip and sip some more. A must try from the mid west.

Bottle. A semi translucent amber-orangeish pour with a very small head which very quickly faded. A little bit of sediment floating around in the beer. A very nice aroma, although not quite like the description of "you can smell the hops from about a yard away". Upon tasting I was very suprised, not what I expected at all. Not just a BLAST of hops, but even more. Somewhat bitter, with many fruity overtones which create an extremely flavorful, full double ipa without a dry mouth feeling. The more I sips of it I take, the more I like it. Goes great with a winston after a meal.... Only if you understand that reference.

Pours a rather clear clean golden brown wih a dense white head, thinning over time. Big juicy and spicy hops! Rather surprising, the range of hop aromas. A decent bit of pale sweetness with a dash of caramel. Guava papaya, a bit of piny resin, and some alcohol peaks out. Full in the mouth, with a bit of creaminess and viscosity on it’s own. The sweetness is sweeter and perhaps a bit malty and toasty. (I don’t like toast in an IPA.) Big hops, more peppery here, though the tropical fruits stick out. Alcohol fights off both the sweetness and hops, cutting both well. A lingering fruity bitterness. This reminds me of a slightly more aggressive Dreadnaught. Not a bad beer at all.

Had a bottle of 2006 and 2007 and I’m trying them side by side. The 2006 seems to be much hazier than the 2007 and smells a little maltier. Wow. Totally different tastes to these beers. The 2006 tastes like a malt bomb compared to the 2007. Absolutely different characteristics all the way around. Honestly, and I hate to say this, the 2006 was drain pour after 2 sips. No hop presence to speak of at all. Way too malty. The 2007 on the other hand holds its own with the best of them. Nice citrus taste, tastes just like a grapefruit with a malty base that is fairly well balanced. This followed the Stone IPA and while the Stone was a bit hoppier, this is still one quality brew. I can’t get this in Tn so I have drive up to Kentucky to get this and I will definitely pick this up again.

2007. 12 oz bottle rated 6/24/2008 courtesy of a trade with Sephiroth. Pours a cloudy orange gold with a moderate-thin linen white head that faded to a dense film by mid-glass and left a layer of lace with each sip. Very pleasant aroma of citrus with both orange and grapefruit present along with some pine notes. The flavor is again citrus and pine, however, there is a stronger pine influence in the 2007 than there was in the 2006. And while there is also caramel present, the caramel flavor was stronger in the 2006 as well. Moderate bitterness at the finish that lingers for a bit beyond the swallow. While this is still a very good beer, I have to say at this point, I enjoyed the 2006 better than the 2007.

2006. 12 oz. bottle rated 12/17/2007. Pours a cloudy orange with a thin, dense yellow/white head that faded to a thin film by about mid-glass. Lots of citrus in the aroma with both orange and grapefruit noted. The flavor was outstanding. Unlike most IIPA’s that seem overloaded with pine flavors, this beer had just a hint of pine. There was a ton of fresh citrus, with more orange than grapefruit. A strong caramel malt backbone supported the flavors nicely. There were notes of vanilla as well. Nice silky mouthfeel and not overly bitter. The alcohol was very well hidden with only some gentle warmth after the swallow. A bit pricey at $23/4 pack, but thoroughly enjoyable.

06 bottle thanks to pepsican. Poured a deep hazy orange color with a soapy white head that diminished to a ring. Nice citrus aroma with a hint of pine on the backside. Wow, this is nice. Semi-sweet malt entry leads into an explosion of citrus flavor from the hops, but it wasn’t very bitter (due to age I assume). Just the right thickness, somewhat slick mouthfeel. It is really nice as it is, but I can’t wait to try the 2007 that pepsi sent and see if it is more bitter and how that affects the flavor. If anyone has any of this laying around that they don’t want, feel free to send it to me. Big thanks pepsi. 06 Rating: 8-3-8-4-16=3.9

07 bottle, also thanks to pepsican. Pours a hazy orange-amber color with a moderate off-white head that left nice lacing. Aroma of hops, sweet citrus, and some pine resin. Oh yeah, baby...this is good stuff. Sweet, fruity entry leads into a earthy, hoppy hit that fades slowly into a strong citrus presence with undertones of pine on the finish. Smooth with just the right amount of carbonation. Awesome beer that I wish I could get anytime. 07 rating: 8-4-9-4-18=4.3

Pours a pale amber with a thick orangish off-white head. Lots of fruit in the aroma, especially pink grapefruit, some pine cone as well. Sweet malt, caramel, and grapefruit taste. Well balanced with no hint of the ABV except a warmth after swallowing. Great effort!

First taste is a sour but pleasant yeast flavor. Then the hops kick in with a piney, resiny flavor that dominates. Not a very complex IIPA - of course this is after having 3F Dreadnaught. Was told by Archer that this IIPA is peaking right now, and going down soon - so it could be in the nadir phase of it’s life. Again, not a bad IIPA - just strong and dominating.