Goose Island Imperial IPA

Bottle. Lovely, robust hoppy nose - full of complex fruit and smooth fresh bread. Really fruity! Tropical and exotic, citrus from the Cascades including orange and grapefruit, but with peach and pineapple and grape, no lychee but with a tingle of pine. Pour is a clear, calm orange with a soapy, orange-tinged rocky head. Very densely bitter taste, fruit is still there but pushed somewhat to the side. Breadiness is late-coming but extremely long-lasting; top-notch aftertaste. Medium body and a good compliment to food. Alcohol is there and relatively well-integrated. I imagine it would be pretty hard to find one of us who wouldn’t like this.

From bottle, courtesy Valpoaj : Pours a clear amber color with small fizzy head. Nose is great, crisp citrus, mainly grapefruit, and tons of floral hops. Taste is great as well, lots of hops of course, and has a sharp bite on the end of the tongue, but smooths out as it gets farther back on the palate, and leaves a very delightful aftertaste. Medium bodied, and one of the best IIPAs I have had, Thanks alot for this gem Adam!

Tap @ wriglyville. This is a good IPA! This beer stands out when you taste it. You can tell they put a lot of effort into brewing this gem. Incredible taste all around. Well balanced.

Growler from Brewpub. Amber pour with lasting foamy head. Notes of mango and sweet malt on the nose. Caramel, malt, and toffee flavors. Huge malt presence, but still very balanced. Full mouthfeel. Sweet, slighty bitter finish. This beer rocks!

tap at clybourn.....pours a crystal clear apple cider amber brown with a thin white head....nose of crisp citrus and tropical fruits....tastes crisp and dry with an initially strong grapefruit contingent with some pine resin but dries up pretty quickly. hop bitterness sensation was curtailed but still very likeable.

Bronze pour with large, quickly dissolving off-white head. Heavy hop aroma...some grapefruit, but gave me the sensation of walking through a forest...damn this is some spicy, piney hops! Somewhat sweet up front, the hops hits nicely and leaves a bitter aftertaste, but not over-the-top like other IPA/IIPAs. Although the malt can’t stand up to the insane hops in this beer, there is a backbone for which to base the hops on. Palate is where this one is a winner compared to many others; oily and thick, this beer has outstanding mouthfeel. Although not worth the hefty price tag to a non-hophead, this was a very good version of the style and enjoyable to drink.

Bottle. Heavy malt aromas of caramel and roasted, heavy hops of orange and spruce, moderate broth for the yeast, with fruitcake and alcohol in the background. Head is wispy, white with good lacing, is mostly lasting and the body of this beer clings nicely to the glass. Color is a murky orange/tan. Flavor starts moderately sweet and lightly acidic, then finishes lightly sweet and lightly bitter. Palate is medium to full, oily/creamy and has a soft carbonation. It finishes lightly dry, sticky and a little alcoholic. Fantastic in flavors and great in balance all around, a pleasure to drink. I’d give an overall 20 if it weren’t for the $5.99 a bottle price tag. One of my favorite Imp. IPAs, but I doubt I’ll have another considering the amount of coinage for a four pack

Pours a fantastic rich copper color with a huge off white head and immense lacing. It had wonderful aromas, full of citrus, pine, and caramel. It explodes with flavor, initially very citrusy, orange, and pine, with a great creamy biscuit flavor, and a slight nutty note before a wonderful finish. It had great depth, as if I was drinking 5 different beers at once. Amazing IIPA, one of the absolute bests out there. Too bad the price is extremely steep.