Goose Island India Pale Ale

I’ll be honest. I have always been a big fan of Goose Island. They may not be considered one of the best micros in America, but I believe that their beers are all extremely well-crafted and very true-to-style. Of the many IPA’s Iv’e tried, this one has long been one of my favorites for it’s high drinkability and awesome balance. It pours a neat, appetizing rustic orange color with a medium to small head that quickly dissipates into nothing. The aroma is fresh and curious; full of orange marmalade, citrus, spruce and pine. The beer screams "Drink Me!" from the first sniff. It has the utmost hint of toasted malt and a fuzzy, charming tongue-tingling mouthfeel, shining before the bitter, drying, ultra-appetizing finish. The taste is blustery, spicy and peppery and has a whole lot of orange peel, citrus zest, chives, and a woodsy, minty, coppery palate. I love to pair this beer with some aged swiss, cream havarti, or smoked gouda. It is, in a word "stupendous." The finish is very long, leaving a pleasant, lingering orange-flower taste on the tongue.

Draft at Goose Island Clybourn brewpub. A clear pale gold, little head or carbonation - seems to be a trend here. Lovely aroma of... well... of marijuana. Lovely fresh hop flavour. And there’s that weed again. This is wonderful stuff. The star of the show at Goose Island this evening. They are out of the Imperial IPA - I can’t imagine what that would be like. Hard to top this.

Pale gold color, nice head, frothy and lots of lacing. Mild aroma of grapefruit. Flavor was a tad weak and disappointing, as hinted by the pale color, I guess. This was more of a pale ale than IPA. Not bold or assertive in any way. Good, but not to style. Refreshing, that’s about it.

Good hoppy American IPA. Sweet aroma with a good solid hop flavor which I really enjoy. Thick white head slow to disintegrate.

Awesome IPA. Lots of hop aromas than reflect beautifully in the flavor with some hints of sweetness and a solid bitter finish. great beer.