Goose Island Night Stalker

Brewed by Goose Island Beer Company (AB-InBev)
Style: Imperial Stout
Chicago, Illinois USA

Serve in Snifter

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Bottle Date of 3 6 10 0900; Sampled April 2010
A solid pour yields a four-finger thick, darkly browned head. The beer is a rich, opaque, black color. Wow, the aroma is incredibly hoppy, surprisingly so for even an American Imperial Stout. Aromas of tangelo zest, lychee, ripe tropical fruit and just a juicy, hop fruitiness. The dark malts take a back seat in the aroma, something I find amazing in an imperial stout; if you dig for it though there are notes of bitter cocoa, ample toasted whole grain crackers and only a hint of roasted grain. Chocolate malt character becomes more noticeable as the beer warms, but it doesn’t remotely compete with ample, aggressively smooth, super hop character packed into this beer. The aroma seems to define the perfect character for a Dark IPA (really a double version).

Smooth and viscous feeling as it first hits my tongue with a complex dark malt sweetness, quickly, as it rolls across my tongue an ample hop character of tropical fruit, ripe tangelo zest, big lychee and kumquat flavors become noticeable. The beer finishes with a bitterness that isn’t overly big for such a huge beer; much of it comes from a bitter roast malt character, but most of it is from a smooth hop bitterness. The finish has a herbal, essential citrus oil edge to it as well that I wouldn’t quite say is astringent, but does contribute to the overall balance of the beer along with the bitterness. Dark cocoa flavors couple with notes of roasted espresso, some burnt pine-tar notes and really, just a rich, complex, dark malt character. The hops have a way of making this big beer drink a little smaller than it actually is, which is definitely nice, but is probably a bit dangerous in a beer this size. The chocolate and coffee-liquor like malt character becomes more noticeable as the beer warms ups, though it still can’t compete with the smooth, but still loud malt character.

What a fantastic beer, I knew it was going to be hoppy, but I had no idea that this would be so hop dominated. I really dig this beer, and it reminds me of fresh Yeti, a beer I haven’t had in years. So incredibly smooth and I really like how the aggressive hop character has completely dominated this big roasted beer so thoroughly. The ample hop fruitiness is so smooth and juicy. This is fantastic because it is so hoppy, what a pleasant surprise.

2010 vintage, bitter tasting stout, sort of like a black IPA but more stout like, a slight sweetness to it as well, probably should not have picked it for a 90 degree day but plan a fell through.....solid brew.

UPDATED: MAY 19, 2012 Bottled. Pours a deep almost black with a creamy deep tan head that leaves an excellent lace. Nose of chocolate, caramel and citrus fruit. Sweet flavor of molasses, caramel, chocolate and citrus, grapefruit, pine and notes of dark fruit. Full bodied, oily texure and soft carbonation. Ends up with alcohol notes and a litlle bitterness. A world class beer.

Pours a very dark brown with a medium mocha head. Aroma has molasses and dark fruit...a bit of dark chocolate. Flavor has some fig and chocolate...touch of coffee...sweet. mouthfeel is full and sticky with a sweet coffee finish.

2010 Bottle. Glad I got to try this as I hear it is no longer being made. Pitch black with brown head. The hops have mostly fallen off, but the aroma offers dark chocolate, roasted notes and rich caramel. Taste is the same but with coffee notes, but about as rich as one can get. Very nice full mouthfeel and soft carbonation. Rich and excellent beer.

Originally reviewed: 12/8/11. Bottled on 2/18/10. Received in a trade awhile ago from a generous BA. Cellared since. Split with ClarkPinnock. Poured my allotment into a tall tulip. Review is from notes. Pours a deep black, with no head whatsoever. Just a thin lacy ring around the edge. The nose is rich and sweet. Chocolate, fig, plum, slight booze quality. The hops that were possibly present in the fresh version have since faded. The mouth is wonderfully creamy and full. This needs to be sipped not gulped. Rich flavors abound. Dark roasted chocolate, raisins, molasses, semi-sweet dark fruits. I love the complexity. Again, the hoppy quality has since faded, but this has developed into a wonderfully tasty treat. Fantastic beer that ages better than I anticipated.

5oz pour at Happy Gnome. 2009 vintage. Not much happening in the nose. Coates the mouth in malty sweet and hoppy goodness. Really smooth and just a touch boozy. Really nice! ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Bottle pours black brownish head. Smells and tastes of chocolate black licorice pine hops caramel. Very good beer nice and has a bit age on it mellowed out.

9/10/11 sampled bomber from 2010. reddish brown tinted black with no lasting head. smells sweet... barley, molasses, play-doh, grape-y, chocolate, earthiness and nose stinging alcohol. sweet palate as well... flavors of roasted barley, loads of booziness, oxidation notes and some umami on top of the aroma description. there’s a tartness on the finish along with some tingly earthy hops which linger in the aftertaste. thick, sweet, low carb= not for me. 6/4/6/3/13

Bottle @ UDRM. The aroma has roast, milk chocolate, caramel. Black coloured beer with a thin, beige lace. The taste is sweet roasty, has dark chocolate and milk chocolate, some bourbon, veggie hops. The chocolate taste is fantastic, but those hints of vegetables... Pitty.

2011 bottle, 22oz, brown pour with khaki head. Aroma of roasted malts, milk chocolate, caramel and pine. Taste sweet, milk, chocolate. Finish slightly bitter with some sweetness.