Goose Island Pilgrim Pale Ale

Brewed by Goose Island Beer Company (Brewpubs)
Style: American Pale Ale
Chicago, Illinois USA

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker, Tulip

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draft at wrigley. pretty much watered down. no real aroma, bit of an IPA. call it spicy, but it’s not spicy. there’s not much going on here.

Draught at the Wrigleyville location. Clear orange color with a thin white head that laced the glass. Attractive, distinct caramel and toffee aromas that draw you in immediately. The flavor wasn’t quite as good, but I still liked this beer. Tasted of malty caramel, cereal grain, and light perfumy hops. Finishes with a gentle hop bitterness. Good beer.

Clybourn. Clear, magnifying orangish-copper in color with an ultra creamy, mossy off-white head and snow drift lacing. Lemon Jolly Ranchers lead the aroma, along with Sunny D, Fabreeze and dryer sheets. Orange citric hop shine justifies a classic pale ale interpretation, with a recession to sweet papaya bitters on its tail. Very cleansing palate sweep, yet with moderate searing and astringency, but it doesn’t really throw off the balance. Carbonation levels are right on target. Lingering, hard sourdough crust characteristic winds down to an herbal buttered croissant aftertaste. Decent.

On tap at Clybourn. Poures a clear light orange. Malts and yeast in the aroma. Very little hop bitterness that left an odd aftertaste. Just OK.

Clear gold with a modest white head, this has a soft, bready aroma with a light, herbal hop bitterness. It comes across more like a light Honkers Ale than anything. An easy-going caramel malt, slightly grainy, with a modest hoppiness make up the flavor. Pleasant enough for a session brew.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Island Beer Company - Clybourn, Chicago, IL<font size=-1>

5 oz sample at the Clybourn location (from handpull). Medium lightly hazy amber with a small forever-lasting head...big fruity brandied-apricot nose with woody underpinnings...very creamy body, light classy British hop profile throughout with baked fruits and a strong dryish maltiness, very dry at the finish. Excellent.

Cask, Wrigleyville location. Clear dark amber body. Creamy light tan head. Dry, woody aroma with light grassy hops. The flavor is pretty light in the malt department, consists mostly of bright stemmy hops with a touch of maybe some white bread sweetness. The beer tastes good becuase it’s fresh, but it’s nothing terribly special.

Draught, Clybourn brewpub (2004 version): Dark golden orange; strong, retentive (though thin) off-white head…slightly sour, hoppy aroma with sap and a touch of plastic. Hoppy, floral bitterness across the palate, smooth & nicely carbonated. Clean finish, which is nice because I fear some overwhelming sour hops, but also annoying because it doesn’t develop. Decent, but some of the other single hop beers were better.

Cask. Clear, amber body with a tight, fluffy off-white head. The aroma is fairly hoppy but certainly subtle. Earthy, floral hops with a significant pine element gently lay atop sweet caramel and whole grains. The body is silky smooth but a bit thin. It makes it very drinkable but not quite satisfying. The flavor starts sweet before moving to a balanced middle and a mild bitter finish. Hoppy but not astringent. Tasty and quite refreshing; an excellent session beer, without being mind-blowingly good.

Tasted with lilannie and bigbadbear63 at the brewery. Clear medium amber, with a mild sweet aroma of light hops, pine, and hints of spice. Somewhat soda-like mouthfeel, punchy and spicey, with some definite wood flavors mid-drink through the finish.