Goose Island Summertime

A Mes rate: bottle at GBBF.
Pale gold with a thin white head. Dull and watery with very little action. Faint fruity notes, some card and metal and hints of butter. Bland as hell, very short in the finish, pretty lifeless all round.

Bottled at Monk’s Café, Stockholm. Lightly hazy pale golden, small head. Almost neutral nose. Fairly light bodied dense and somewhat sweet. Fruity with some cereals. The short fruit flavour quickly fades out into slight metal. More bland/fruity than refreshing.

Kolsch has long been one of my favorite beer styles, so it’s no wonder that I can’t wait for those hot summer days, when nothing but a clean, crisp and gentle kolsch could possibly be better. Goose Island actually makes an excellent example of this style. It pours a very pale gold, with a brilliant, lustery, whipped topping-like head, and leaves plenty of foam and lacing. The aroma is like fresh hay, a warm summer evening, and a cool breeze. It has a sherbety, ripe red strawberry, herbal lavendar calmness. Summertime’s taste is ever-so-gentle- tickling the tongue, bringing forth lemon sorbet, bubblegum, strawberries, and a fresh, minty, cooling zestiness that quenches the thirst and soothes the soul.

Draft at Goose Island Clybourn brewpub, listed simply as "Kolsch". A clear very pale straw, little head or carbonation. No noticeable aroma. Things pick up with the flavour. First taste has significant flavour and body to it. Grassy malts and crisp hops seem like they fit the style, though I’m certainly no expert.

bottle - Pours clear gold with a light, slightly fruity malt aroma. The flavor is of light biscuity malt, a touch of fruit, and some mild hops. It’s light bodied, smooth and refreshing. There’s not a lot here to get excited about, but it it was it is, a nice, decent summer brew.

Bottled - GBBF 2008. Gosh this was boring. A very clear golden colour with buttery malts in the nose, which became a bit sickly. The same in the mouth; more sickliness. Not much fun.

Bottle @ GBBF 08. Clear yellow color, short head. Grassy aroma, bit sweet. Typical kolsch indeed.

Pours a semi cloudy golden pale with a small fim white head. Aroma is lightly sweet lemon, grass and various light summer fruits. Flavor is very fruity but does have a nice malty backbone along with light hay and earthy hops. Finishes somewhat short and light spicy. Light to medium bodied, crisp texture. Probably the best American Kolsch I have ever consumed.