Goose Island Summertime

Brewed by Goose Island Beer Company
Style: Kölsch
Chicago, Illinois USA

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.

Bottled@GBBF2008. Yellow colour, small white head. Aroma is hops, fruits and mild cellary notes Quite hayish flavour with some saltwater and sweet fruity notes.

Clear golden with medium white head. Sweet malty aroma with caramel notes. Sweet fruity flavor with malty and caramel notes. Ends sweet.

I give this beer credit for seeming Kolsch-like, as I understand the style from previous experiences with the style. It is very crisp with a metallic flavor I’ve tasted in other Kolsch’s. Not bad, but this wouldn’t be my first choice of beer to have on a hot day. However, I do give Goose Island credit for making a summer seasonal that is a genuine beer style, and resisting the temptation to make a summer beer that is fruity, citrus-y, and too sweet. Appearance is a clear pale yellow, that is translucent. Aroma is faint. Flavor is crisp and metallic. Mouthfeel is clean, dry and crisp. Like I said, I’d weakly recommend this. Not bad.

Great summertime beer. I’ve tried pretty much all of the other "summeetime" beers put out by brewers and this is one of my favorites. Great for a hot summer day. Citrus, lemon taste, and a nice golden yellow color. Not too thick of a head but just enough to get the job done. Slightly over priced in my opinion. Paid $7.99 for a 6 pack on sale. Should be more like $6.99 at the most.