Engaging 7% alcohol Belgian-styled winter ’05 offering opens with beautiful floral-over-marmalade sweetness aided by doughy ‘rare yeast’ souring, apple cinnamon bun sensation and ethanol Reisling-wined esters. Herbal mint-y freshness, clove-chamomile suggestion, earthen barnyard underside and mild oaken cherry acridity provide tertiary splendor to emerging peach-honeyed cantaloupe-banana-pear fruiting of complex winter seasonal. 2012 and ’13 versions may’ve upped coriander-spiced mandarin orange, navel orange and tangerine lacquering as well as ripe peach tang.
Monthly Archives: January 2009
GOOSE ISLAND KILGUBBIN RED ALE
Almond-toasted mocha-dried cornmeal flavor overrides moderate orange peel bittering. Richer than most red ales as its moderate nutty bitterness picks up considerable dry coffee souring by wood burnt finish.
GOOSE ISLAND INDIA PALE ALE
‘Berry’ heavy with deep nut penetration, flowery hop bitterness, and sharp grain edge. Creamy malt pleasantry underscores citrus notes before dry pumpernickel finish soothes.
(GOOSE ISLAND) IMPERIAL I.P.A.
Resplendent russet-hazed winter ’05 offering places ravishingly perfumed Cascade hops alongside glacial spruce-pine directive and soon-prevalent grapefruit bittering, hiding its eye-opening 9% alcohol probe. Ripening tangy orange uprising augments red grape, melon, and honeydew sweetness to climactic peach-tangerine finish. Floral spiced backdrop weaves through fruity din with spectacular results.
GOOSE ISLAND HONKER’S ALE
Bright citrus aroma and dry hop graining ensure mild barley-toasted honey wheat contour. On close inspection, hints of mandarin orange, apricot, and coarse nut fill out bitter backdrop, but restrained mineral-grained finish remains under-whelming. Worthwhile for pilsner and lager fans as a crossover.
GOOSE ISLAND HEX NUT BROWN ALE
Yummy milk chocolate creaminess, caramel nougat resilience, and toasted barley richness perfectly counter bitter hop fizz. Buttery serendipity and subtle spicing add relaxing backdrop to shrewdly nutty medium-bodied champion. Due to low mainstream sales, Chicago brewer retired this excellent brew around 2007.
(GOOSE ISLAND) DEMOLITION GOLDEN ALE
Cresting honeyed malt splendor engages Graham cracker spine and tangy peach-orange luster of persuasive 8% alcohol concoction. Grassy Saaz hops reinforce beckoning floral sentiment before stimulating almond wine finish truly penetrates milky yeast pliancy.
GOOSE ISLAND CHRISTMAS ALE
Mahogany-bellied winter warmer brings bright citrus nose, traditional nutmeg-cinnamon seasoning, and thickening cereal-grained cracked wheat confluence to cocoa-molasses passing. Bitter lemon peel tang consumes nut-roasted spiced-hop finish.
GOOSE ISLAND BOURBON COUNTY STOUT
Thickly minted anise stickiness pierces warming oak-charred bourbon theme as brown chocolate sweetness and lingered espresso bitterness bedeck tart cherry puree souring of intensely alcoholic stout. Chewy fudge midst acquires syrupy molasses muddiness, vacillating vanilla bean nuttiness, and countering vinous burgundy ruddiness. Beneath penetrable caramel malting lies minor soy hint.
(GOLDEN VALLEY) TANNEN BOMB
Subdued English-styled winter warmer trickles earthen red grape-cherry parchedness into wood-dried Chinook-Fuggle hops. Aloft cocoa malts, sour fig-date finish picks up slim apricot-banana tingle. Marginal twig-leaf tandem fills out thin tobacco backdrop.
(GOLDEN VALLEY) RED THISTLE ALE
Up-front crystal malt sweetness surrounds lemony citric tartness and raisin-fig tinge for peculiar sourdough-scented ale. Bitter hop backdrop adds firmness. Open-minded drinkers will find this worthy, if not special.
(GOLDEN VALLEY) GEIST BOCK LAGER
Light springtime pale bock enhances buttery barley sugaring and pale Munich-Vienna malting with rye highlights. Hop-toasted fig-raisin conflux informs sweet candied finish for simple elegance. An easygoing softie for lighter thirsts.