Goose Island Big John Imperial Stout

3.9/5

AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20

22 ounce bottle into snifter, bottled 3/25/2011. Pours thick as oil opaque black color with a minimal tan head with decent retention that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Minimal spotty lacing on the glass with plenty of alcohol clinging. Aromas of huge dark chocolate, roasted malt, caramel, vanilla, toffee, light coffee, light frutiness, and herbal spice. Some good and well balanced stout aromas going on. Taste of big caramel, molasses, vanilla, toffee, dark chocolate, roasted malt, light coffee, herbal spiciness, and some dark fruit. Fair amount of spicy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of dark chocolate, herbal spiciness, caramel, molasses, coffee, roasted malt, and vanilla on the finish for a while. Medium carbonation and full bodied as expected; with a very creamy and slick mouthfeel that is nice. Pretty smooth for 11.5%, but is still a big sipper. Alcohol is pretty well hidden, with only a good sized warming present after the finish. Overall this is a very nice thick and full bodied imperial stout. Big on roasted flavors with dark chocolate; and nice to slowly sip. It has a nice balance of flavors, but it didn’t really stand out to me; and it is still a little on the hot side for alcohol.

A very nice stout offering from Goose Island, but I much prefer the Night Stalker to this one. There was not as much chocolate presence as I was hoping for in this.

Goose Island Night Stalker

4.3/5

AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 17/20

22 ounce bottle into snifter, bottled 3/6/10(about 1.5 years old now!). Pours black as night with a very dense 1 finger tan head with great retention that reduces to a thin lacing cap. A small amount of lacing clings to the glass as well. Aromas of huge roasted malt, dark chocolate, coffee, molasses, vanilla, and caramel; with a bit of dark fruits and booze. Some pretty nice and strong aromas here. Taste of HUGE dark chocolate, caramel, coffee, molasses, vanilla, and charred malt; with a bit of pine, citrus, and spicy bitterness. Bitterness doesn’t last so long, but there are huge lingering notes of dark chocolate, molasses, caramel, and vanilla that last. Huge full body with medium carbonation; very creamy and slick mouthfeel that goes down fairly smooth. A bit of alcohol noticed in the back of the tongue, with a decent sized warming on the finish. This is definitely a sipper, this needs to be enjoyed over an hour or more. Overall, an outstanding Imperial Stout with some age on it. The hops definitely mellowed out and it is smoother than the last time I had it.

Re-reviewing this one. It is very possible that this bottle was the same age as the last one I tried. It definitely smoothed out, and is thick as hell. Delicious.

Goose Island Pere Jacques

3.8/5

AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20

12 ounce bottle into tulip, bottled 1/13/10. Pours very cloudy dark red color with a dense 2 finger khaki head with great retention that reduces to a thin lacing cap. Some decent lacing sticks to the glass as well. Aromas of big molasses, dark fruits, banana, spices, and alcohol. Very strong aromas here, pretty good stuff. Taste of big caramel, molasses, spices, light dark fruits and a bit of banana. Lingering notes of molasses, with light spices and a bit of fruitiness on the finish that last for a bit. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied. Slightly syrupy and fairly creamy mouthfeel that goes down pretty smoothly for the alcohol level. Alcohol is fairly well hidden, but there is still a good sized warming noticed on the finish. Overall, a nice Dubbel from Goose Island. I also have a 2009 bottle of this that I found at the store a couple weeks ago, I might sit on it for a while to see what happens.

Overall a very nice Dubbel from Goose Island. I will hold onto the 2009 to see how it ages for a while.

Goose Island Lolita

4.2/5

AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20

22 ounce bottle into wine glass, bottled 12/04/2010. Pours hazy reddish orange color with a small foamy off white head with poor retention that reduces to nothing. Aromas of huge raspberry sweetness, with red wine, funk, and some sour cherry as well. Some great aromas here with good strength. Taste starts off with huge tart and sourness in the first sip. Big raspberry, cherry, and spices on the front with a good amount of tartness on the finish. Some slight lingering notes of raspberry and cherry after the finish for a bit with some tartness as well. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied. Very crisp finish. No alcohol noticed in the taste or finish. Very nice balance of sweetness and tartness here as well. Overall a highly enjoyable wild ale from Goose Island, very drinkable and balanced.

Very nice wild ale from Goose Island, very balanced and not overwhelming with sourness. I can't wait to have the other 2 that I found while in NYC.

Goose Island Matilda

3.9/5

AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20

12 ounce bottle into tulip, bottled 12/18/09. Pours cloudy reddish orange color with 1.5 fingers of off white head with great retention that reduces to a fairly thick lacing cap. Aromas of dark fruit, tart grape, apple, candi sugar, and spices. A bit of funk in there as well, with some breadiness. Very nice and complex stuff going on here. Taste of a lot of spices, with breadiness, light fruits, caramel, and candi sugar. Light amount of tartness on the finish, with some lingering spices, bitterness, and some fruits. No alcohol in the taste and a decent warming noticed on the finish. Medium carbonation and body. Nice smooth drinking as well. Overall a very nice Belgian strong pale, but I think I noticed a bit of oxidation in there. Interested in trying a newer batch of this to compare.

A nice Belgian style ale from goose Island. Would like to try a newer batch of this as well. Still have a few more of the series to try.

Goose Island Sofie

4.3/5

AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20

12 ounce bottle into tulip, bottled 3/24/10. Pours hazy golden amber color with a huge 3 finger dense white head with great retention that reduces to a thick lacing cap that lasts for most of the glass. Some decent lacing sticks to the glass as well. Aromas of big sour apple, lemon, orange, spices, and clove. Nose definitely has a nice amount of funk in it, great stuff. Taste of orange, lemon, pepper, spices, and light clove. A decent amount of tartness near the finish was noticed, that lingers for a short while with some orange, apple and spice. No bitterness at all noticed, just big lingering spice and fruit notes. No alcohol noticed in taste and a slight warming on the finish. Medium bodied with high carbonation. Very smooth and drinkable as well, despite big carbonation. Overall, a fantastic saison style ale. I will definitely be picking this one up again. Thank goodness it is available everywhere.

Wow, probably the most impressive Goose Island offering I have had yet(haven't had many though). I will definitely be picking up this again for the cellar, after over 1 year big tartness is present. I will be keeping an eye out for the "infected" batches (fingers crossed!). Can't wait to try the rest of the series. I really need to get my hands on the Reserve series wild ales someday. If InBev axes this series I will be upset.