Goose Island 16 Year ESB

Formerly brewed at Goose Island Beer Company
Style: Bitter
Chicago, Illinois USA

Draft at Clybourn brew pub. Deep amber, almost ruby color. I didn’t get much of a smell. The taste was an expansive, almost fruity sweetness that felt palpable in the mouth, transitioning to a nice dry bitter in the finish. The contrast between the volume and refreshing flavor of the beer at first with the dry absense of anything but lingering bitter was nice, and it was the best Goose Island beer I’ve had in a while, definitely best of the night.

Draught; Clybourn brew pub: frothy, infinitely persistent off-tan foam. Dark red-orange translucent body. Piney bark aromatics with a sweet light-caramel and gooey doughiness. Sweet, chewy flavours include a large bubble gum character, sourdough bread and long, bitter hops. A nice balance here from the brewers of some of the finest American session ESBs.

Pours a deep copper-red color. The taste is malty but there is a sharp, balancing hop bitterness in the finish. This beer maturely expresses the Fuggle hop character; earthy, spicy, and subtly fruity. Overall this has a good mellow flavor to it, though there is a bit too much astringency in the finish.

Clear ruby body with thick, persistent tan head. Really pleasant, subtle fruity nose of peaches, apricot, toffee, nuts, lightly bitter hops and whole grain bread. Really elegant body with soft, creamy carbonation. The flavor is just as nice as the nose but with a little more sweetness. Fruity with caramel, molasses, nuts, grains and I’m sure many more things. the finish is smooth and refreshing and leaves your tongue wanting more. Another fine session ale.

Lots of carbonation. Creamy head. Ruby hue. Hazy. Creamy mouthfeel. Not as bitter as I was expecting or hoping.

Dark copper, nice pillowy off-white head (may have been nitroed). Grassy hops in the nose, with some metallic and caramel notes. Medium sweet in flavor, with a nice bitter, grassy hop kick. Just a touch of diacetyl, which was pleasant. Slight metallic tang detracts a bit from the taste. Very smooth mouthfeel, very much a session beer.