Goose Island Imperial IPA

Brewed by Goose Island Beer Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Chicago, Illinois USA

Pours an opaque rust and light caramel color with zero head. The commercial description says you smell the hops from a yard away, I don’t know about a yard, but hops certainly dominate the nose even from a distance. Up close the aroma offers even more than just lemons and grapefruits, biscuit aromas are evident, slightl yeast, touches of malt and candy are also lurking. Flavor was amazingly balanced for what is obviously a heavily hopped brew. Flavor is heavy on the sugar, toffee and malt at first. Pine, flowers, and biscuits are also flavors that emerge. It’s very rare you get a hint of a beers finish right off the bat, but the moment it hits your tongue you can just feel a syrupy, sugary, thickness that is more milkshake than beer. Lasting sweetness, some bitterness and a slight alcohol burn on the end. This is very unique for an Imperial IPA and definitely worth checking out.

Bottle from____? 2006, best before March 31st, 2007. Bah! Today is 9/11/07. Twisted off the cap with a small, faint hiss. Pours with no head, though I do see a few bubbles fighting their way to the surface of the murky amber lake. Hops are aged/gone from the aroma, leaving behind sweet malt, and slightest hint of oxidation. Perfect amount of oxidation. Most say IPAs are best fresh, and I agree when I do side by sides. But when tasted alone, wonderful aged IPAs, such as this one, make me think differently. It’s sooo good. Malty, sweet, guiey caramels in a thicker body. A initial zing of carbonation and hop bitterness finishing with indescribable sweetened hops. Does it really deserve a 4.6? Yes, and possible a little more. I’m sure part of the reason is this rogue bottle that’s over a year old. Part of it is just because it’s a great beer!! Please try an aged one for yourself. The only sad part was seeing the empty glass. I think even the glass was unhappy.

Date: 12/29/2005
Mode: Bottle
Source: Trade

clear amber, whispy fine head, sweet piney peppery aroma, big body, good sweet malt with an abundance of hop flavor, lots of pine, long bitter finish, a very nice big ipa with all of the required sweet pine and the big body, expensive to brew and more expensive to buy
-------- /> Date: 02/07/2007
Mode: bottle
Vintage: 2005

sweet pine and citrus aroma, lots of oxidation yet still plenty of citrus hops on the sweet malt base, long bitter finish,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

350 ml bottle from archer liquors. Hazy golden amber with a fizzy white head. Sweet malty grapefruit and pine aroma. Thick sticky palate. Sweet caramel, candy sugar, banana, and a slight pervasive bitterness through out.

Thanks MikeTD. Copper orange pour small white head. Aroma is malty with caramel bigtime. Flavor is sweet caramel and loads of it, light fruits, citrus and grapefruit hops have been subdued with time. This beer may have sat too long and been better fresh. Flavor is all sweet caramel and more like a barleywine.

Pours a cloudy dark orange with a small light tan head. Smells of big grapefruit aroma and hops. Big malt presence there as well. The taste is big monster hops as well, althought there was a big malt presence just like the aroma. Very thick mouthfeel, rich almost slightly sweet taste. I got a little heat in the flavor, but not too bad. Actually masked pretty well. Pretty good, maybe slightly passed its prime. Will revisit if I get a fresh bottle.

The first thing I noticed is that you hardly notice the 9+% alcohol. There pours a decent thing head which quickly dissipates. Decent lacing. Cloudy reddish brown auburn color Smells hoppy and a nice malt presence. Very well balanced taste. Nice hopppy aftertaste. not too bitter, bit of a roasted taste. Great mouthfeel. As it warms the alcohol presence become quick apparent however.Overall its good, but not worth what it costs when there are so many alternatives as good if not better for cheaper.

2006 bottle. no real aroma to speak of....murky gold color, no head. maybe this is just a little past its prime, but while the hops are there...its a extreme sweetness im getting. kinda reminds me of a way past its prime 90min. its not bad, but its nothing special.