Black Friday at Goose Island

I never really saw the point of Black Friday shopping. Why get up and out to a store extra early on a balls out cold day just to save a few hundred on some stuff you don't really need? People even get into fights and sometimes even get killed. It's ridiculous. Well, today I changed. I went Black Friday shopping. At Binny's.

Today Goose Island sold through the Binny's across the street from their Clybourn Brewpub a limited number of Rare Bourbon County, a version of Bourbon County Stout that has been aged in bourbon barrels for two years. On top of this, it was the last chance to buy Bourbon County Vanilla and Bourbon County Coffee.

This was taken after I was leaving. I had to stand in an even longer line.

I arrived at around 8:15 AM, and proceeded to freeze my ass off in line for an hour and a half. It was about 18°F, and windy. I was pretty sure my toenails had cracked off - it sure felt like it. It was worth it though. the first 220 or so people were given tickets that both guaranteed them access to a limited amount of bottles and designated their spot in line. I was #185. Each person was allowed to buy 5 bottles of Rare Bourbon County, 1 bottle of Bourbon County Vanilla, 1 bottle of Bourbon County Coffee, and 1 bottle of Nightstalker. I still can't figure out WHY Nightstalker was a limited item - the only reason I can think of is that they were trying to make it appear limited in order to drum up sales. I only walked out of there with a bottle of Vanilla BC and Coffee BC at $13 a piece, and my friend Dan bought 2 Rares, one Vanilla, and one Coffee. Rare Bourbon County was $43 a bottle. I decided I'd rather buy a new turntable stylus than buy 1 bottle of beer.

After warming my numb ass back up in the car, I headed over to the Goose Island Brew Pub to try the Rare Bourbon County on tap. I got one of these for $11:

A tasty tasty rip off.

The best way to describe it is a smooth and less boozy tasting version of Bourbon County. I really can't say it was worth the price. Don't get me wrong - it was good, but it was not worth $43 for a 22oz bottle and $11 for a 5oz pour.

A loving family, gathered together for the holiday season.

Overall this was a great first Black Friday experience. Still waiting to find out when Madame Rose, Juliet, and Lolita are released though.

The Rally To Restore Sanity Gains Some Gonzo Supporting

 At the October 30th Rally to Restore Sanity, hosted by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, Flying Dog Brewery teamed up with Rock the Vote and Campus Progress and brought forth the "Good People Vote, Then Drink Good Beer" campaign. Tasty.

Goose Island's Newest Belgian Style Ales

Goose Island has created two more Belgian-Style Ales this year - Madame Rose and Lolita.

Madame Rose is a Belgian Style Brown Ale brewed with cherries and aged in wine barrels. According to their beer calendar, it was available at the Goose Island Brewpub back in July. Strange, because I never saw it there the couple times I went in July.

Lolita is a rose colored Belgian Style Pale Ale fermented with wild yeasts and aged with raspberries in wine barrels. This beer is an October only release, so there should hopefully still be some left at the brewpub (unfortunately, the only place to get it). Also, Lolita is a silver medal winner in the Fruit Beer category at the 2010 World Beer Cup.

Hoping to get my hands on some Lolita this month - if I do, a review will follow soon!

Jinxed Again

Three Floyd's Jinx Proof has a very interesting backstory. It may be the only beer to be brewed in collaboration with a tattoo studio - it was created to celebrate Jinx Proof Tattoo Studio's 13th anniversary.

Jinx Proof is described as a "refreshing continental-style pils [that] has a light body combined with a pronounced noble hop aroma and a crisp dry finish". (from the 3 Floyds Blog)

Unfortunately, it is now impossible to find another bottle of Jinx Proof for three reasons: It was only released as a seasonal bomber (22 oz bottle), only sold in June, and only sold at the Three Floyds Brewpub in Munster, Indiana. Hopefully there will be more next June, but it is very  doubtful.

Jinx Proof
Brewery: Three Floyds
Country: USA (Indiana)
Style: Dortmunder / Export Lager
ABV: 5.1%
IBUs: 35
Serving Type: 22oz Bottle
Cost: N/A

Appearance: Unfiltered. Bright amber color with mild carbonation. Not a lot of head, maybe a half finger tops. Left a small amount of lacing.

Aroma: Smelled a lot like cereal grains and floral hops.

Taste: Jinx Proof had a very malty bread taste to it. I did also notice a slight hoppiness, but it wasn't as strong as I expected from a Three Floyds beer. The aftertaste had very little bitterness, making this beer smooth and refreshing.

Drinkability: Very smooth, refreshing, and easy to drink - perfect on a warm day.

Verdict: A very good lager! I'm usually more partial to ales over lagers, but this one would be a repeat - that is, if it is ever sold again.

I Think Its Time For An Update

Or, more accurately, a few hundred updates and reviews. A lot has happened in the last two months that I haven't posted anything about, and after starting up a new job I ended up putting INMT on hold for awhile. Then kinda just forgot about it. I've tried plenty of new beers since then, been to a Dogfish Head beer dinner, and found out about a few new and interesting things in brewing - all of which will hopefully be posted about (very late, unfortunately). This blog has had a very slow start and a few temporary abandonments, but I don't want to let it just die off right now. I could always use a few contributing writers and reviewers, if anyone is interested.

Coming up soon: Three Floyd's Jinx Proof, Stone's version of the Saison Du Buff collaboration, and a look at the Finnegan's Dogfish Head beer dinner.

Belgian Week Day Five: Juliet

Sadly, we draw to a close on a wonderful week of Goose Island Belgian-Style Ales. Tonight we have a Belgian Style Sour Ale that goes by the name of Juliet.
I have to give a special thanks to Dale over at Finnegan's Irish Pub for helping me out with getting a bottle. I had not been able to find a 2010 bottle anywhere - I even asked the manager at the South Loop Binny's, and he said their computers had no record of it for over a year. Apparently, this year it was a June only release and was only available at their brewpub. Lame!

Juliet is Goose Island's take on a Belgian Sour Ale. And what a unique take it is. This beer is fermented with wild yeasts, which greatly contributes to its unique flavor. On top of that, each batch is aged in Cabernet barrels infused with blackberries. Ends up with a very sweet, wine-like taste. This beer is amazing. I guarantee that if you are a wine person, you will enjoy this beer just as well as most wines.

I did encounter a small problem with pouring this beer. There is so much carbonation that upon opening the bottle it started overflowing, not only soaking the label but also my shelf. And the carpet. So, two photos instead of a single messy one should be fine I guess.

Juliet
Brewery: Goose Island
Country: USA (Illinois)
Style: Belgian Sour Ale
ABV: 6.7%
IBUs: 15
Serving Size: 22oz Bottle
Cost: $15

Appearance: Saturated dark rose color. Opaque haze from the high amount of yeast. Very, very high levels of carbonation. I should have read the many warning about this. Glad I did not get the same effects as what people wrote about - some were reporting that their beer gushed out around 4-6 inches upwards. Yeesh. Poured a high head that wasn't creamy at all, but had an interesting pinkish tint. be prepared for sediment. Don't worry, it is safe to drink, but not too many people find chunky bits in their beer to be appetizing. If you want to avoid getting any in your glass, let the bottle settle before opening, pour very slowly, and leave a few ounces in the bottle.

Aroma: wine grapes and blackberries. Reminded me a lot of a sparkling wine. You can also smell the presence of the wild yeasts. Besides the blackberries, there is a smell of other berry fruits including raspberries and strawberries.

Taste: Like a sparkling wine with malt and yeast. The high levels of carbonation give it a crisp and light taste. The middle of it is very yeasty with a small amount of spices. Aftertaste is a bit sour with a little dryness.

Drinkability: Juliet is very crisp, light, and refreshing. I could drink it all day and night, if it wasn't for the high cost and rarity of a bottle.

Verdict: Buy immediately it if you can find it. You might have to do a beer trade on BeerAdvocate to procure a bottle, but I can imagine that at this point is will be impossible to get a hold of. Even if you are more of a wine person, you will fall in love with Juliet.

And this brings me to the end of Goose Island's Belgian-Style Ales Week. It was fun while it lasted. I think I need to do more themed weeks to get into the habit of writing, reviewing, and drinking more! Until next time - cheers.

Belgian Week Day Four: Sofie

Sofie is Goose Island's take on a Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale.



It's a shame about the bottle in the following picture, but that's what humidity does to things. A wonderful beer deserves a wonderful picture, and unfortunately it did not get what it deserves.

Sofie
Brewery: Goose Island
Country: USA (Illinois)
Style: Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale / Saison
ABV: 6.5
IBUs: 25
Serving Size: 22oz bottle
Cost: $7

Appearance: Bright golden yellow color. Pours a nice creamy head that lasts for a good amount of time. Very hazy and opaque. Plenty of carbonation as well.

Aroma: Very pleasing sour smell of citrus fruits and spices. Light smell of the hops are noticeable too, but with such a low IBU it is hard to taste.

Taste: This is a very tasty saison. Wonderful crisp citrus tastes that turn into a very malty aftertaste, with a slight sour pinch at the end. You can taste the alcohol in this one as well, but it isn't as detectable as it is in some of the other Belgian-Style Ales.

Drinkability: Sofie is a very light and refreshing Belgian-Style Ale. With its crisp citrus flavors and light body, I could easily drink a few on a warm summer evening. Just like this one!

Verdict: If you like saisons - or any refeshing ale - I recommend trying Sofie. It is really good.

Belgian Week Day Three: Matilda

3rd beer of the week - half way there! Tonight's brew is the delectable Matilda.

From the Goose Island website:
"Wild in character, with a slightly fruity aroma and a spicy yeast flavor that is as unique as it is satisfying – Matilda is an intriguing choice for beer and wine lovers alike. Dry and quenching, it’s the perfect accompaniment at the dining table or for casually socializing at the bar."

This beer also has a video about it from the brewmaster:



The first time I ever had Goose Island's Matilda was early summer last year. Since then, it has become one of my favorites. This beer is very, very versatile when it comes to food - it can go well with just about any meal. I have yet to find something that doesn't jive with it at all. Even foods that normally would not go well with the style (Belgian Strong Pale Ale) seem to do alright next to Matilda.

For a beer that can go well with just about any dish, and is also both an apéritif and a digestive, one would expect it to be a rather bland tasting beer. While I do admit that it does have a smoother and more mellow taste to it, I would never say it is bland by any means. There are a lot of flavors and aromas in there, a little bit of something for everyone to enjoy.

This is one of the beers that brought me into the craft beer world, and to it I raise my glass. Is it strange to toast something by using a glass full of itself? Hmm.

WARNING! Goose Island has issued a recall on certain bottles made between April and May of 2010. A wild yeast entered the batches and caused souring. Read more about it here, which includes which bottle date codes were affected. Check your codes, and if you find one that is affected bring it back to your liquor store.

Matilda
Brewery: Goose Island
Country: USA (Illinois)
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale
ABV: 7.0
IBUs: 32
Serving Type: 22oz Bottle
Cost: $7

Appearance: Orange / dark golden color. 2 finger head on this one. good carbonation that settles down after pouring. Very nice lacing, but I was not able to get it to hold long due to improperly cleaned glassware.

Aroma: Very malty, it is the first thing you will notice when you take a sniff. Alcohol smell shows a nice presence here, without being overpowering. Subtle smells of fruits and spices as well - subtle enough that it can take awhile to pinpoint each of the distinct aromas.

Taste: Distinct taste of the yeast and malts. There is a lot going on in the flavor department - subtle hints of fruits such as cherry and pear as well as various spices (some from the yeast used) and a hint of brown sugar throughout the beer. There is a slight floral characteristic, but it is hard to pin down.

Drinkability: The brewmaster sums it up nicely: "Dry and quenching, it’s the perfect accompaniment at the dining table or for casually socializing at the bar." This is something I could drink very often and not get tired of it.

Verdict: You know what I am going to say: buy it and drink it whenever you can. I recommend finding it on tap where you can, it is certainly a step up from the bottle conditioned form.

Belgian Week Day Two: Pere Jacques

I need to remember to eat something before starting a review.

I made the mistake of sitting down to review this beer right after work - and on an empty stomach. Naturally, this has made it a bit harder to write about. Oh well, on with it!

Pere Jacques is Goose Island's take on a Dubbel. A few of the Belgian-Styles have videos on their pages on the Goose Island website, Pere Jacques being one of them:

Pere Jacques
Brewery: Goose Island
Country: USA (Illinois)
Style: Belgian Dubbel
ABV: 8.0
IBUs: 26

Serving Type: 22oz Bottle
Cost: $7


Appearance: Dark reddish brown color. Poured with a nice one finger head again, but this one was quick to disappear. Very light carbination.

Aroma: Had a very present caramel smell. There were also some notes of malt as well as fig.

Taste: This beer does not disguise the taste of alcohol well. It wasn't overpowering, but it was immediately detectable. Slightly spiced, with an overall taste of dried fruits, malt, and candied sugar. Also, don't let this beer get too far above it's recommended serving temperature (40°F) because its taste changes rapidly. By my second glass, it had warmed up too much and tasted more like alcohol and bread.

Drinkability: Goes down smooth despite the very present taste of alcohol. Definitely a good sipper.

Verdict: Worth trying if you can get it on tap or in the 4 pack, but I wouldn't buy the 22oz bomber again. Chimay Premiere (red) costs a little bit more for a bomber but is a much better Dubbel.

Belgian Week Day One: Fleur

Kicking off the Goose Island Belgian Style week with the only one I have not tried yet - Fleur, a Belgian Pale Ale.

Fleur is the newest Belgian Style Ale, having begun brewing this summer. According to the brew calendar, Fleur will be brewed for the rest of this year so it is safe to say this is going to be one of their regular brews that you will see on shelves next to Matilda, Sofie, and Pere Jacques.

Fleur
Brewery: Goose Island
Country: USA (Illinois)
Style: Belgian Pale ale
ABV: 7.0
IBUs: 32
Serving Type: 22oz Bottle
Cost: $8 - $9

Appearance: Hazy amber. Good amount of carbonation, and a nice one finger head.

Aroma: Malty smell, with a hint of fruit, spices, and a barely noticeable floral scent.

Taste: Very present malt taste, very little hoppiness in this beer. Although Goose Island's website said there was a distinct taste of strawberry, my first impression of the fruit taste was actually apple. Also present was a hibiscus tea flavor, which is not too surprising considering the hibiscus flower on the bottle's label. The aftertaste did have a slight tartness, just enough to have an impact without making the beer taste sour.

Drinkability: Although the flavors are a bit lackluster, this is a very easy to drink beer. Reminded me slightly of a chilled tea.

Verdict: Good, but not something I would probably enjoy regularly. Nice to enjoy with a small snack or on its own. Definitely worth a try but don't expect this to blow you away.