Goose Island, Goose IPA.

Brewery: Goose Island

Brew: Goose IPA

Style: English Stye IPA

ABV: 5.9%

We have an American brewery trying there hand at an English IPA. They grow their hops in Idaho. You’d have thought you’d want to use hops from England in and English IPA but OK, and clearly American grown hops work. This style of theirs has won 7 Awards to date:

World Beer Cup Awards: 2010: Gold – English Style India Pale Ale

Great American Beer Festival: 2012: Gold Medal - English Style India Pale Ale 2009: Silver Medal - English Style India Pale Ale 2007: Silver Medal - English Style India Pale Ale 2004: Silver Medal - English Style India Pale Ale 2001: Bronze Medal - English Style India Pale Ale 2000: Gold Medal - English Style India Pale Ale

Now an English IPA is slightly different from a standard IPA. First brewed in England in the 1700’s, thistle is a tweak of a standard Pale Ale. Usually more malty and with more hops in order to act as a preservative. Usually with higher alcohol content that normal IPAs, but this is about standard at 5.9%

So what have Goose Island brought to the table? They promise a full hopped brew with a fruity wiff and a slight maltyness to it. A drink that should end with a long hoppy finish to it.

Lets get it in the glass. Bit surprising, even with a slow pour, it’s more fizzy than expected, closer to a lager than an IPA. A lovely colour however you end up with a large white head that hangs about. But the golden liquid underneath is clear and crisp.

The aromas coming off this beer are strong but sweet, a real citrus smell with a slight wheat following. Pretty much what was expected. Good recovery from the pour.

Get your chops around it and the first hit is lime, very fresh gradually easing into a malty, woody flavour, not dry, more middle of the road. That taste lasts a bit too long, it starts to feel old and almost puts you off wanting to take the next draw because its already getting a tad stale.

When you do get back to it the taste start all over again you still get the limes, just, but it becomes more orangey, then the musty taste starts creeping back.…maybe this is a ploy to get us drinking quicker, keep the first hit in your mouth…but remember, responsible drinking people! This is a 5.9% brew. Not that you would be able to tell, had you not been told…it’s deceptive.

Its a solid English IPA. OK, the after taste hangs about a bit long for me and the flavour not as hard hitting as I was hoping, but it can’t be denied that Goose Island have given us Swillers a brew with a fully bodied flavour, as promised. It’s more malty than other IPAs and the hops don’t pound through as much as they could, but they do come right out in that initial smell that wafts up your snout. If the taste of the first mouthful hung about more and the second taste stayed orangey, Goose Island would have cracked it on the head. It’s firm IPA but its not go me trotting off to grab a second…just yet.

3/5