Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale

Another serving from our American cousins this week.

Brewery: Goose Island

Brew: 312 Urban Wheat Ale

Type: Pale Wheat Ale

ABV: 4.2%

I’m paddling across the pond again, to wallow in a bottle of Goose Islands’ Pale Wheat Ale, 312 Urban Wheat Ale.

What is an urban ale I hear you cry? Simply, it appears to be an ale inspired by an urban area. 312, was inspired by Chicago, Illinois and its “dense population” of flavour. But it’s a pale ale, which is an English style, so surely it should be inspired by London, Manchester…maybe Birmingham?

No?

Moving on. I dunno what Chicago would taste like. I can only imagine it would dry, smoggy with a hint of asphalt and concrete.

I’d be wrong, according to Goose Island. 312 is supposed to be a crisp, fruity ale with the spicy aroma of Cascade hops, a smooth body and a refreshing taste. Sounds great, hold that up along side the various awards this brew boasts, and we could be in for a treat.

AWARDS:

2010: Great American Beer Festival, Gold Medal - English Style Summer Ale

2008: Great American Beer Festival, Bronze Medal - English Style Summer Ale

World Beer Cup, Silver - English Style Summer Ale

2007: Great American Beer Festival, Gold Medal - English Style Summer Ale

2006: Great American Beer Festival, Gold Medal - English Style Summer Ale

It looks good in the glass (sorry, no picture, got busy drinking and forgot!) Straw coloured and with a wheat coloured head on top, but clear! I was expecting hazy. The lemony smell from the Cascade hops is thrown out in buckets with undertones of wheaty breadyness.

Unfortunately it smells fresher than it tastes. There isn’t much of a depth to the flavour, it’s a distinctly wheat taste, but less fresh baked loaf, more, left out for the following day. More lager like in look and feel, however it does, as promised, go down smooth. Nice and light.

I seem to have gone right against all the accolades loaded on to this brew. It was pleasant but for a first taste it hasn’t got me wanting to rush out and buy it again. I will probably give this one another crack sometime, see if I have missed something. I mean it can’t be a medal winner for nothing right? What do you guys think?

It’s a 2 out of 5 from me.