Harvest Ale - Goose Island Beer Co.

farrago

New Jersey

3.15/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Close to two fingers of loose, frothy foam, mild dimpling as it settles down, strong retention across the surface, the lacing is not very broad, however, displays good stickiness. Clear copper brown in color with a few trace bubbles lazily rising, more of a yellow cast around the rims. In the nose you get pretzel dough, salt and miscellaneous bread crust then honey, cocoa malts, peach pits and lemon rinds, oddly neither sweet nor grassy, like it doesn’t want to commit to a specific direction, slightly better than average staying power. Medium-bodied, its firmness creates additional palate presence. Malts, cocoa, caramel, honey yet not that sweet, the carbonation is subtle but effective, scrubs the tongue well. The lemon citrus brings out more earthiness and likely more pit aspect to the apricot, peach, apple, fig fruit. The well baked bread never a major factor, just one of many drying elements. Leaves you wishing it showed more exuberant personality, not that it’s playing it safely but you just sense it could have been more complex with some effort.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 23:55:35 | More by farrago

Slay40

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -14.9%

05-20-2013 00:39:15 | More by Slay40

Turbo

Minnesota

3.25/5  rDev -14.9%

05-19-2013 22:37:38 | More by Turbo

davesway10

Iowa

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

05-19-2013 11:47:55 | More by davesway10

touchmeimsac

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

05-15-2013 13:08:58 | More by touchmeimsac

jborgschulte

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +11.3%

05-12-2013 12:29:55 | More by jborgschulte

cadaugherty

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

05-09-2013 01:00:16 | More by cadaugherty

civicm87

New York

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

04-16-2013 21:49:45 | More by civicm87

Arsenal0328

Indiana

4/5  rDev +4.7%

04-10-2013 20:55:49 | More by Arsenal0328

billybob

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +11.3%

04-10-2013 14:41:57 | More by billybob

lovindahops

New York

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

03-31-2013 21:10:32 | More by lovindahops

Whiskeydeez

Kansas

3/5  rDev -21.5%

03-27-2013 14:00:02 | More by Whiskeydeez

Jamison85

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

03-26-2013 05:05:58 | More by Jamison85

BGsWo22

New York

3/5  rDev -21.5%

03-20-2013 23:13:47 | More by BGsWo22

PorterLambic

Florida

3.91/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured somewhat aggressively into a Guinness -style glass. A very nice copper color with a lightly tanned head, initially 1 1/2" before dropping to an even film.
Smell is hop forward as expected but with a solid malty sweetness countering it. A light floral note with some roast, even smokiness, to the malt and a whiff of citrus and wheat round out the olfactory end of things.
Taste is a little less hoppy but otherwise a carbon copy of the nose. The roasted/smoky malt hint, the whiff of wheat, it's all there. Well balanced, too.
The only knock is in the body. A bit watery before developing a seriously sticky coating of the upper palate and back of the tongue. Medium bodied at best, lightly effervescent, slightly drying with a citrusy note in the aftertaste that is quite appealing. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 01:56:42 | More by PorterLambic

Herky21

Iowa

4/5  rDev +4.7%

03-13-2013 14:15:03 | More by Herky21

dbossman

Nebraska

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Copper hue with a steady two-inch head; lacing is fantastic

S: Subtle but pleasant citrus hop presence up front with a bit of earthy floral hops in the back--kind of an Americanized British hop bouquet; toffee and caramel malt undertone

T: Such a balanced beer; great hop profile but not overpowering with a bready slightly sweet malt backbone

F: Creamy and yet sticky; this has a slightly chewy texture that works well

O: A really nice Fall seasonal: malty and yet slightly hoppy and crisp and perfect for the changing of the seasons; yet another dandy by GI

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 01:53:19 | More by dbossman

Shankopotamus

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

03-10-2013 21:20:27 | More by Shankopotamus

Aewachiw

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

03-02-2013 00:47:54 | More by Aewachiw

rmarsch

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +17.8%

03-01-2013 03:42:13 | More by rmarsch

jlindsey

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

02-28-2013 16:20:44 | More by jlindsey

dcbeers

District of Columbia

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

02-25-2013 02:38:44 | More by dcbeers

rossm15

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

02-21-2013 06:55:09 | More by rossm15

mfnmbvp

Illinois

2.93/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle. Bottled on date reads 08/30/2012. Got the 12 pack on sale for $6.99. Poured into a Firestone Walker pint glass.

A - Pours a deep reddish copper color with one finger of sizzling off-white head. Tons of bubbles streaming to the top, going crazy. Head settles down to a nice foam with some decent retention. Some decent lacing clinging to the glass.

S - Dusty malts and a vague hop bitterness present. Not a whole lot of action happening on the nose.

T - Very robust crisp malts present. Slight sweetness on the finish. Hop bitterness isn't really present at all on this, except for in the finish.

M - Dry, resinous mouthfeel. Some lingering sticky sweetness hangs out for a while.

Overall, it is nicely bodied with a fair level of carbonation. Not a bad brew, just somewhat on the bland / boring side of things. It would more interesting with some more bitter hop presence for sure. Disappointing, too, is the fact that Goose Island was bought out by AB InBev and is now brewed in Baldwinsville, New York rather than downtown in my home city of Chicago. In accordance with the style, I would prefer the Redhook ESB over this one. Definitely a drinkable and sessionable beer however, with a modest 5.60% abv, although I am glad to have landed this case on sale because this is not something I would want to pay full price for.

Goose Island Harvest Ale ---3/5

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 23:24:48 | More by mfnmbvp

DeanCHS1980

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +4.7%

02-18-2013 01:57:58 | More by DeanCHS1980