India Pale Ale - Goose Island Beer Co.

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A nice, standard American IPA. This one won't blow your socks off, but it's plenty tasty, relatively well-balanced and drinkable IPA. Reminds me off the bat of Wisconsin's Bitter Woman IPA as there's a little biscuity malt mixed in with the hops. Hop flavor is mostly pine with some floral. Worth a try if you like your IPAs on the less-extreme end of the spectrum.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2006 06:01:40 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

At the Brass Rail; it (you know what It is) kicked before I got there - only a sampler glass. This is consolation.

A: The pale ale is golden straw-hued, light and bright. Effervescent, steady streams of bubbles. A thin white head, more beer on that pour.

S: Malty, more balanced that it maybe should be. Hops, especially after It, are clandestine here.

T: Again, the balance. Light breads jump out of the glass on the first sip. That breadiness runs throughout the ale, covering up the hop presence, and is exacerbated when the ale is cold. As it warms, the hops emerge with a mild citrus flavor - not enough to leapfrog over the hops though. Decent but It lingers on my palate. Damn you It!

M: A good pale ale, more reserved (although that fits its English appelation) that I remember my first bottle being.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2012 20:05:22 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Copper orange hue with a big fluffy creamy texture tan orange tinted head leaves fine intricate lacing great head retention, in short a very nice looking brew. Aroma: Strong upfront citrus scented hops with a mild earthiness with biscuit bready sweetness to balance. Taste: Flavors harmonize well but the hops seem to take a timid grasp on the flavor profile warming alcohol and biscuit bready sweetness from the malts take ahold with some shots of bitterness and hop flavor piney citrus notes. All in all nice IPA a bit reserved and more English than American in nature, and it's not like Goose Island tries to hide this fact with the Union Jack flying on the label. Mouthfeel: Medium bodied great texture grabs ahold of the palate nicely glides smoothly down the gullet with an even carbonation unoffensive yet not totally uninteresting. Drinkability: Smooth crisp more balanced IPA very enjoyable I'm a fan.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2004 16:23:47 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly clouded amber with a creme head that doesn't really stick around but leaves lots of evidence (that means lace) on the way down. Nose is very piney and sticky hops. Seems a bit salty as well. Flavor is hoppy of course. Tangy tones rule on this one. Minor bitter hop edge is there as well. Feel is nice. This is a smooth and well balanced IPA. I'd love to see a cask offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2008 02:37:49 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.03/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Poured an orangish golden color with good carbonation leaving a nice soapy white cap, good head e=retention and lacing

S: Sordove sweet and grainy with some bread and grass

T: Initial sweet and bitter, grassy, some soap and bread, the finish is cloyingly sweet, soapy even with a lingering bitterness and aftertaste that is rather obnoxious..soapy/perfumy and grassy

M: Light to medium bodied leans lighter, well carbonated, sordove cloying and hard to deal with

O: Average IPA. The soapy/perfume was a little much.

Serving type: growler

11-17-2012 23:04:59 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Slight chill haze to the light amber liquid. Moderate head with some staying power. Spotty lace.

I really enjoy the fresh floral hop aroma of this beer.

Excellent blend of malt and hop on the initial sip. The swallow and aftertaste are all bitter hop. Full bodied without being too rich. It's a classic example of the Brit IPA genre.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2010 23:45:34 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

3.38/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice clear golden yellow color, nice carbonation, nice foamy head, some nice sticy lacing afterwards. Scents of hops, slight malts, and some citrus. The taste is nice and hoppy with a slightly dry bitter finish, I like. Medium body. Very drinkable, another great beer from GI. Thanks to jhammerly and BuckEyeNation for the trades.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2006 00:13:43 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

2.93/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a two finger cream head that fades quickly to a thin layer leaving some lace. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Cloudy amber color. Nose is light grapefruit hops. Flavor is grapefruit hops with a lingering bitter aftertaste. Malts stay hidden. $1.95 for a 12oz bottle from Colonial Spirits, Acton, MA.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2010 22:14:45 | More by jdhilt

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

(Served in an American pint glass)

A-This beer pours a nice amber crystal clear with a gentle carbonation of tiny bubbles and a small creamy head that lasts.

S- Floral almost perfumy hops with a faint citrus hops.

T- This beer has a nice hops flavor balanced with a slightly roasted malt. Very well balanced but the hops stand strong as the lead player. The hops are almost a pine flavor with some citrus mixed in.

M- medium-full body with a hint of creaminess. No astringency or alcohol warmth.

D- This is a well built beer. It has good hops but not huge hops and the malt is caramelized enough to give it a nice base. Very good for a session beer or a summer grilling' brew. Goose Island really hit a strong beer with this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2005 23:39:44 | More by rhoadsrage

Jason

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 12 oz brown twist off long neck bottle with a “Best When Consumed By” date on the back label.

Appearance: Great lacing effect down the glass with a faintly hazed amber colour, the haze is most likely from the large amount of hops this brew has in it.

Smell: Big sweet hop oil aroma, very flowery with a mildly pungent rind. A touch of malt and alcohol in the nose also.

Taste: Medium body with a moderate carbonation that adds some crispness. Flat out there is a lot of hop flavour going on, lots of fresh hop to narrow it down a bit. Bitterness from the hops in not overwhelming but it makes its mark. Again lots of fresh hop flavours, flavours that would come from dryhopping or the use of a hop back. Maltiness is solid enough and leaves a modest dry malt character that gives a quick flash of lightly toasted malt in the mild. Alcohol is present with a clean estery flavour. The finish is long, dry and certainly hoppy.

Notes: Damn good IPA to be had here, clean on the tongue with lots of hop flavour rather than going overboard with bitterness which rests at a substantial 65 IBUs.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2002 19:55:16 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

4.08/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Happy to find this one still available at the Blind Tiger in NYC, on tap.Poured a light-medium shade of amber, slight haze, off white head and nicely developed lacing. Floral hoppy nose, also plenty of piney hop goodness. This is a well hopped IPA, but its not over the top. The hops are punget and taste very fresh and flavorful, but they do not over power this beer or your taste buds. Well hopped yet still nicely balanced and highly drinkable brew. Smooth, soft mouthfeel. Nice quaffer, seek out and enjoy this one on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2005 10:30:14 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

4.03/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 12/03/12 notes. Had this on tap at the Horseshoe in NYC...have actually never had this before. Served in a pint glass.

a - Pours a clear amber color with one inch of bright white head and moderate carbonation evident. Looks pretty nice.

s - Smells of citrus hops, fruity malts, pine gops, grapefruit, earthy notes. Nice and hoppy, I like the nose alot.

t - Tastes of citrus hops, pine hops, fruity malts, grapefruit, earthy notes, lemon, bready malts. More pine and fruit than the nose; a slight step up from the nose.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation, with no bitter bite to it at all. Quite nice.

o - Overall a very good IPA. Lots of nice citrus, pine, and fruits. Easy to drink and no bitterness, would definitely like to have this one again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2012 17:39:49 | More by mdfb79

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The large rising head slowly catches up with the pour and leaves a nice 2 finger fluffy head in my La Chouffe tulip glass that leaves a nice lacing. Brilliantly clear golden orange color.

N: A nice spicy fresh hop aroma. Some pine, but mostly earthy spicy fresh almost wet hopped aroma. A little bit of a hop oil to add to it. No real malts.

T: The hops don't hit as much at first. It has a slightly sweet and toasty malt flavor at first surprisingly. A nice smooth malt. Then some pale hops start in, English style bitterness. It adds some light earthy chewy hop flavors and a little juicy hop undertone. Slight musty hop flavor, but very light.

M: Decent body with a ton of carbonation.

F: It get more bitter as it finishes but never really gets very bitter. Some earthy spicy hop flavors linger a bit, with that pale flavor. It actually finishes very clean too. Overall a pretty nice balanced IPA, doesn't seem very English style, but has some parts of it, perhaps more of a marriage of English and American basic IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2010 23:15:15 | More by jlindros

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Dan at Gannon's for this...
Appears a hazy orange toned amber with small amounts of CO2 slowly rising to the top. Fluffy white head slowly fades into a mild cap. Nice streaks of lacing.
Smell is of creamy vanilla, orange citrus, delicate spice...kinda like a spiced up orange cream sickle with a touch of earthiness.
Taste is of the above mentioned aromas with an herbal quality that seems to play well together.
Mouthfeel is hoppily spiced and sweet at the front of the tongue leading to a medium bodied balanced brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2006 16:19:49 | More by weeare138

Zorro

California

3.45/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy golden colored brew.

Smell is malty but not strongly so with a sourdough bread smell. Faint citrus hop scent.

Taste is malty with a solid earthy hop flavor that hits your tongue. Faint sourness in here and the after taste is hop bitter.

Mouthfeel is good.

A drinkable balanced IPA that isn't over the top and tuned to please a hophead. This is brewed closer to the British version of the IPA than the American version. Very drinkable

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2005 01:50:23 | More by Zorro

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a clear gold with a nice release of carbonation that yields a solid 1 1/2 fingers of creamy brite-white head. Sturdy thin layer of retention that produces big swathes of lace down the sides of the glass. The aroma is floral hops, pine, citrus, and additional underlyng sweetness.

The taste is subtle resinous hops that are extremely well balanced by citrus character and caramel sweetness. Finishes nicely with a dry, lingering bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation and a bit of an oily feel at times.

An extremely well balanced and tasty IPA from Goose Island. I just wish that I had better access to this, as it would be a staple in my fridge for a quick, hoppy, fix.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2008 17:00:58 | More by Kegatron

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a Goose Island pub pack, always had pretty good brews for the price. Their IPA pours a light amber colour, with some haze and residue in the bottom of the bottle, I think probably from dryhopping. Lots of white head and lots of lacing. Smells very hoppy, kind of like Cascades with a little bit of maltiness but majority is hops. Tastes hoppy as well, with a very pleasant bitterness, a bit of a toffee smoothness to it as well. Very good taste, and quite refreshing. The mouthfeel is nice and smooth, with plenty of carbonation. Drinkability is very high, good for any time of the year, I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2005 23:03:10 | More by Viggo

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer has a very small amount of chill haze evident. Nice light copper tone. Medium bubbly off-white head that is well retained. Very nice grassy and herbal hop nose, which is the result of some hefty dry hopping I would assume. Hops are earthy and perfumey at the same time, if that's possible. Some slight pine tar notes. Malt backbone is evident, but definitely in the background. A nice lingering bitterness makes its presence known long after the drink. I like it. The mouthfeel is lightly carbonated. Body is about medium-full. This isn't one of my elite IPAs, but it is definitely a good effort.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2002 19:58:10 | More by Bighuge

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.64/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A classic Midwest IPA that need not apologize to any geographical interpretation. Citrus aroma, pretty strong. Taste, more citrus, a good amount of woody amberish malt. Perfect strength. Middle of the road IPA, maybe even a great introductory version that doesn't compromise in any area. One of the most balanced IPA's out there.

Mouthfeel, these are more apt to struggle down the stretch, losing the hop and bitter edge, malt begins takeover, but it remains a drinkable beer, because you start back fresh for the first half of the pint. I think those beers that struggle down the stretch may just be the rare blended batch.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2009 00:09:18 | More by Beerandraiderfan

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Max's today.

The beer pours the prototypical IPA honey orange color with good head retention and lacing. Don't get a lot on the nose, just some light citrus with overtones of sweet malt. The beer tastes a bit better on the palate, though if ever there was a "cookie cutter" IPA, this is it. The beer is a bit on the sweet side initially, though it also has some decent bitterness to balance that sweetness. The beer finishes with some nice hoppy bitterness, which helps to counter the sweet malt and slight "graininess." Mouthfeel is medium bodied to light, with fairly clean, moderately bitter finish. Drinkability is good, with the alcohol barely noticeable.

An enjoyable, serviceable, sessionable IPA.... it's nothing special, but is enjoyable enough, and the low 5.9% abv. is something to appreciate.

Serving type: on-tap

05-02-2010 18:02:58 | More by johnmichaelsen

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Pizano's, Chicago, IL

Poured a cloudy straw-yellow with a foamy white head that receded rather quickly. Piney hops in the nose. Similarly, piney hops in the taste with a citrus bite, and some smooth earthy hops in the background, for a pretty decent balance. Not overly bitter or hoppy, but a slightly sweet finish from the malts. Medium mouthfeel; a moderately drinkable selection.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2011 13:46:46 | More by Rifugium

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a lovely bright orange-gold colour, although it was served with very minimal head (which I find a common trend in the US, unfortunately), just a filmy ring of white bubbles, that still left some impressive lacing. I can only imagine the head would have improved this. Good clarity in the body, a few minimal streams of carbonation. Looks pretty good.

Lots of sweet citrus rind / candied orange on the nose, with a good base of sweet, but not sickly malt. Some hints of peach and stonefruit, but a little subdued, and fortunately the sweetness stays clear of the stickier butterscotch type of aromas. Very tasty.

Taste is clear and clean, with a decent bite of hops mid palate. Finish is quite full, with the malt and honey sweetness sticking around for quite a while after the hops have disappeared. Nice round mouthfeel - perhaps the sweetness is a little too cloying, but I can forgive it this minor indiscretion.

A nice IPA, with character. Perhaps on the sweeter end for my tastes - I prefer the riproaringly hoppy or lusciously fragrant west coast style - but a good example all the same.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2009 03:20:42 | More by lacqueredmouse

DoubleJ

California

3.74/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

So what will it be tonight? Juice, water, soda. or...a cold one? I choose...a cold one! This Goose Island product was bottled in New York state on 2/2/13, so it is fresh. Open sesame, on to the beer:

Toasted orange color with a few visible bubbles running through the body. On top sits a semi-creamy patchy head whcih leaves patches of lace around. The aroma is pleasant is on the mark. Moderate hopping by American IPA standards, quite hoppy for an English IPA. The aromas of tangerine, orange, vague grapefruit, and a little grass.

It delivers with the hops. In this India Pale Ale, they make flavors of tropicla fruits (orange, tangerine, grapefruit) and some grasses, which splash nicely on the toffee crisp canvas. It's medium bodied with bubbly carbonation which settles a little as time is elapsed.

Goose Island brings another quality product to the table. Sure, there are more explosive IPA's on the market, but this is one that I would feel comfortable doing as an everyday IPA, considering its not too high alcohol and relatively lower price.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 06:27:39 | More by DoubleJ

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

4.15/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A new packaging, with an all-green beer label~~ BB 06/07/06. Served slightly chilled in a goblet.

A: pours a slightly hazy orangey golden hue, with an effervescent, rocky yet frothy off-white beer head (due to force-pouring), against a very gently-carbonated body.
S: semi-sweet candyish maltiness mixed with exotic fruits, like mixture of sugar-cane juice, ripe lychee, preserved passion-fruit, sweetened citrus fruits (like lime), and a nice depth of flowery esters... reasonably aromatic and not too thick or too much, just the way I like it!
T: medium-bodied, semi-sweet exotic fruits and moderately sweet pale malts upfront, followed by a flow of bittersweet flowery and peachy flavour with a lightly spicy touch, gradually leading to a mildly tannic and gingery finish and plenty of flat-textured hoppy flavour; a tinge of mildly herbal taste sustains down the throat.
M&D: I like the way the lightly spicy texture blends with the medium-strength hoppyness (by American standards) plus a subtly fizzy body, the palate and mouthfeel of this beer is just ideal as a more-ish IPA. Not as big, thick, and complex as many more audacious American IPAs, but I suppose it's like a reasonably flavoursome session beer in America as is a Best Bitter in Britain~~ Nice!

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2005 19:55:59 | More by wl0307

DrJay

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Brilliant medium amber, full white head dissipates somewhat, but has nice lacing. Intense hop aroma, mainly citrus and pine, light maltiness and a hint of alcohol. Strong bitterness after the first sip, but stays well balanced with citrus hop flavour and malt. Slight alcohol warmth. Finishes medium dry. Medium/light body and carbonation, slightly creamy texture. Very nice IPA. Thanks Viggo!

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2005 00:06:24 | More by DrJay