Mild Winter - Goose Island Beer Co.

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

4.18/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Clear ruby red with a few fingers of tan head that stay fluffys for quite some time.

S - Bready malts, slight mix of biscuit, caramel and toffee, nutty with some spicy rye.

T - Nutty, fresh baked bread and spicy rye.

M - On the light side of medium with good carbonation. Soft and velvety on the tongue.

D - A great session beer. I have gone through several 12 packs already. An easy drinker with a nice rye twist.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2008 00:02:15 | More by brewcrew76

tjkurz

Wisconsin

3.83/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours deep ruby copper thin head some lacing. At first can smell some malt - caramel. Deep sniff reveals hints of fresh rye - other wise smells of dregs. Tastes carmel malty up front with hoppy bitter finish earthy smokey wet aftertaste. Very drinkable lighter mouthfeel for the flavor. The further down the glass the better I like this beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2008 22:39:59 | More by tjkurz

b3barron

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +11%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured into a Rowland's pint glass.

A - An aggressive pour yields a small, bubbly off-white head with little retention. Light amber color.

S - Very earthy with caramel malt and a nice but subtle herbal hop aroma. Smells of toasted dark bread.

T - Lightly toasted malt up front. Rye bread and herbal, earthy hop flavor. Finishes dry which rounds out this beer nicely IMO.

M - Rather light bodied with a good amount of carbonation.

D - Extremely drinkable. I picked this up last night looking for a session beer for when I tire of IPAs. This really does the trick. I could easily drink a 6 pack and would if I didn't have to hop on a train soon.

It is a straightforward beer but very well-balanced and a low ABV means there is good chance I will be seeking this out again.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2008 21:11:07 | More by b3barron

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very rusty amber color and an even two finger head that recedes to a thin filmy foam. Not much bubbling and no lacing, but a good color. Very mild toasted malts give a faint hint of Polish rye bread. The hops add a few sprigs of mint to this beer's aroma. Toasted caramel and crystal malts make up more than 50% of this beers favor. There is a good hops presence though. Adds some herbal, even earthy hints and a little astringency to this session beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2008 04:44:49 | More by scruffwhor

tmoneyba

Ohio

4/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by shigadeyo.

Pours a clear dark brown color with an average frothy off-white head that mostly lasted with good lacing. Moderate roasted malt and rye aroma. Medium body with a smooth texture and soft carbonation. Medium roasted bittersweet flavor with a medium bitter finish of moderate duration.

Good drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2008 13:38:28 | More by tmoneyba

homebrewhawk

Kansas

3.68/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz brown bottle served in a shaker pint. Poured a pale brown/amber with a finger of off white head. Aroma of cocoa and a bit of hops. Fairly malty with some chocolate malt. Spritzy mouthfeel, plenty of carbonation. A fresh hop flavor. I didn't realize the rye aspect of the beer as I was drinking, maybe I should read the bottle. Definitely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2008 03:14:09 | More by homebrewhawk

malty

Michigan

4/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled on 11-03-08

Pours a pretty reddish-amber with a loose 1/4" off-white head. Visible large bubbly carbonation visible. Little thin sheets of lace.

Fresh scents of lightly toasted malt with a mineral-like 'wet stone' smell also. Smells very clean.

The flavor IS very clean. The lightly roasted malt is apparent with that good ol' spice only rye malt can deliver. The spice from the rye could even be interpreted as a hop presence, more so in the dryness than the flavor.

Mouthfeel is just a little past light bodied but not quite mid-medium bodied. The carbonation is perfect and the dry & spicy finish is very good.

Drinkability is way high. There's nothing not to love about the cleanliness and low-impact character of this brew.

Overall a very good session beer with a nice spicy 'tink' with a hint of toastiness. The dry and spicy element is well balanced, making this a delight to drink.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2008 00:49:52 | More by malty

tburkhart

Ohio

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

Courtesy of raznug.

Pours a light copper with trace amounts of carbonation. Thin layer of head that sits nicely on the top.

Smells of rye and slight spice.

Taste heavy of rye in my opinion. No hops to be found anywhere in a 5 mile radius of this beer.

An average beer from Goose Island. Personally, I'm not impressed.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2008 23:44:01 | More by tburkhart

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.28/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I picked up a 6-pack for about $7 at Palmers Beverage in Columbus. The beer is very clear copper color with a thick "yeast-cake" head. The smell is sort of neutral, I guess about what I'd expect for a mild beer with some rye, with some roasted malt in the background. The taste is very nice, zest spicy bite from the rye, not too excessive, good counterbalance with some sweetness from the malts. The body is a little more carbonated than a cask ale while retaining the smooth mouthfeel I associate with casks. This is a great beer from Goose Island, hopefully to become a regular seasonal release.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2008 19:38:12 | More by TurdFurgison

david131

Michigan

3.85/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- A deep orange/ light brown liquid. The head is white and kind of thin, but the lacing isn't bad. Not a bad looking winter beer.

S- Some rye, caramely malt, kind of oaty. Mild is a good word for it. Maybe a little bit of citrus rind in there.

T- The smell does not really set you up for how this tastes. The aspects of the aroma are all there, but they blend very well together and it works really well. A little bit of vanilla.

M- A very creamy beer. Very appealing.

D- I was not really expecting much from this one. But this is a really nice winter beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2008 02:50:22 | More by david131

Gehrig

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Chestnut brown with burnt orange highlights supports two dense fingers of slightly tan froth, with good duration eliciting a good first impression. I like the flavors that emerge in the smell, but it's rather faint--hazelnut, ginger, and fruit. The taste is much better than the aroma, full of hazelnut, cherry, ginger, and coriander. Malt dominates, but citrus hops protrude now and then to provide a fine balance. The rye malt provides a sweet-and-sour taste, making this a distinct rye winter warmer. Creamy smooth but with good hop flavor and texture, this is sure to please and easy to enjoy.

Excellent beer, and I'm glad I bought extras.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2008 23:34:06 | More by Gehrig

SiphonKing

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a ruby orange color with plenty of carbonation. Nutty roasted aroma. Tastes of malt, nuttiness, slight roast character. Slight dryness on the palate due to the rye in this beer. A good beer overall and with such a low alcohol creates a nice session beer. A good mild offered by Goose.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2008 20:36:24 | More by SiphonKing

crayphish

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This brew is as advertised; a mild flavored. It pours a slightly hazed orange copper. A scant head dissipates quickly leaving only nominal lacing. Smell is faint sweet malt base with a slight twang of sharp rye and a touch of floral hop note. Taste has more of the rye twang and hop aspect while the bready malt takes a back seat. Mouthfeel is a bit full and chewy. With a low ABV and subdued flavors this brew can definitely be sessioned.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2008 18:13:40 | More by crayphish

iasanlee

Nebraska

4.3/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear orange caramelly color. An off white creamy head quickly dissipates.

Brilliant aroma. Delicate roast, caramel, and nutty aroma is complimented by traces of chocolate. Very faint hops, flowery and spicy. Aroma is very mild and pleasant. Wonderful.

Malty. More roast, caramel, and nutty, as well as a toastiness dominates. Light hop flavor is flowery. Moderate hop bitterness is followed by a roasty dry finish.

Medium-light in body with a mild creamy carbonation. Roasty dryness lingers on the tongue.

Drinkability is this beers middle name. I am very impressed with the malt profile of this offering. Tastes somewhere between an English Mild and an American Brown. I could definitely drink this one regularly.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2008 07:57:55 | More by iasanlee

Goliath

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear copper color with a large one inch off white head. Good retention and some spotty lace.

The aroma is weak and slightly boring. Overall, it's got a sweet demeanor with some fruity esters and some biscuit notes. The nose doesn't really hint at it being a rye beer. Hopefully the taste can remedy that.

The taste is decent. The name is apropriate, because it's a pretty mild beer. The rye is simple, and easily the showcase. So, this malt forward beer gives a decent bit of grain, with a little bit of bread and oats. Not a ton going on here, but really enjoyable nonetheless and very drinkable.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with plenty of fine carbonation. Really soft feeling.

Drinkability is high. It's a tasty beer, approachable, and enjoyable. A mild rye, can't really complain about that.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2008 22:46:31 | More by Goliath

kels

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Found this in the singles section on accident during a recent beer run to the Party Source in Bellevue. Really glad I happened upon it. Poured from the bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: This beer looks delicious to me. I know everybody's got their standards, and some like 'em cloudy. This is not at all. It's clear with carbonation running throughout. Gorgeous caramelly, coppery brown color with a 1 finger thick, foamy tan head. If I didn't know any better, I might think it were root beer or cola, of which I am also quite the connoisseur:)

Smell: The smell is comparatively light compared to other rye ales, but I guess maybe this is classified more as a "mild ale brewed with rye" according to the label. I smell some light malts and something that honestly hits me as salty.

Taste/Mouthfeel: For such a clear beer, the mouthfeel is tremendously creamy and smooth thanks to the head. It pours small, but it really holds throughout the drink, leaving thick rings of lacing without stickiness on the palate. The taste is really quite good - better than I was expecting from the overall score. It is very well balanced between the malts and hops, with a warming bitterness and crisp finish. There is a slight peppery tone and a saltiness as in the smell - though that could just be the smell I am tasting. The rye gives a nice earthy taste that works well with the caramel of the hops. The alcohol is only slightly present in the aftertaste and it is more reminiscent of crisp fruit, like apples or hard pears, than of alcohol.

Drinkability: Give me another!

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2008 00:38:48 | More by kels

Morbo

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a slightly hazy light brown with copper at the edges and a small, white, foamy head.

The nose is spicy rye, some nuttiness, and a hint of herbal hops on top of a caramel malt foundation.

Doughy, nutty, and mildly sweet. Rye spiciness comes through nicely without being overpowering. There is a touch of smoke and just a bit of tea-like hops in the finish.

Medium bodied with a nice creamy mouthfeel and a dry finish that urges you on to take another sip.

Incredibly smooth and sessionable. I can't think of a goose island six pack I would rather drink.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2008 05:57:54 | More by Morbo

BMoney575

Michigan

3.85/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sampled on 12-3-08
Bottled on 11-3-08

Pours a hazy light brown, with a white head that doesn't last very long.

Smell is lots of rye, almost peaty but not too earthy. Sweet and meaty, light but not adjuncty.

Taste is light and bready, the rye is right up front, with a very aromatic quality. The finish is sweet and slick, with almost no hop character.

Mouthfeel is great, not too carbonated to cover up the flavors.

Drinkability is very good, this is a great choice for a flavorful session beer.

Overall, a surprisingly good beer for being so simple. A little on the sweet side, but extremely easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2008 00:55:10 | More by BMoney575

inhoc00

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Mild winter here in Chicago just in time for some shitty winter...weather.

A- Pours a dark amber to brown with a fair head and minimal retention.

S- Light maple with a bit rye and a very similar yeasty strain to that of Bell's Xmas?

T- Very light hops add to the original smell characteristics. Its good. Nothing too original but good.

M- Slightly creamy with little carbonation.

D- This is a definite session. Kind of wierd that they made this a winter seasonal. Its a GOOD beer. I will have several watching the Bears, but nothing really complex here.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2008 01:44:34 | More by inhoc00

marcobrau

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Plenty of carbonation from this beer forms a white head that falls somewhat quickly leaving little bits of lace down the sides of the glass. There certainly is rye in this beer, as it shows up in the nose. The rye flavor is dominant, too. There are some background notes of caramel and spice; perhaps a touch of anise, but maybe that's just more of the rye. Feels much lighter bodied than it's alcohol content suggests. The rye shows up in the finish, too, which is laced with a potent enough somewhat minty bitterness that builds and is stretched out longer with each sip. Very drinkable and refreshing on a winter's day.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2008 02:51:24 | More by marcobrau

paco1029384756

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice ruby color with a small white head.

Scent of bready malts, maple syrup, rye, subtle hops and some spices.

Taste of tea, bready malts, burnt sugar and a hint of smoke in the finish. I enjoyed this one, it's not really heavy or overpowering, a nice one to sit and relax with.

Mouthfeel is light with a slight bite.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2008 20:57:54 | More by paco1029384756

SammyDavisJrJrJr

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From a sample bottle dropped off today. Bottled on date was 10/31/08. Into the Two Brothers pint glass...

A - Light brown body with three fingers of head that left very attractive lacing. Good retention.

S - Rye is nice and spicy, very present in the aroma. Molasses and caramel sweetness are complimented by esters and a perfume hoppyness.

T - The entry contains nice caramel sweetness, with almond nuttiness and a nice toasted quality to the malt. The rye spiciness hit me immediately, and grew as I approached the swallow. Just a bit of balancing hops in the finish, leaving a nice, spicy and bready finish.

M - Plenty full, with very mild carbonation.

D - This is impressive. I hope it tastes this good with a little bit of time in the bottle. In a season full of spiced beers, it was very refreshing to try a beer going in a different direction. Everything a wonderfully balanced, with a nice, rich traditional malt complexity. Look forward to seeing this everywhere as the new winter seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2008 05:21:08 | More by SammyDavisJrJrJr