Night Stalker - Goose Island Beer Co.

oberon

North Carolina

4.45/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Pours jet black into a imperial nonic,a frothy mocha colored head atop.An awesome mix of citric hop,chocolate malt,hardwood,and sweet cherries in the nose,a whole lot of good shite goin on.Full on creaminess in the mouth,chewey but smooth,basically perfect in my opinion,it coats but goes down with ease.The hoppiest big stout I have ever had,resiny and woody at the onset,dark fruit and semi sweet chocolate round out the palate,big roast thru the finish.This is everything I expected,just some much good stuff going on,a fantastic beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2010 00:18:43 | More by oberon

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served in a Dogfish Head snifter.

I was expecting a bit more of a foreboding label based on the name. Oh well, the mysteriousness works too, I suppose. The beer pours an opaque black-brown topped by about a finger of tan foam. The nose comrpises a surprising amount of hoppy florals and greenery, with some roasted malts hanging around in the background. This is more of a pale ale's smell than a stout's. The taste holds notes of chocolate syrup, molasses, roasted malts, brown sugar, and, near the end, a strong but still understated bit of hoppy bitterness. Though the bitterness threatens to steer the situation away from impy stout territory, it is restrained enough to allow the stoutness to maintain its dominance. The body is a nice heavy, with light carbonation and a smooth, chewy feel. Overall, a good bit o' brew, but not one I'll necessarily refer to as "great". A good one-timer.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2010 00:45:10 | More by TMoney2591

metter98

New York

4.28/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is jet black in color and poured with a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: There are moderate aromas of licorice, roasted malts and alcohol in the nose.
T: Flavors of dark, roasted malts and licorice dominate the overall taste, which has some notes of malty sweetness.
M: It feels full-bodied on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. The finish has some warming from the alcohol.
D: The beer seems strong but the alcohol is well masked from the taste.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2011 01:59:12 | More by metter98

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Goose Island Nightstalker RIS

Sits sinisterly & stygian in my Maudite balloon snifter, caustic brown ring round the top, gets slim and stays nil to the end.

Aroma: Perversely deep, dark and intense. But not too intense. Espresso and cocoa, molasses and maple, hoppier than you'd guess, well-balanced.

Taste: Hops burst up for a bit, but are overtaken by rich, chocolatey malt. Rather bright, grassy hop flavor sip after sip, just above the dark malt. Every sip it's the same, hmmm, hops, hmmm, dark malt. Funny thing is, I'm starting to not dig that lately. I'd rather not have those kinds of hops with this kind of stout.

Mouthfeel is slick, syrupy, sweet, (after the hops) ...medium-bodied, not too thick, not too rich, just right...and you know what? As we get further in, and it heats up, it warms all corners of the senses....I'm liking it more. The hops and malt are better integrated, the flavor rises and overtakes. Maybe it's the booze talking.

Yeah, it's talking all right. Mmmm, yummy. Took some time to like, but I'm liking it!

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2010 03:54:35 | More by feloniousmonk

drabmuh

Maryland

4.38/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2010 vintage, 03/06/10 date. Beer is black and forms a thin brown head. Some lacing on the glass. Not much in the way of head dynamics but it looks fine.

The aroma is quite hoppy. Also some sweetness and some alcohol. Smells good.

Beer is a little hot. The bitterness in the back is odd. It finishes a little dry overall. Second taste was not as dry or as hot. There is some nice roast in the back and some sweetness up front. The bitterness helps to hold the flavors in your mouth afterward. There is not much of an aftertaste, just flavors that linger. The carbonation in the palate is good as well. I really like this beer. I would recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2010 01:38:00 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Thanks to mar for sharing this bottle. I have been looking forward to it.

The beer pours dark brown to black with a brown head. The aroma is coffee and roasted malts with some piney hops. The flavor is more of the same with the coffee and malts being overshadowed by the strong hopping. Medium, very creamy mouthfeel and low carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2010 22:49:55 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

4.33/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out an opaque, jet black color with a late developing one-finger head of tan foam. It left sticky rings of lace.

S - It smelled of roasted malt, chocolate and vanilla. There were even some fruity notes.

T - It tasted of chocolate and strong roasted malt flavors. There were mild vanilla flavors with some fruity (cherry?) flavors.

M - It was crisp, sharp and very smooth. A medium to full bodied ale.

D - This is a really good brew from Goose Island. I'm glad they crabked out an Imperial Stout.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2010 02:39:41 | More by zeff80

MasterSki

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this on-tap at Goose Island - Wrigleyville while working on my new string quartet. Served in a GI Reserve glass.

A - One finger of slow-dissipating dark tan foam that leaves some solid lacing. Black, but with maybe a hint of dark, dark, chocolate brown to it, and some reddish-brown highlights at the fringe of the glass. Could have used a little more volume of head, but otherwise very handsome.

S - Reminiscent of a black IPA (a la Sublimely Self-Righteous/Stone XI), but a little more muted off the pour. The amarillo dry hopping is obvious and lends a lot of floral and tropical hoppiness, but there's also plenty of coffee, chocolate, dark fruit, and caramel maltiness to it. It's delicious, but I wish it was a little more "live" and jumped out of the glass a little more (I even let it warm up quite a bit).

T - The taste is certainly more lively, but definitively less complex. There's a lot more roastiness and chocolate up front, whereas the floral hops kick in a little later. Bitter aftertaste, but I can't tell if it's from the roasted coffee flavors or the dry-hopping - thankfully it's mild and definitely not unpleasant.

M - Really sticky - reminds me of BCS (it is the base beer after all!), but not quite as dense. Good lively carbonation, but not too much. More stout than Imperial stout, but still quite pleasant.

D - This is 11.7%? Really? I can't taste it, although after a half-glass I can definitely feel a slight tingling buzz setting in. Definitely more drinkable than BCS, as it's nowhere near as boozy and intense.

I don't like this quite as much as BCS (which I identify as the quintessential dessert beer), but it's still really terrific. Not sure about those Darkness comparisons - I just had that down the street at Risque and Darkness was much more impressive in smell and taste. Still, it's nice to see GI shaking things up and not resting on their laurels.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2009 21:55:09 | More by MasterSki

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Purchased this beer while visiting in Chicago, the vintage was 2011.

The beer poured out as a motor oil black color with a thick brown head on top. The retention is minimal and so was the lacing but the beer coats the glass with every swirl or sip you take. The smell of the beer is boozy, it's heavily roasted and sweet smelling too. There is also a good hop aroma in there as well which is impressive for a beer that is over a year old. The taste is very nice, big amounts of malt and hops, it's got chocolate and boozy vanilla in there too. There is bitterness of some coffee in there too. The mouthfeel is thick, it's oily and smooth with a moderate carbonation to it. Overall this beer was very good, it was well worth the price in my opinion. One of the best I've had from Goose Island for sure.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 14:11:40 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.35/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Got this from PEBCAK, cheers Adam! Per Adam's suggestion I've let this warm up!

Pours a ruddy mahogany with 2 fingers of fluffy mocha colored head. Good lacing & some head retention

Slight bubble gum twang there up front, then brown sugar & brownie notes as this warms.

T: Boozey, oak & mocha, & hints of rubber bands & leafy hops up front. Vanilla, oakyness & bitter sweet chocolate dominate as this warms. This beer screams for a brownie or three... Cherry & bourbon notes are prominent as this finishes, with gooey chocolate & a kiss of coffee, too mouch booze & some weird fruittyness prevents a 5.0, but I can learn to love all that...

MF: Creamy/chewy with some biting carbonation, Becomes super rich as this warms

Drinks pretty easy, but too complex & warming to session on..

Serving type: growler

06-27-2009 04:08:17 | More by russpowell

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.65/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bottle Date of 3 6 10 0900; Sampled April 2010
A solid pour yields a four-finger thick, darkly browned head. The beer is a rich, opaque, black color. Wow, the aroma is incredibly hoppy, surprisingly so for even an American Imperial Stout. Aromas of tangelo zest, lychee, ripe tropical fruit and just a juicy, hop fruitiness. The dark malts take a back seat in the aroma, something I find amazing in an imperial stout; if you dig for it though there are notes of bitter cocoa, ample toasted whole grain crackers and only a hint of roasted grain. Chocolate malt character becomes more noticeable as the beer warms, but it doesn't remotely compete with ample, aggressively smooth, super hop character packed into this beer. The aroma seems to define the perfect character for a Dark IPA (really a double version).

Smooth and viscous feeling as it first hits my tongue with a complex dark malt sweetness, quickly, as it rolls across my tongue an ample hop character of tropical fruit, ripe tangelo zest, big lychee and kumquat flavors become noticeable. The beer finishes with a bitterness that isn't overly big for such a huge beer; much of it comes from a bitter roast malt character, but most of it is from a smooth hop bitterness. The finish has a herbal, essential citrus oil edge to it as well that I wouldn't quite say is astringent, but does contribute to the overall balance of the beer along with the bitterness. Dark cocoa flavors couple with notes of roasted espresso, some burnt pine-tar notes and really, just a rich, complex, dark malt character. The hops have a way of making this big beer drink a little smaller than it actually is, which is definitely nice, but is probably a bit dangerous in a beer this size. The chocolate and coffee-liquor like malt character becomes more noticeable as the beer warms ups, though it still can't compete with the smooth, but still loud malt character.

What a fantastic beer, I knew it was going to be hoppy, but I had no idea that this would be so hop dominated. I really dig this beer, and it reminds me of fresh Yeti, a beer I haven't had in years. So incredibly smooth and I really like how the aggressive hop character has completely dominated this big roasted beer so thoroughly. The ample hop fruitiness is so smooth and juicy. This is fantastic because it is so hoppy, what a pleasant surprise.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2010 16:33:56 | More by Gueuzedude

emerge077

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottled 02/19/10

Inky black with an ample dollop of slowly rising foam. It has that reverse cascade effect, that builds underneath the head, generating bubbles that compact into about a finger or so of mocha-tinged foam. A sheet of tan lace adheres to the inside of the glass.

Aroma is sweet, a little fruity with hints of plum and deep roasted malts, coming off like chocolate christmas cookies with a touch of unknown spice.

Rich, velvety feel, residual hop bitterness meshes well with the deep roast in the finish. Molten chocolate, the dark bittersweet kind, hot gooey brownies, and fruity plum notes integrate well, creating a nice level of complexity. There's some sort of spice in there too, which comes across like clove or nutmeg, which could be from the hops. They are just starting to recede, not quite as bitingly bitter as when fresh.

Very smooth, sticky on the lips, and deceptive for 11.7%. This is far more drinkable than Bourbon County, but I love them both the same.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2010 01:15:29 | More by emerge077

Gavage

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: pours a black color with a short dark tan colored head that dissipates quickly.

Smell: loads of roasted malts, dark chocolates, and alcohol are detecteable here.

Taste: roasted malt, dark chocolates, some coffee, prunes, pine, and some citrus provide a nice complex imperail stout. Bitterness is big and the alcohol is very warming.

Mouthfeel: heavy in body. Smooth at the start, smooth and velvety late with a long dry aftertaste.

Overall: very slow sipping beer - this one lasted a long time. Deep flavors get better as it warms. Really worth seeking this one out.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 23:39:13 | More by Gavage

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a bomber from Princeton's for under $10 - a very reasonable price for such a strong and delicious beer. I'm not easily impressed by this style, but this beer surprised me. It was a fresh (albeit fruity) take on a type of beer I often find lacking in diversity.

The aroma opened with a big hit of black licorice that subsided into the fruity and roasted character. There was a full of a wide range of fruity flavors, from berries and melon to citrus grapefruit. That was backed up by big molasses and chocolate with a bitter roasted finish. Considering how delicious GI's Bourbon County Stout is, I've got to say these guys really have imperial stouts dialed in. It's thick, but drinkable for the strength. Heck of a beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2010 21:06:49 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to seanboley for bringing this to the Brass Rail.

A: The stout is necessarily black, an event horizon swallowing all light in the vicinity. A tan-colored head, rather short, lingers around without lacing.

S: The aroma caught me by surprising. I was expecting sweeping landscapes of burnt malts. Instead, a pungent hoppiness emerged. Citrus, very strong and sweet, grabs hold early. The intense hops, possibly the most intense for any double or imperial stout that I've had, are fantastic. A melange of tropical fruits mixing with roasted malts.

T: Again with the hops. The sharp bitterness, orange and pine and grapefruit, is first to register. The hops aren't overbearing, a surprisingly good fit amongst the malts. What follows the hoppiness is quite nice too, chocolate, cocoa, nuts and burnt toast all in a row. The stout isn't scorched, instead the flavors are sweet and moist. The chocolate is a lasting flavor.

M: The mouthfeel is very smooth, never too well done (as many stouts can be). The dry hopping is inspired.

D: It never felt like 12% (or thereabouts). I didn't know what I'd been missing.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2010 11:08:27 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

5/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a viscous dark black destroyer of all visible light rays hue with a a tan mocha head forming nice and thick, thin speckled lacing that's to be expected at this alcohol by volume right?

Aromatics present to me a strong undermining hop assault complete with dark roasted malt, soy sauce, and dark chocolate roasts. Very green dry hopped approach for a stout but I'm enjoying the rebellion from the norm. I get the dark stuff going on but the green herbal mint leaf hops over riden the average dark imperial stout.

Flavor contains creamy menthol tones with dark chocolate and rich anise black licorice accents. This beer is complex and bitingly bitter with herbal leafy mint ridden hop flavors that I enjoy in the mix of dark espresso, soy sauce saltiness, and rich warming alcohol notes. A bit of plum and dark chocolate dance together with the lingering alcohol flavors, complex and rich American Double Stout.

Mouthfeel is full on full bodied in the best possible way, carbonation is mellow but carries the beer well. One of the best stouts I've come across in the last 5 years. Hop burps in the back of the nares come correct along with a soothing alcohol burn.

Drinkability is wonderful yes, I want more. I think I can drink more, and if I had more I would age more bottles this stuff is rockin', a bad ass American Double Stout from Chitown bring me more. Actually I will have to go back to Columbus, Ohio at Bodega where I procured this fine bottle. Both this and the Brooklyn Sorachi Ace ale were eyein' me up, great place please come again folks. If you haven't been there get to know it when in Ohio.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2010 03:37:50 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours black with a thin tan head. Nose is seeming like a fruity thing at first but then it morphs to a slightly roasted tone. Then I get a tar thing as well. Flavor is thick and hearty. Lots and lots of malty body to it. Minor roasted tones. Yet that sweet malty stout character lingers in the back. I am leaving it out to warm up and see how it matures with a temperature climb. THe liquid body of this is extremely thick. I mean we're talking pretty viscous here. I have seen comments on how Dark Lord is quite thick and I am wondering how that bottle in my cabinet will compare to this. Carbonation is minimal, yet still slightly attacking on the mouth. Interesting. Definitely a sincere endeavor by Goose Island. Better than Bourbon County Stout? Hmmm. I would have to say no as of this moment. However this is an early draft version, so I am quite willing to try future bottlings in order to compare.

P.S. The booze really kicks in quick on this one.

Serving type: growler

06-01-2009 04:33:50 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured a jet black with good carbonation and a nice brown head

S: Cocoa, coffee, roasted malt and some booziness

T: Has a smooth chocolate creaminess, some coffee, roasted malt, sharp booze sting

M: Pretty smooth, medium to heavy body, smooth and robust

D: Good

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2010 04:12:55 | More by barleywinefiend

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a snifter) bottled on 02/19/10 04
A- This beer has a jet black body with a thick light tan head that last for a good bit.
S- The green hop pellet aroma gives way to dark chocolate malt with some char notes aroma with a slight sweetness to the aroma.
T- This beer has a big roasted black malt with a slight herbal note to the bitter roasted char finish. The soft cola notes and a slight sweetness with a hint of prunes come through as it warms. This beer turns a bit more inky as the beer warms.
M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a warm alcohol heat.
D- This beer has a smooth but big roasted malt flavor that needs something to balance it like a barrel. The hops are present but not full enough to support the big malt.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2010 22:30:20 | More by rhoadsrage

Wasatch

Utah

4.35/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks goes out to cavedave for this brew.

22oz. Bomber
Bottled On: 03/06/10

Poured into a chalice a very nice thick black color, nice carbonation, quick fizzy tan head, with does leave some nice sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, lots of chocolate/toffee, some roasty notes. The taste is sweet, malty, nice chocolate/toffee notes, licorice. Full/Medium body, ABV hidden pretty well. Very Drinkable, WOW! what a tasty brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2010 00:08:58 | More by Wasatch

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Gotta thank paco1029384756 for getting me this early, before it showed up here.

A: Pours a huge 2+ finger thick, rich and dark head that fades slower than molasses, but no lacing. The beer itself is as black as the moonless fogged covered night sky.

N: Pretty rich in malts, lots of coffee and roast. Some acidity and lots of dark rich malt aromas, bitter stout like charred malt aromas, some sweet chocolate and nuggat, and a touch of booze. Overall a little too light on the aroma though.

T: Very thick and rich, somewhat chocolatey. Tons of malts, and marshmellow like taste. Lots of roast and a little coffee. Pretty thick and smooth, actually feels like fluff in the mouth. SOme warming booze and touch of burning alc but normal for almost 12%. Sweet caramel and nuggat, very much like a candy bar. Some bitterness from the roasty charred malts and hints of piny hops.

M: Super thick and rich, smooth, marshmellow like, with decent carbonation.

F: BItter, the piny, earthy hops and tons of roasted dark malt flavors give it a lot of bitterness. Some sticky sweetness on the finish with more caramel, nuggat, and marshmellow. Chocolate is also just a little bit. It's pretty tasty with a sweet candy bar like flavor. It does drink pretty well though for 12%.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2010 01:33:45 | More by jlindros

mdfb79

New York

3.78/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 3/27 notes.

a - Pours a dark brown color with no head and little carbonation.

s - Strong piney hops smell. Also some citrus hops to it. Does not really smell like a stout to me but more like a DIPA.

t - Taste is again piney and citrusy hops. Some bitterness as well.

m - Medium to full body with moderate carbonation.

d - I thought this was pretty good, but can't believe it's a stout. It's completely different than what I was expecting. Lots of citrus and piney hops, would try again.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2010 02:36:30 | More by mdfb79

Billolick

New York

4.33/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bomber, bottled on 2-19-10 according to the label. Huge, bold, tasty double stout. Waves of dark coffee, dark chocolate, as well as more then ample levels of piney and quite drying hops. So to review, loads of dark malts, laden with chocolate and coffee notes. Rich, chewy and complex. Get a knife and fork out and enjoy this one as a big and bold nightcapper or with a double chocolaty dessert.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2010 00:07:15 | More by Billolick

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle purchased at Yankee Spirits, Sturbridge, MA.

Poured into a Chimay chalice, formed a 1/4" dark brown head over the opaque dark brown/black brew. Head is promptly down to a skim layer of froth, with slow-falling lace. Aroma is chocolatey, with a hint of pine hops.

Taste also starts with chocolate, then goes dark fruits in the middle, with bitterness and alcohol at the close. Closing flavors linger, not altogether pleasantly. Mouthfeel is velvety, but a bit rough at the close, and drinkability is a bit quashed. An alright beer that goes a bit too far and ends up somewhat harsh.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2010 02:10:01 | More by ppoitras

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle into a snifter.

Pours an inky black out of the bottle, with about 1 ½ fingers of rich dark mocha head. This stays very frothy around the edges, throwing a big creamy cascade of thick foam and brown oils all up on the sides of the glass. The aroma is full and robust feeling in the nose, with rich notes of chocolate, molasses, crunchy smelling black coffee, and smoky roasted malt. I'm also getting a big whiff of that dry-hopping, with plenty of earth, citrus, and lighter feeling resins that are all showing themselves rather boldly.

The taste literally drips in the mouth, with the sticky warmth of chocolate fudge, caramel, burnt molasses, and a touch of darker fruit character. Blackened roasted and coffee really gives this a dense and sharp blackness to the profile. The hops really give this an assertive bite of spice, pine, and leafy green citric character. As strong as the hops are, there is still a certain amount of denseness to the profile that allows more of the flavor from them to meld into the dark and sticky sweetness of the malts but without putting out a distracting amount of bitterness. Quite the intense finish on this too, with a load of blackened bitterness, spice, and dry resins all just sticking the back of the throat. The mouthfeel is full bodied, with a huge firm creaminess to it that unfolds as the liquid first enters your mouth. This then gives way to a thick and chewy layer that holds all of those rich decadent flavors. A big heady feel from the ABV is present but it never becomes stinging with alcohol at any point and actually feels welcome here, as it fits in right along with the all around hugeness of the profile.

The aggressive dry-hopping was very evident here and seemed much more forward than what I remembered this being on draft at the Clybourn location last year. I liked the extra flavor that it brought to the table for the most part but I think that I preferred when more of that dark malty goodness was front and center as well. Either way, this is still a killer Imperial Stout from Goose Island.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2010 16:07:31 | More by Kegatron