Pepe Nero - Goose Island Beer Co.

Frosty80

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Color: pours brown with golden highlights. sits dark brown with light brown rim and a thin mocha head that disappears quickly.

Smell: lots of coriander followed by citrusy/tropical fruit/spicy Belgian yeast esters. subtle roast character as well. the peppercorns sadly dont come through much

Taste: the flavors teeter a bit throughout the pallet. one second you can detect the fruitiness and coriander/spiciness, then next youre getting a roast character with a light astringency. again, the peppercorns dont come through a whole lot. finish is slightly dry with coriander, light fruit and a hint of roast and a tinge of smoke

Mouthfeel: medium body with medium carbonation

Notes: more obvious peppercorn would have really made this brew great. otherwise its just ok. this whole blackening of pale beers isnt my thing - there is too much of a negating factor going on. not a bad beer, just nothing great

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 04:00:13 | More by Frosty80

NormLobstah

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%

05-25-2013 03:40:21 | More by NormLobstah

mulliwater

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%

05-25-2013 03:38:53 | More by mulliwater

RyanCave

Virginia

3.86/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: Black, not pitch black, you can see a small amount of light through it when you hold it up to a lamp. small bubble thick head
S: Roasty, Malty, Wild Yeast, coffee, I get hints of Riesling wine..
T: Coffee, hint of tobacco, small amount of licorice, smoky, malty sweet, funky yeast
M: not too viscous, well carbonated
O: This was a very good beer, not as "saisony" as I expected, more roasty and malty than anything else. overall not a bad beer, I'd drink it again but I wouldn't seek it out

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 21:55:20 | More by RyanCave

superspak

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 12/20/2011. Pours hazy and cloudy very dark reddish brown color with a nice 2-3 finger foamy khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice dense foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a good amount of streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of big raisin, prune, fig, apple, clove, pepper, molasses, dark candi sugar, toast, light roast, light smoke, and yeast earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/spicy esters with big malt presence; and good strength. Taste of raisin, fig, apple, pepper, clove, toast, molasses, roasted malt, dark candi sugar, light smoke, and yeast earthiness. Lingering notes of dark fruit, pepper, clove, molasses, toast, roasted malt, and earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Damn nice complexity of fruity/spicy yeast esters with a great dark malt balance; and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a fairly slick, crisp, and lightly prickly mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an excellent black saison style. All around nice complexity and balance of fruity/spicy ester notes with dark malt flavors; and very smooth and crisp to drink. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 04:06:40 | More by superspak

CAMRAhardliner

Ontario (Canada)

4.14/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

765ml bottle purchased at the LCBO for $12.95.. a bit steep. Alcohol is listed as 6.4%.

Pours into a Chimay chalice an intriguing dark brown veering on black with a rocky tan head that dissipates too quickly. Dried fruit, demerara sugar and a bit of cocoa in the nose. Apples, lemon, cherry, fruit esters, fresh mown hay and nutty dark malts all mix in the complicated, sweet taste. Hops are quite restrained throughout. The mouthfeel is lighter bodied than the appearance let on, with a moderate carbonation level.

This is a nice beer, sort of a style bender. I'd say its worth a try if you're a fan of Belgian Dark Ales. It veers away from Saison territory quite a bit. Still worth a try for sure.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 02:30:17 | More by CAMRAhardliner

RedAleMan

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev 0%

05-23-2013 01:00:14 | More by RedAleMan

Jade

Ohio

2.25/5  rDev -40%

05-23-2013 00:55:55 | More by Jade

ackeeper

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev 0%

05-21-2013 01:33:47 | More by ackeeper

CanisMajor

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%

05-20-2013 22:27:11 | More by CanisMajor

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev 0%

05-20-2013 16:22:01 | More by InspectorBob

craftbrew502

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +6.7%

05-20-2013 00:55:20 | More by craftbrew502

davesway10

Iowa

4/5  rDev +6.7%

05-19-2013 11:49:53 | More by davesway10

GreesyFizeek

New York

4.25/5  rDev +13.3%

05-18-2013 20:59:57 | More by GreesyFizeek

jono0101

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev +13.3%

05-18-2013 16:31:26 | More by jono0101

Emkehr

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%

05-17-2013 17:19:51 | More by Emkehr

breakingbland

Michigan

3.59/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle marked as "04/28/11 0149" into a tulip.

This beer gave a lively pour with a persistent one-finger, medium tan foamy head. Below the head, the beer itself is an opaque black/brown in the glass.

The aroma is a sweet funk (bubblegum?) with practically no hops.

Predominating is a slightly sweet chocolate taste, followed by a somewhat astringent black coffee taste as it goes down. A very slight bitterness lingers. Overall, the flavor profile is fairly simple but with a very deep character.

This beer has a very full mouthfeel: Good body and a pleasant level of carbonation.

Overall, this was a fun beer to drink. I didn't realize initially that I was drinking a 2-year old aged beer. I'd definitely look for this one again. Another winner from the Goose.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 11:09:50 | More by breakingbland

schaffer9252

New York

4.25/5  rDev +13.3%

05-16-2013 22:17:59 | More by schaffer9252

TheMultiYeast

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled: 05/22/12

Nearly black with a big khaki head and some spotty lacing.

Aroma is dry, peppery, musty. Some raisin and rye malt shine through. Interesting yeast character.

Similar to nose, black pepper, more yeast quality, some bitterness, dryness.

Supremely dry after a year. Lively carbonation.

Very interesting dark saison. Enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 02:31:53 | More by TheMultiYeast

avschmitt

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%

05-15-2013 19:25:21 | More by avschmitt

civicm87

New York

4.5/5  rDev +20%

05-14-2013 23:07:59 | More by civicm87

Absolut

California

3.75/5  rDev 0%

05-14-2013 17:59:06 | More by Absolut

CoryR

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev 0%

05-14-2013 01:04:42 | More by CoryR

yancot

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +13.3%

05-13-2013 17:31:32 | More by yancot

JDD419

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +13.3%

05-12-2013 02:24:11 | More by JDD419