Pepe Nero - Goose Island Beer Co.

Maxwell

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours like mahogany, just as their website claims, with a big beautiful sandy white cream head that leaves sticky tendrils of foam along the sides. It sits in the glass like a black French roast coffee and is very appealing. Carbonation seems to be constant and a little fierce along the edges of the glass, but the head retention is beautiful. The beer smells like a saison, sweet and biscuity with a nice yeast sweet sour funk that hints at citrus and pear. As the beer settles in the glass it ekes out touches of toffee and roasted malts, but nothing too pungent or noticeable. The beer tastes odd for sure, quite tart with the citrus saison kick. The Roasted malts and toffee dance at the back of the flavor and linger on the sides of the tongue as beautifully candied drizzling. The aftertaste is also strong with a roasty nutty coffee like fizz from the malts which is lovely but bizarre. The funk suggests some slight dark fruits but mostly a sweet bready sour citrus. The taste is really quite bizarre and I am having a hard time pinpointing it exactly. Mouthfeel is very smooth and slightly chewy on the tongue. Carbonation is light and velvety, and the beer leaves the mouth with a perfect amount of saliva and dryness. This beer seems to be a perfect fit for the cold winter months in front of a fire, and is really a bizarre take on the saison. I am very intrigued, though I can’t say whether I actually liked it or not. This beer is definitely worth a try, but I don’t know if it’s worth coming back too.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 20:49:07 | More by Maxwell

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

Ivegotmule

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +20%

05-11-2013 23:06:09 | More by Ivegotmule

bvdubn

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -13.3%

05-11-2013 00:57:24 | More by bvdubn

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev 0%

05-10-2013 19:47:27 | More by twenty5

ReddMoneyBrown

California

4.5/5  rDev +20%

05-10-2013 02:38:46 | More by ReddMoneyBrown

jkane101

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev 0%

05-10-2013 01:27:49 | More by jkane101