Pepe Nero - Goose Island Beer Co.

zeledonia

Minnesota

3.38/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up after tasting a sample at a local bottle shop, at a little event attended by John Hall. Very cool. Never had a "black saison" before, and it got my mental gears turning. Bottled 28 April 2011. Really? Tasted 1 Aug 2012, reviewed from notes.

Pours very dark brown, effectively black in the glass, with just hints of dark chocolate at the edges. One finger of medium tan head, decent retention, okay lacing.

Smell is hard to describe. It's definitely more black than saison, with soft but deep roasty notes. In fact, I could believe I was smelling a low-ABV stout. None of the characteristics I look for in a saison - no yeast, no spice, no fruitiness. On it's own, it's a 3.5. Rating to style, it's hard to give it more than a 2. Compromise at 2.5.

Taste, once again, has little of the character of a saison. Roasty and slightly bitter, with a hint of char. A bit of spice is the only thing in it that reminds me of a saison.

Mouthfeel is nice. Smooth, with carbonation that roughens things up just right. A fairly quick finish, definitely on the dry side.

I'm torn between reviewing this beer on its merits, and reviewing it as a saison, which the GI rep said it was. It's really a different animal, though, more like a lightly-hopped black IPA than any saison I've had. Interesting, decently tasty, but not one I'm likely to drink again.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 02:01:53 | More by zeledonia

ackeeper

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

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

CanisMajor

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

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

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

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

craftbrew502

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +6.4%

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

davesway10

Iowa

4/5  rDev +6.4%

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

GreesyFizeek

New York

4.25/5  rDev +13%

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

jono0101

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev +13%

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

Emkehr

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

05-17-2013 17:19:51 | More by Emkehr

breakingbland

Michigan

3.59/5  rDev -4.5%
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%

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

TheMultiYeast

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +2.4%
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 -6.9%

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

civicm87

New York

4.5/5  rDev +19.7%

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

Absolut

California

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-14-2013 17:59:06 | More by Absolut

CoryR

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-14-2013 01:04:42 | More by CoryR

yancot

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +13%

05-13-2013 17:31:32 | More by yancot

JDD419

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +13%

05-12-2013 02:24:11 | More by JDD419

Ivegotmule

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +19.7%

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

bvdubn

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%

05-11-2013 00:57:24 | More by bvdubn

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-10-2013 19:47:27 | More by twenty5

ReddMoneyBrown

California

4.5/5  rDev +19.7%

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

jkane101

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

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

Magery

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-10-2013 01:25:49 | More by Magery

bilhelm

Kentucky

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%

05-09-2013 23:26:13 | More by bilhelm