Naughty Goose - Goose Island Beer Co.

EagleTalon

Arkansas

4.83/5  rDev +24.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

An excellent brown ale. Tight, permanent head, deep brown color. Served at "cellar temperature" with very light CO2.--and that's a good thing! The aroma is of hops and moderately roasted malts. Chocolate malt/roast malt flavor. This beer is in a class with the best American Brown ales. The best of the six beers I tasted on my visit to the Clybourn brewpub.

Serving type: cask

09-06-2002 18:05:54 | More by EagleTalon

silenius

Illinois

4.8/5  rDev +23.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I bought a growler of this and have been drinking it while painting the new place. The girlfriend ordered it at Goose Island and I loved it from her glass.

Beer pours a dark brown with red and purple highlights when held up to the sun. There is a light tan head that forms a skim coat over the glass after a minute. Some small lacing.

Aroma is a beautiful marriage of chocolate, coffee , and hops! Truly balanced and beautiful.

Taste is slightly sweet cocoa, coffee, and a nice hops bite. They move on the palate like a dance twirling around each present and undulating. Bitter hoppy chocolate on the finish. Hops and chocolate do not sound like they would go together, but they do beautifully in this beer!

Mouthfeel is smooth and the light carbonation adds just the right balance. The finish is slightly drying.

Not many beers are this drinkable. Wonderful. I could go through pint after pint!

Serving type: on-tap

08-08-2004 23:35:51 | More by silenius

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.78/5  rDev +23.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

got this one from joe1510, cheers Joe!

Pours a ruby-tinged brown with a finger of tan head. Above average head retention & lacing

S: Toasty malt, some leafy hops, some bready notes

T: Tons of toasty malt, brown bread, a bit of hazelnut & dryness up front. Toasty malty & a touch of grainyness as this warms, plus slight citric hops, & some caramel. Finishes nutty with great toastyness & a touch of grainyness

MF: Medium bodied, low carbonation & creamy, great balance

Drinks too damn, easy this is easily one of the best browns I had. Recommended!

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2009 01:28:09 | More by russpowell

Bitterbill

Wyoming

4.53/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Another brew traded to me by joe1510. Thanks Joe, I'm always up for another Goose Island offering!

An English Brown Ale that certainly looks the part...it pours a clear brown amber with almost a 2 finger head of foam. Tilting my glass from side to side, I'm very impressed with the abundance of lacing. This is one gorgeous looking brew.

The smell is simple but very nice. Lots of caramel malt, some roasted notes, a light nuttiness, and an even lighter amount of some hop bitterness/tartness.

The taste follows the nose and I'm glad for it. Sweet notes followed by good roastiness and a bigger feel of nutty flavours than what I got from the nose, a little bit of toffee and chocolate and a light sprinkling of hop goodness that adds just a tiny bit of a twang and nothing more. No more is needed as I'm revelling in how well the Malt comes across in this Brown Ale and I was hoping there wouldn't be any distractions. ;^)

Medium bodied with light carbonation, this is one smooth creamy beer in the mouth...wow, it surely is.

Drinkability? Are you kidding me? The abv is listed at 5%, my bottle says 5.4%, whatever. This is one of the easiest brews to session on and certainly one of the best(if not THE best) Brown Ales I've tasted to date. If you're a "liker" of the style, you have got to try this! And, I will make no apologies for what ever my final score will show as I'm rating it as per style. Just a heads up.

Oh, and head retention is amongst the best of any beer of any style. I thought I'd throw that in..

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2009 16:15:02 | More by Bitterbill

CRJMellor

Arkansas

4.47/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a brown with red highlights. Two-fingered tan head that fdes slowly and leaves an abundane of lace on the glass.
Aroma of roasted caramel, light chocolate and a fruity, oily hop profile jumps out.
Flavor is roasted barley, caramel, hint of sweet chocolate, nuts, coffee and a hit of ash or smoke, finsihing with some earthy bitterness.
Mouthfeel starts smooth and silky then shifts to a persistent moderate bitterness going down. Very nice transition and mouthfeel. This beer is why I seek out cask-conditioned beers.
Drinkability is very high as with most cask beer. Two was not enough of this beauty.

Serving type: cask

03-10-2004 01:56:00 | More by CRJMellor

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear dark brown with red highlights, small off white head, and lots of lacing. Smell is roasted grains, floral hops, vanilla, chocolate, lots of hoppy goodness. Taste is vanilla, chocolate, floral hops, licorice and a roasty chocolate finish, nice bitterness. Mouthfeel is smooth, medium body and low carbonation. Excellent American style porter, hopped with Tettnang and Cascades. Hops really shine, and one to try.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2005 05:26:21 | More by Viggo

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a Goose Island bomber. The beer is clear and brown with a reddish edge and thickish head. Malts lead the smell, sweet and a little bready, maybe a little fresh hops. The malt comes through big-time in the taste, a very sweet brown ale (as opposed to nutty). Roasted malt, caramel, some toasted or bready flavors, and again a hint of hops in the aftertaste. The light body makes this an easy drinking beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2009 11:14:14 | More by TurdFurgison

nsmartell

Wisconsin

4.43/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I enjoyed this beer from the comfort of my own living room. From the bomber bottle to a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a light brown/deep amber color with a billowy light brown head that stuck around for quite some time.

Smell: Caramel malt with a hint of chocolate and smoke.

Taste: The maltiness comes through in a great way. Caramel, chocolate and a little smoky.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and creamy smooth.

Drinkability: Very drinkable brew. Was looking forward to trying this and it was worth the wait. Will definitely seek this out again.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2009 02:33:58 | More by nsmartell

stoutfiend27

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

bomber sent to me by beerad666 thanks...brewed on date unreadable...poured into la chouffe tulip

a-ruby brown color with a nice two finger head that stayed for a while...nice lacing...bubbles from carbonation were good as well

s-nuttiness, toffe,coffee and caramel...nice roasty character with slight hints of vanilla

t-caramel, toffee, and vanilla up front...followed my a nice roasty malt in the middle..

m-medium bodied and nothing overwhelming...the carbonation level is excellent and just slightly prickly...

d-i could drink this all night and i dont think i would get bored with it....def sessionable

this is my first brew from goose island and i am impressed...i am not a fan of brown ales but this one is quite tasty and i think i want more of it..

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2009 01:04:53 | More by stoutfiend27

littlekidlover

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked this bomber up at Binny's for a nice discount- just $2.99. I will preface this by saying it takes a lot for me to be impressed by a brown ale. I don't have any particular aversion, just not a style I go out of my way for. I gave my beer tasting wine glass a fairly aggressive pour and got a really nice tan head on a reddish brown somewhat transparent body. The smell is nutty with some caramel, almost a burnt butter, nice and mellow. The taste was a surprise for a brown. Well rounded, not to sweet, nutty, not to much hop, just very mellow and easy to drink. I get a little lactose, which can kill a brown ale if overdone. The mouthfeel is nice and silky. All in all, if you come across one of these, pick one up. If you find them for $2.99 a piece buy more than one.

Serving type: bottle
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

09-23-2009 22:30:16 | More by littlekidlover

botham

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

on tap poured into a pub glass at the Clybourn Brewpub in Chicago. pours a deep chocolate brown with a single finger of creamy, tan head and solid lacings with moderate retention.

aroma is of rich caramel malts, with roasted malts mixed in and a light note of chocolate.

taste is a nice mix of caramel and chocolate malts with a nice malty base of a light nutty character and roasted malts. nicely concentrated with good proportioning.

mouthfeel is medium bodied with a creamy texture and a smooth finish. very mellow on the palate.

drinkability is great. this is a malty and smooth brew with a lightly roasted character. a solid brown ale with great character and very easy-drinking. cheers!

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

10-05-2008 19:16:42 | More by botham

dirtylou

Washington

4.28/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bomber - picked up at west lakeview liquors in chicago, split and paired with some bloody burgers and grilled corn

appearance: served in an imperial pint glass - chocolate brown body with obvious amber hues, nice creamy beige cap and strong lacing

smell: not an overpowering nose - nutty, dry caramel malt, a touch woody

taste: lovely english brown - creamy, nice woody base, smooth caramel, a dash of chocolate, toasted grain, a touch smokey. well done here

mouthfeel: creamy, smooth, fulfilling medium body

drinkability: quite good

Serving type: bottle
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

08-27-2009 01:18:13 | More by dirtylou

Treebs

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at the Clybourn location during the King Henry release. Served in an Imperial pint glass.

A: Pours a clear dark brown with a dark amber edges. A thin light tan head forms on the pour and leaves some splotchy lace on the way down.

S: Some caramel malts with a touch of smoke and roast. Light toffee as well.

T: What a treat this was. There was a great caramel and toffee malt bill that gave it some sweetness with a nutty roastiness and a touch of smoke. The finish was a light, sweet chocolate.

M: Medium bodied that greatly carbonated with a sweet chocolate taste coating the palate. High drinkability.

O: I was pleasantly surprised by this guy. Would definitely have a again.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

11-26-2011 16:55:09 | More by Treebs

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.22/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled on tap at the Goose Island Clyborne location
The beer is a deep brown color, it is brilliantly clear and it topped by a light brown head. The aroma is nice and malty with notes of toast, chocolate, and caramel. The taste is quite malty as well. The malt is balanced by a nice level of hop bitterness in the finish, and a good hop flavor contribution that is earthy, spritzy and a little bit citrusy. The hop notes are complimented by rich malt notes of chocolate, and toasted biscuits. This is a high quality Brown ale, I am quite impressed.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

08-05-2004 17:30:28 | More by Gueuzedude

malcontent

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Perfect chestnut colored body sporting a two-fingered head not lacking in vitality.

Hints of toffee and pecans shrink behind a moderately roasted but otherwise unremarkable nose.

Everything is on display here; light nuttiness is followed by a sometimes chocolaty, sometimes fruity body with no shortage of roasted quality. The finish is delightful, owing bitterness to both roasted malt and elegant hops (Cascade must be bittering because this is Tettnang all the way). Toffee sits on my tongue long after everything has dissipated. This style doesn't get a whole lot better.

The beer IS overcarbonated or at least the carbonation is aggressive to the point where it inhibits my taste buds initially. Still, this is pretty close to a dream session beer for me. On its own, with food, whatever...this is long past due in bottles and a godsend for fans of the style.

Serving type: bottle
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

07-13-2009 07:17:51 | More by malcontent

DoppleJock

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

01/31/2010
22 oz. bomber poured into pint glass.

A: Poured a clean, dark reddish-brown. One-inch head with lots of carbonation pitting. Dissipated fairly quickly but had decent lacing.

S: Roasted malty start with a mild hop bite. Dark fruits.

T: Roasted malts, semi-sweet chocolate and caramel. Tiny bit of vanilla. Pretty good stuff.

M: Full-bodied. Super-smooth and silky.

D: Might be my first order next time I visit Goose Island's brewpub. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

02-01-2010 00:25:32 | More by DoppleJock

Southernbrew

Georgia

4.2/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Note: while going through my IPAQ, I found this review that I wrote back in August while visiting Chicago.

Pours a lovely brown, good bit of head, nice lacing down the glass.

Nice aroma, some caramel sweetness and a very nice citrus hop presence.

Medium body, pretty smooth. Delicious flavor, some caramel, a bit of bitterness, a pleasant hop bite as well, nice to taste in a brown ale. Nice potent bitterness at the end.

It's been months since I sampled this, but I still remember how good this was. One of the best beers I had in Chicago.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

02-03-2005 01:48:49 | More by Southernbrew

Boto

Connecticut

4.18/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Cask Conditioned: This one poured a dark opaque brown. It was pulled with just a bit of a tan head. There was a malty aroma with a hint of hops. The taste is mainly lightly caramel malty sweet, with a hint of roastiness. A bit of a hop bite to it. Very Good!

Serving type: cask
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

03-23-2004 01:17:08 | More by Boto

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

4.18/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Brown with ruby highlights and a few fingers of tan head that stays around for a while leaves a few trails down the side of the glass.

S - Nutty, toffee, caramel, roasty character that hints at a touch of coffee and chocolate with a bit of vanilla.

T - Nutty with caramel and toffee and a hint of vanilla. Slightly roasty.

M - Medium body and creamy. Smooth with low carbonation.

D - I am remembering the brewpub version being a little more flavorful but that might just be my mind playing tricks on me. A very sessionable brown.

Serving type: bottle
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

05-26-2009 00:39:28 | More by brewcrew76

SHerninko

Pennsylvania

4.16/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

On tap @ Craft Ale House
Deep brown maduro. Slight tan head. Keeps tiny ring around d the top.
Smokey flavor, deep flavors. Coats the tongue.
Overall a good brown. Like a strong porter or lightweight smoky stout.
Great with chocolate or a nice cigar.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

05-16-2013 21:07:34 | More by SHerninko

GbVDave

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a 20oz imperial pint at Goose Island-Clybourn 2/20/07. This version was listed as 5.2% abv.

A: Dark cloudy brown with some ruby tinting. One finger khaki colored head.

S: Aromas of roasted malt, chocolate, and green hops. Very nice.

T: Take everything from above and add a mildly tart fruitiness, brown sugar, and toffee to wrap it up.

M: Thick, creamy, and very full in the mouth.

D: This is not your typical one-dimentional brown ale. Very enjoyable from beginning to end.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

02-26-2007 02:00:24 | More by GbVDave

karst

Missouri

4.13/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This bad bird flew away with the gold medal at the 2003 GABF. I had two glasses poured by brewer Miguelle. I found it better that their Red Velvet (served from the bottom of the cask 10-2-05 - opened 5 days earlier).

Naughty Goose poured deep crystal clear brown with red glints and 2 fingered persistant head and lace.

Aroma of coffee, chocolate, roasted malts and milly spicey U.S.Tettnanger hops.

Flavors follow as semi-sweet cocoa, coffee combine with the citrusy Cascades (bittering and flavor hops). Some fruity esters - could not get Miguell to say much about the yeast used. Although this brown ale has some American hop bit it is a very nice malt base that stays light on the caramel. Body is medium with a creamy mouthfeel. Enough IBUs to dry the finish but not cover the complexity of the chocolate and roasted malts at the end.

Very drinkable and at 5% abv a good session ale. "May I have a second glass, Miguell? I am ranking this third of the ten Goose Island brews I have had to date. Bourban County Stout a runaway 1st followed by Matilda.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

10-09-2005 17:01:07 | More by karst

bruachan

Rhode Island

4.13/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

great head upon the pour (a little rocky, a little sudsy and a little creamy), and without rampant bubblies from below. very nice mahogany color, as well

very nutty aromas with some less rich caramel. airy, floral hop aromas. even a little molasses. good roasty character with a touch of chicory

tasty, too. nice depth of malt: some very decadent chocolately sumthin' all the way to a much flightier figgy sumthin'. fruit is by no means a predominant characteristic--stuff is cool and malty. sometimes i feel it's a little on the sweet side. some spice seems to make itself apparent but that could be a hop feature

Serving type: bottle
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

11-04-2009 02:59:19 | More by bruachan

GJ40

North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sampled from a 22oz bottle in a standard pint glass. Purchased for me in Chicago by OnTheRoad.

A - Light brown with good clarity and a moderate beige head. Some lacing coats the glass as it empties.

S - Nutty and bready with a touch of coffee.

T - Nutty and roasted with a nice hop flavor. The label says it has Cascade and Tettnang. I brew with a lot of Cascade and it seems to be that flavor coming through. The flavors develop nicely as the glass warms.

M - Light and airy in your mouth with a moderate carbonation of very fine bubbles.

D - Mellow and smooth yet flavorful. This is one I'd like to have more of.

Serving type: bottle
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

09-29-2009 10:35:44 | More by GJ40

Lesbrad

California

4.1/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

In a bar in Chicago, this was the only good draft beer they had, so I drank about 10 of them in one sitting.

Highly sessionable. Pleasant in every way. I don't remember all of the specifics, but I bought some six packs as soon as I could find them and while not as good in the bottle, they were plenty good to drink and drink them I did.

No full report on this beer, but if you like brown ales, you will dig it for sure.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

09-25-2010 15:55:15 | More by Lesbrad