Big John - Goose Island Beer Co.

Greywulfken

New York

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Goose Island tasting at my local distributor is probably the only way I'd have gotten hold of this - glad I did, too. Didn't know it was "retired" until I got to this website.

A: Goose Island stout black (if that's not a thing, it should be), brief head then just a thin collar

S: sweet chocolate malt

T: nice chocolately notes (courtesy of the cacao nibs) and subtler espresso in the background; sweet

M: creamy, silky; rich

O: able to taste this against their bourbon stout and their (retired) Night Stalker (among others). I imagine this is what their BCS would taste like with the bourbon replaced by cacao (cocoa) - I thought it was delicious - better than Night Stalker, which I like, but this is a mellower, smoother, more satisfying beer.

Got to have it twice... my second tasting, from a bottle dated 3/25/11 - aged nicely since my last tasting - there was still some alcohol, and the chocolate flavors had taken on an almost wine-like character

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 03:10:31 | More by Greywulfken

freemanj

Missouri

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-24-2013 23:05:45 | More by freemanj

crobinso

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

05-24-2013 14:56:47 | More by crobinso

HugeBulge

New York

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-23-2013 14:41:47 | More by HugeBulge

BeerBarron

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

05-23-2013 00:40:55 | More by BeerBarron

levylaw

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +16.7%

05-22-2013 13:15:28 | More by levylaw

MooSully

Kansas

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

05-22-2013 04:27:53 | More by MooSully

BigJim5021

Indiana

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-22-2013 02:13:32 | More by BigJim5021

JohnnieNepal

Michigan

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-22-2013 02:03:49 | More by JohnnieNepal

eyemustard

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-21-2013 20:54:03 | More by eyemustard

elec

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +16.7%

05-21-2013 02:40:54 | More by elec

ackeeper

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-21-2013 01:25:39 | More by ackeeper

pstam87

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +16.7%

05-20-2013 23:37:10 | More by pstam87

CanisMajor

Indiana

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-20-2013 22:25:13 | More by CanisMajor

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-20-2013 16:23:45 | More by InspectorBob

DukeX13

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-20-2013 02:45:29 | More by DukeX13

jakeox

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

05-18-2013 23:33:09 | More by jakeox

Jslay013

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-18-2013 22:38:42 | More by Jslay013

jono0101

Missouri

5/5  rDev +22.9%

05-18-2013 16:27:24 | More by jono0101

Honus1

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-18-2013 02:46:18 | More by Honus1

SHerninko

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

S-Tapped from Craft Ale House - PA
A-dark, no light through it, small tan head, some lacing
S-good nose, choco, oak, coffee--all very subtle. The more it warms the more you smell.
T-very nice, good from start to finish with some layers. Bourbon, vanilla, some hops at the end to balance it and pull back any sweetness. Very balanced.
M-smooth and creamy, very good.
O-one of my fave Goose stouts when I am not looking for a giant malt/bourbon bomb. Very easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2013 13:37:40 | More by SHerninko

gpawned

Ohio

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-17-2013 05:08:08 | More by gpawned

BanditoJunkie

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-17-2013 03:02:20 | More by BanditoJunkie

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.69/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a red wine glass. Pours dark brown and pretty much opaque with a quarter-inch, light tan head that dissipates into a skim. Nose expresses some malt and a slightly oxidized quality. Taste consistent with nose; however, there is also some cocoa nibs evident in the flavor profile. Mouthfeel is medium-light with a mild, even carbonation. Texture is a bit watery and there's also a little acidity. Overall, I wasn't too impressed with this beer. The abv was certainly well-hidden; however, a bit lackluster.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2013 23:45:16 | More by Jwale73

avschmitt

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-15-2013 19:23:20 | More by avschmitt