Big John - Goose Island Beer Co.

bobhits

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Black viscous, near black even in the pour when held to light. Truly a sight to behold. Pours a thin but creamy milk chocolate head.

No surprise but a huge amount of chocolate aromas, from milk chocolate to some simi dark chocolate. There isn’t a lot of dark bitter chocolate here. A very sweet caramel and toffee malt profile. A touch of hops finishing things up rather nicely. Very good but perhaps not great. Strong and not appealing alcohol aroma really hurts the finish.

Powerful alcohol, almost like there’s vodka mixed in to pick things up. Milk chocolate, chocolate malt, caramel malt, fudge, cake batter, finished again with hops (not sure what kinda hop flavor this is).

Creamy syrupy, just perfect for a chocolate stout. The problem is this stuff is way too hot right now. This will be amazing with around 2 years age on it. I don’t see this aging as long as the bourbon county stout does, but there’s a lot of growth here.

I plan to update this review as this one ages…just need to find a few more bottles. I expect huge improvements with age as the alcohol is the biggest issues with this beer right now.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2011 22:58:37 | More by bobhits

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

InVinoVeritas

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-15-2013 02:45:18 | More by InVinoVeritas

Kahlerbock

Kansas

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

05-14-2013 17:59:49 | More by Kahlerbock

Absolut

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-14-2013 17:58:33 | More by Absolut

baybassboy

California

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-14-2013 04:46:28 | More by baybassboy

vrbulldog22

Ohio

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-13-2013 18:41:19 | More by vrbulldog22

jabo134

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-12-2013 02:43:23 | More by jabo134

cornpone

New York

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

05-11-2013 21:17:38 | More by cornpone

tclang

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-11-2013 14:13:21 | More by tclang

Tpaulin

Indiana

4.75/5  rDev +16.7%

05-11-2013 04:46:41 | More by Tpaulin

ToddHolder

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-11-2013 01:25:34 | More by ToddHolder

RyanTheLion13

Iowa

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

05-10-2013 23:05:21 | More by RyanTheLion13

UWBadgerFan4Life

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

05-10-2013 18:44:57 | More by UWBadgerFan4Life

SocalKicks

California

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-10-2013 07:01:02 | More by SocalKicks

JustinMatthew

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -14%

05-09-2013 18:46:00 | More by JustinMatthew

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

4.43/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Bottled on 12-7-12 and poured into my Founders snifter.

A- Pours black as night just like the other Goose Island imperial stout offerings. Small, 1 cm, chocolatey brown head. Retention and lacing are pretty good.

S- Big roasted malt character right up front. Lots of chocolate, both bitter and semi-sweet, comes next. The shear amount of chocolate seems to produce a dark fruit scent.

T- Starts with a combo of the big roasted malts and the prominent chocolate flavors. The chocolate takes more of a front seat in the taste and is fairly creamy. Chocolate is somewhere between sweet and bitter, somewhat alternating between the two tastes, but very dark in flavor the entire way through the drink. Ends with a slight bite from bitter chocolate and roasted malts.

M- Thick, creamy, with a little heat. Smooth as all get out despite having a fairly high level of carbonation. Sits a little heavy in the stomach, but a terrific beer for after dinner.

Overall, probably the best chocolate stout I've had. The quality of the chocolate used in this beer is evident and provides the beer with a complex blend of roasted malts and chocolate that isn't one dimensional like other chocolate stouts. I'm glad I was able to find this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 16:55:41 | More by boilermakerbrew