Big John - Goose Island Beer Co.

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BA SCORE
91
exceptional
-
911 Ratings

rAvg: 4.07
pDev: 11.3%
Reviews: 385
Hads: 526

Ratings Help

Brewed by:
Goose Island Beer Co.

Illinois, United States

Style | ABV
American Double / Imperial Stout | 11.50% ABV

Availability: Rotating. bottle (372), on-tap (12), growler (1).

Notes:
Brewmasters Notes:
Inspired by the epic skyline of Chicago, Goose Island's brewers set out to craft Big John; a tall, bold slugger of a stout that stands out vividly against the little soft beers out there. Epic amounts of roasted malt and an addition of cacoa nibs give Big John a massive chocolate flavor and aroma. With a body as substantial and black as the building to which it pays homage, Big John is sure to inspire a sense of awe with each sip.

Reviews

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Reviews by thecheapies:

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.41/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Bottled 12/07/12. Acquired in a trade with BrewStew58.

Pours oily black and completely dark. Light brown head held back after a half-inch of rising. Fell to the surface and left a thick ring.

Creamy dark malts, dry chocolate, dark fruits and berries, earthy hops, and tightly-spun alcohol. A sultry, but friendly, aroma.

Bold cocoa and dark malts, robust and decadent. Some berry fruits of blackberry and raisin and a sting of alcohol warm booze and licorice. Mocha and burnt sugar. An elegant and full-on beer that stands alone in one night.

Velvety smooth and rich with body. A diffused soft carbonation creates some chew. A near-perfect sipper, with that proper boozy medicine. The feel of integrity.

Tremendous imperial stout with almost all of the qualities I look for. A bit muddled in the nose, but exceptional mouthfeel and delectable dark flavors make up for that and more. A highly recommended beer that I will begin seeking out again immediately.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 04:32:25 | More by thecheapies

More User Reviews:

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