Big John - Goose Island Beer Co.

FightingEntropy

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Dark tan head billows up nice and lingers for a long time. Look almost luscious sitting on top of a jet black opaque beer. For all the dark malts in the beer (according to the website: Chocolate, Caramel, roasted barley, de-bittered black), there's not coffee or overly roasted smell in the nose. Just chocolate thanks to the cacao nibs. If you pause slightly, there's a light spice on the top from the Columbus hops (also from website).

Mouthfeel is luscious and creamy with slight hotness from the 11.5% ABV and a slick oiliness as well. The chocolate from the nibs give a clean, earthy chocolate taste that's different and nice compared to most chocolate stouts.

Overall, a very well done big beer that's fun to drink. This bottle is only six months old, so drank it as a baby. Might have to get another bottles to aged it up to five years as suggested on the side of the bottle. Getting to the review page, it seems that I'm a bit more enamored with this beer than many other BAs. Not sure what the critiques are from them, but will take a look. But, I think this is one of my favorites of Goose Island.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2011 01:34:46 | More by FightingEntropy

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle served in a snifter.
bottled 03/25/11.

pours a mostly opaque used motor oil black with a short lived mocha colored head; some lacing. good looking imperial stout, but then again so are dozens of others - doesn't necessarily set itself apart. nose is replete with bold notes of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, roasted malt, and a bit of coffee. enough to get my mouth watering.

flavor follows the nose perfectly. loads of chocolate and roasted malt with subtle, secondary notes of dark fruits. alcohol shows up in the finish. a truly delicious beer. viscous, full-bodied mouthfeel with adequate carbonation.

overall, color me impressed. this is a really tasty brew. pricey, but worth it.

(originally reviewed: 05-16-2011)

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 14:32:49 | More by BostonHops

argock

Virginia

4.4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22 oz brown bomber into a clear glass snifter. Bottled on 12/7/12 stamped on side of label. Purchased at Wine Warehouse (Charlottesville, VA) for $9.79.

A: Black hue with thick, frothy dark tan 2-finger head with decent retention and even a few spots of lace.

S: The aroma is thick with chocolate and some fig, raisin, and plum aromas. There is some earthy, floral, and citrus hops aromas as well, but they are not strong.

T: The flavor is outstanding and is a great example of a very strong but not boozy, chocolate-bombed imperial stout. The chocolate flavors are complex and varied and work well with the dark fruit flavors. There are dark and milk chocolate, cocoa, mixed with soft coffee and pretty strong dark fruit flavors of fig, plum, and raisin. There is moderate bitterness, both from the dark chocolate component as well as from the citrus, pine, and floral hops contribution. This is a superb fresh IS. Night Stalker on the other hand, is way over the top hoppy and will probably be better with age. I can see Big John going through some rough times in the short term with aging as the chocolate flavors fall off. I am planning to drink 2 of the other 3 of mine in the next 3 months. I think the alcohol component is well-hidden - I shared this bomber with my wife 14/8 oz and I drank my portion in about 20-30 minutes.

M: The mouthfeel is right on par with other good imperial stouts with mildly chewy, full body and very smooth. I am not sure where people are getting the booze from -- this is very fresh and I get only an accenting alcohol character, and one that does not thin the beer's feel, as do some not so well done barrel aged beers.

O: I was very pleasantly surprised by this brew -- very well-balanced with a strong and powerful chocolate presence but a very solid background stout with just the right amount hoppiness. I am going to try to find a few more bottles of this around. One of the best chocolate imperial stouts I have had. Great beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 03:25:06 | More by argock

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

4.39/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a tulip glass from a 22oz bottle.
Bottled: 12-07-2012

Pours a thick and viscous dark dark liquid with a nice one inch tan head. The head is creamy and dense.

Aroma starts off with intense creamy milk chocolate notes as well as nice dark cocoa bitterness. There is some slight roast to the nose as well. There is some slight anise/licorice note to the nose as well. Very nice.

Flavor starts off with some great cocoa notes. Milk chocolate and some intense dark bitter chocolate. There is some mild roast and coffee notes that are behind the cocoa notes as well as some slight dark fruit notes in the background as well as some slight molasses notes to it. The roast plays perfectly with the chocolate notes. This brew has some awesome and delicious chocolate notes. Mouthfeel is tremendous, thick and oily and very filling. It coats the tongue perfectly.

GI really did a job on this stout. It is incredibly thick and creamy and very full bodied with an amazing mouthfeel. The coca notes are amazing, like rich fudgey cake. Great roasted finish that is sticky as well.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 01:46:38 | More by JoEBoBpr

ChugginOil

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a Delirium snifter.

Pours a very dark brown and settles black with a touch of cola colored light passage throughout the edges. When poured vigorously, two fingers worth of a dark mocha like head sits and slides down rather quickly. Very little lacing sits and settles back into the dark mass on the drop of a dime.

The nose offers some rich chocolate followed by some some roasted malt, a bit of hop, and a boozy undertone. The inviting bitter chocolate takes the stage here.

The taste is bold and rich right away, offering some intense bitter and sweet cocoa tastes. There is quite a great deal of sweetness involved overall, but it's well balanced against the bitter characteristics provided by the cacao nibs added to the mix. As it warms, the brew brings more and more. The chocolate is blooming and becoming stronger. I can also detect a bit of toffee on the back end, right before I am slapped by a boozy heat. Not an unpleasant heat, but one that is definitely prominent behind the sweet and bitter goodness.

The mouthfeel is full bodied and feels pretty smooth and creamy. The present carbonation brings a crisp finish and helps maintain the heat emitted from the alcohol taste.

Overall, very interesting and tasty to say the least. However, this Imperial Stout demands age on it. The heat should tone down and bring out more of those chocolate nib flavors with some time on it. I'm glad I have another bottle in the cellar :)

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2011 05:03:59 | More by ChugginOil

jimmy82063

Connecticut

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Scored a bomber of this in Westchester, NY. Poured into a snifter. Bottled on date 3/25/11....a youngster!

A) Jet black, no real head to notice, minor lacing.

S) Chocolate of course get some dried fruit as well.

T) My first thought is where's the Bourbon as I am kind of used to that from GI. The semi-sweet chocolate taste is really dominant (expected). If you like chocolate this is for you. What I like is that the sweetness is not overpowering.

M) Very smooth, no alcohol burn at all.

O) What surprised me here is the overall drinkability of this which I thought was pretty easy given the ABV. Not sure what aging would do to this (but hopefully I'll find out!). Really enjoyed this....this would have been a great holiday release!

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2011 17:58:26 | More by jimmy82063

KevSal

California

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

this guys got a mix of reviews, Im on the higher side, I found it very enjoyable.

22oz poured into a goose island glass

A- looks good, thin dark drown head that fades quickly. pours a dark see thru brown, pitch black in the glass with dark brown edges, visible clear liquid on the very edge(this the alch?)
a minute in the glass the head is completely gone.

S-Smells great! got some dark fruits and some slight cherry, dark chocolate. I really like this guys nose, the hint if cherry, (or sweetness) is especially good.

T-yum this guy is tasty. I got lots of bitter chocolate that remains in the after taste, that slight cherry from the nose is present and ads to the taste. the first glass was the best, the second and third contained much more alch presents(butter chocolate still remains). with all the hype going around this one was better than expected.

M- very silky medium body mouthfeel. much lighter than the usual Goode island stout but I welcomed the change. thick enough to bring out the flavors across the mouth.

O- I really liked it. very good stout and very tasty. can't think of anything it taste like and that's the best part. Glad to seek it out again and give it a bit to mellow out, loved the dark chocolate tho!

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2011 06:29:32 | More by KevSal

DaBrewsNIU

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22oz bomber.
A - very dark, viscous with no head retention yet sticks to the glass when swirled around my Stella Artois glass.
S - alcohol comes first followed by dark malt, molasses, brown sugar, and butter chocolate. It smells like a mocha coffee with rum added to be honest, I love it!
T - low carbonation, sweet brown sugar up front fading to a malt, cocoa, coffee flavor with a lingering alcohol burn. This is accentuated once it warms a bit.
O - excellent beer. Very complex and extremely tasty! Too bad Goose Island sold out to the big brewers...we might not see things like this from them again.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2011 01:29:41 | More by DaBrewsNIU

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

We pour a syrupy brew of acrid black oil that actually gives way to light around the edges to produce ruby rays throughout. It holds a minimal chocolate colored head of half a finger, which recedes almost immediately. Small clumps of bubbles are arrested about the top of the liquid. Little bits of lacing stick, but only after a robust swirl. The carbonation looks like it is trying its best to be active, but is hindered by how thick the beer is, so they rise at a snail’s pace. No sediment is noted. The aroma is bold, with dark roasty malts, sweet fig and raisin, and a healthy sting of alcohol. The chocolate nibs are apparent, but they come across more milk chocolatey than dark cacao. There is also a coolness to the nose, of light banana esters. As we sip, holy cacao nibs!! Are you sure this isn’t chocolate fudge?! Surprise aside, the first thing noted in the taste is a sugary sweet, thick milk and dark chocolate orgy. This is infused beautifully into heavily roasted malts. This is met by a subtle hop slickness for a cleaning balance. The middle peaks with further sweetness, of more chocolate, as well as some cool vanilla bean, and bready yeast. Here we also get fruitiness, lent by sugary figs and, even more so, black cherries. Creamy, sugary malts and a huge alcoholic burn kick us through to the finish. The aftertaste breathes of big fusel alcohols, hints of dried cherries, and chocolate so dark it has that bitter, metallic twinge to it. The body is milkshake thick, and the carbonation is medium to high. The residual sugars and bold quantities of added chocolate nibs help to give this beer a sugary sticky smack, which coats the lips, throat, and stomach, all the way down. Despite this coating the mouth is left significantly dried, and the tongue feels like tinfoil running along the hard palate. The abv is abundantly obvious, and the drinker is left warmed. Due to the thickness and higher alcohol content this one makes you take your time.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was the knockout flavoring of the chocolate. While we were certainly expecting a big presence, it was hard to anticipate such nib action on the scale delivered. It really knocks you to the ground!! What was also surprising, in a good way, was how fruity it was. While those dark fruits were not the star, they were big enough through the middle and end, and really brought out some of the subtle complexities within.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2011 20:33:07 | More by TheBrewo

DNICE555

Connecticut

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up at B Deccicio’s. That store is gangster.

Motor oil body with a tan head that fades very quickly.

Smells of chocolates, roasted grain, coffee, and caramel.

I didn’t want to cellar this one too long and have the chocolate fade on me. The cocoa was rich and delicious. Right amount of bitterness in there with the coffee and hops to balance out the chocolate and sweetness.

Thick and cream. I Ran a lot less hot than their other stouts.

Very tasty overall. I drank it pretty quickly for the abv… yet it was thick and creamy enough to savor.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2011 19:16:41 | More by DNICE555

AmericanGothic

Iowa

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a Unibroue tulip.

A: Very dark brown, totally opaque. Minimal tan head, good retention and some lace.

S: Chocolate and roasted malts. Good, but not strong. Touch of banana pokes through from time to time. Towards the end, the alcohol itself comes forth.

T: Roasted malt, vinous pepper/alcohol, and semi-sweet chocolate. Great! Complexity is low but the flavors are true. As the beer warms, a whisper of smokey licorice joins in.

M: Heavy enough, but not too much. Smooth and slightly oily/syrupy. About half way through, it develops some creaminess that is very nice.

O: Not as good as the BCBS, but still very good. I'll be grabbing a few more from the store before they disappear; I suspect they will age for a little while. Try it if you can.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2011 02:23:47 | More by AmericanGothic

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle 1764 - bottled on 3/25/11

A - Solid black with deep brown tones and a small thick mocha head that needed a vigorous pour to appear. Spotty specks of foam remain on the sides but slowly run down the glass into a small ring.

S - Deeply roasted malts mixed with molasses, dark chocolate, brown sugar, rich fudge and maybe a slight hint of leather.

T - Strong mix of dark and bittersweet chocolate that lingers for some time. Heavily roasted malts, very sweet but fades into a dry finish, not sure if it is from the hops or slightly astringent from the malts. Lights hints of black coffee, tobacco and leather but the heavy chocolate notes are present throughout.

M - Thick and syrupy, sticky on the lips after a few sips, long dry complex finish.

D - Reminds me of Bourbon County without the bourbon and more chocolate. Guessing same base beer. Very rich and complex. A sure sipper. Prefer this to Nightstalker.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2011 01:55:26 | More by brewcrew76

whitehouse50

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled on 3/25/2011. Poured from a 22oz bottle into a tulip. The head disappeared and no lacing was leftover.

A- Jet black, i held it up to the light and nothing was coming through except for around the edges of the head.

S- nice chocolately and big roasty aromas

T- nice pleasant chocolate flavors, not overwhelming. There is a nice hop flavor to help balance this out and the alcohol is well hidden. I would never guess this to be 11.5%

M- big full body (no pun intended), it's almost chewy.

Overall this was a really enjoyable beer. It's got a full body with great chocolate flavor. I would love to drink this again on a cold winter night. I disagree with one statement from the brewers notes "massive chocolate flavor and aroma". I don't agree it was massive. Southern Tier Choklat is a massive chocolate stout, Big John is not, it's more like a Choklat's little brother. This is a great brew I would definitely buy again.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2011 15:50:23 | More by whitehouse50

waltonc

Colorado

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Visited NYC this past weekend and chanced upon a bottle of this at a Whole Foods. Pours a Bourbon County Stout dark brown. Smells as advertised - lots of roasted malt and chocolate. Flavor is outstanding - velvety chocolate, somewhat sweet and very malty. Balances great against the fairly thick mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Overall, I was a big fan of this beer and wish I had a few more bottles.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2011 22:05:20 | More by waltonc

dcloeren

Texas

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

poured as dark as the chicago night in "Adventures in Babysitting"! 2 fingers of foamy tan head

Smells like a dark chocolate/ milk chocolate malted milkshake with some booze slipped in there like a naughty Dairy Queen employee making a mudslide on the downlow to enjoy the late night shift

Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, coffee and borderline burnt malt. Very delicious to say the least

Full bodied, adequately carbonated, chewy and then some! Great dark chocolate bitter aftertaste.

This beer is the exact opposite of a try hard. Its a delicious full bodied excellent tasting stout without trying to do to much. This beer has taken some serious hits on this site and I think that people are just hype crazy on here and rate based on that. I will openly except anyones bottles of BIG JOHN today! I wish I had more bottles!

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 04:46:13 | More by dcloeren

rarbring

Sweden

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A hazy black colored beer. A low tan head with small lacing but good curtains.

Smelling of figs, dates, coffee, chocolate and sherry.

Tasting toffee and caramelized sugar, dates, chocolate and sherry.

Medium carbonation, a soft and sticky texture. A big body with a slight dry finish.

Truly a well composed powerful dessert.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 21:45:39 | More by rarbring

stephenjmoore

Maryland

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Pitch black body, slow poured and got a thin tan head that quickly faded into a ring of bubbles.

S- Strong roasted malts, lots of vanilla and dark chocolate.

T- Roasted malts come through a ton, but the dark chocolate compliments and I still get a lot of vanilla. Very bold and tasty.

M- Thick, creamy, just enough carbonation, a definite sipper.

O- Impressive beer. Not huge on the chocolate, but a great beer as a change of pace from big barrel-aged beers. I can see the relation to Bourbon County without the big barrel flavors.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 23:52:34 | More by stephenjmoore

ckollias

Maryland

4.36/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Enjoyed this bomber bottle out of a Belgian tulip glass.

A: Pours a dark black hue with a thin dark brown ½-finger head that quickly dissipates and leaves a wispy lace and no trail.

S: Strong malty syrup aroma with a solid alcoholic and chocolate background.

T: Very alcoholic malty flavor with some chocolate and coffee overtones.

M: Very strong and boozy. Very thick body and minimal carbonation.

O: Awesome imperial stout. A nice sipping beer @ 11.5 % alcohol by volume.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 18:41:39 | More by ckollias

UMNbeerhunter

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Darkness goblet on 4/16/11.

Pours a oil black with a huge mocha colored head that takes several minutes to dissipate leaving no lacing. I would like to have seen more lacing but the head color and the rest looks great.

Smells of roasted malts and chocolate. It still has some bourbon to it but its mostly covered up by the cocoa nibs. The smell is very sweet and enjoyable.

Taste is much of the same. I taste mostly cocoa nibs and the sweet malts. The bournbon barrel aging is still there but gets covered up at the moment. I think that the bourbon may come out more in a year after the chocolate has faded.

Mouthfeel is medium weight, and there is a significant resin that sticks to your mouth and leaves the taste of chocolate. I like this brew.

Overall this is another hit by GI. While its a little on the sweet side and I wish it started with some more bourbon flavor its a great beer. I hope I can get this for awhile longer because I would like to age some.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2011 07:06:56 | More by UMNbeerhunter

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

4.35/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Rich, hefty, and thick chocolate laden stout.

Presentation: 22 oz brown capped bottle. Simple black and grey silver design with an angled geometrical pattern making a reference to SOM's John Hanckok tower in Chicago. Side notes with bottling date, (03/25/11 1658) and dedicated glassware. Notes Alc. by Vol. (11.5%) Served in a snifter.

A - Black pour with small dark brown-ruby edges, short brown frothy head. Average to small retention with almost non-existent lacing.

S - Chocolate sense over boozy malt, faint hint of coffee. Characteristic sweet roastness with the chocolate growing in intensity as it moves.

T - Outstanding roasted notes, nice lingering bitterness, coffee is a hint as well, and then the chocolate shines, softer at first and taking full control in the end embracing the bitter touch with a nice roasted malty support.

M - Full body, creamy and thick, lasting palate with little but adequate carbonation, and a warming finish.

O - Rich hefty sipper. It grows on the palate as it progresses with a distinct Goose Island stout sense.

Notes: Nice twist with the base of their rich stouts BCS style, without the barrel aging. Logically the bourbon notes are absent and instead a chewy chocolate sense grows and permeates the palate nicely as it progresses. Pity about the way that this released come in such a limited, and hype ridden vibe. I like it but still would stick to the standard BCS. Wondering about how that merger with the big macro will affect their production. On a personal level, and for a variety of reasons, I'm not too big a fan of the building that the brew makes reference to. But that is another story…

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2011 01:32:10 | More by Daniellobo

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours jet black with a dark brown head. In the aroma, a mellow roast and some cocoa. In the taste, bitter chocolate and a nice roasted presence, strating sweet and ending dry with a small alcohol note in the end as well. A small bitter bite and medium to bigger bodied mouthfee, with a semi dry chocolate and hint of alcohol in the aftertaste. Nicely hidden alcohol and nice chocolaty roast.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 15:53:55 | More by OWSLEY069

mjpolzin

Wisconsin

4.34/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I am glad I bought this beer! I was going back and forth on picking this one up. I kept thinking: I have way too much beer at home so I don't need more, I should spend money on my homebrewing instead of buying more beer, if I am going to buy beer, I think there is other stuff I want more. I had plenty of reasons not to pick this one up but something persuaded me to buy it. The other strange thing is that I drank it right away as I usually sit on big beers like this for months or years at a time. To repeat my first sentence of this review, I am glad I bought this beer! This beer was one of my favorite imperial stouts ever which is tough to say since I have had a lot of good ones. I guess now I have to go buy more Big John for cellaring purposes.

A lot of Imperial Stouts (Russian or American) are very roasted or hoppy tasted when they are fresh and mask the dark fruits, liquorice, malts and chocolate that I love to taste in an Imperial Stout. With Big John, the flavors I love were present with a fairly fresh bottle (only a few months old). I didn't pick up much cocoa in the taste or smell like the marketing tells me that I should. But as I just said, all of the other flavors that I love were there and this beer was damn smooth as it went down pretty easy. It essentially tasted like a Bourbon County Stout without the bourbon. This was for sure one of the better imperial stouts I have ever had and I hope I can pick up another bottle to cellar.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 06:06:53 | More by mjpolzin

wesside89

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz. Bomber poured into snifter... bottled 13 days prior to opening

A- Poured jet black and very thick, almost syrupy, with aabout a fingers worth of dark mocha brown head which faded away pretty quickly into a small ring around the top... OA very nice lookin beer

S- Lots of dark chocolate, roasted malts, booze and hops. The chocolate comes at ya right away

T- Very sweet up front right when it hits your palate and fades into bitter dark chocolate and tons of malt. Hops are there just enough to balance the sweetness. Lots of warm boozy flavors on the end with chocolate being the aftertaste

M- Very thick and chewy almost. Had trouble finishin this bomber and usually have no problem with most Imp. Stouts. Definitely coats the mouth long after you're finished

O- Overall thought it was a very good beer and think it would only get better with age lettin more cacao come through on the palate... will definitely be gettin a couple more to put away for a year or two to see if it improves.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2011 17:43:44 | More by wesside89

alpinebryant

Connecticut

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle 3.25.11
First out of IL review; what an honor !

When I first saw the news on this beer being released I was really excited. I had good reason to, this is a great beer.

Pours a dark oilcan black with a healthy tan head.

Aroma of fresh cocoa nibs, (I have a package in my closet) roasted chocolate, roasted malts and sweet sugary malt.

Taste is extremely smooth with a very creamy body. The cocoa nibs kick your face in at first followed by a lot of sweetness and some hot boozy flavors. Yeah this is hot, but it is very good. One thing that goose Island does very well is make a massive variety of stouts. Clearly Goose Island was doing this right and BMC saw an opportunity to hop into the market of imperial stouts with higher margins. Enough about politics, on to the beer... There is a nice fresh vanilla flavor in here right now not even three weeks after bottling. Plenty of roasted malt flavors and a definite espresso roast presence. Absolutely no ashiness or bad aftertastes.

Of the cocoa nibbed beers that I have had, this is thicker than any of them. Similar in taste to Teddy Bear kisses which was great, this has a much thicker body and many more roasted / smoked flavors in it. Neither are overdone and this is another great job by GI. Light Carbonation which is about right for the style

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2011 23:51:16 | More by alpinebryant

oglmcdgl

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A bottle split with onix1agr.

A- a steady pour yields a finger of latte colored head that settles quickly to leave just a ring around the glass and a small island of fizz in the middle. A good hard swirl brings back the cream on top but again its quickly vanishes. Black, black, black in color not a bit of light makes it through the body but there is the faintest of dark brown at the edges when held to the light.

S- dark roasted malts, chocolate, anise, coffee, brown sugar. Over ripe dark berries, and some molasses.

T- opens up with a sweet almost burnt malt hit that rolls into bakers chocolate and molasses. Coffee, touches of anise and dark fruit again. The balance is very impressive and each flavor while bold never over shadows the others.

M- full bodied but not too much. A bit of chew to it and a little syrupy. Nice light carb that does hold its own in this big brew. Small amount of heat from this very fresh bottle.

O- I'm all about this brew. Huge flavors that blend perfectly and make for a superb ride. Big enough to cure what ales you but easy enough to down a big ole glass. Well done GI hope you can keep it up with the new owners.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2011 02:51:13 | More by oglmcdgl