Big John - Goose Island Beer Co.

DavoleBomb

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter. Big thanks to a crushedvol and LusciousJackson for this.

2.5 A: Black in color. A fairly aggressive pour yielded only one finger of light brown, frothy/creamy hybrid head with pathetic retention and absolutely no lacing. GI can make damn tasty stouts, but rarely make them look good.

4.0 S: Sweet milk chocolate dominates as the cacao nibs really shines through. Secondly, there is a good bit of dark caramel and molasses. Roastiness is there, but it's rather light. Underneath the rest is a light smokiness and even some bacon notes. Maybe a touch of tobacco.

4.5 T: Despite the brewer's description of "epic amounts of roasted malt," this leans heavily to the sweet side of the spectrum. This tastes like what I imagine BCS tastes like without the bourbon and with a bit more chocolate. Intense chocolate and caramel. Molasses and brown sugar next. Some dark fruitiness with a light roastiness that doesn't quite match the sweetness. Perhaps a touch of coffee as well. Considerable booziness, almost like BCS even though the ABV is lower and bourobn isn't involved. I really had a hard time giving this a taste score as I waffled back and forth between 4.0 and 4.5. In the end I think I might have got it right, but who knows.

3.5 M: Heavy body. I usually gravitate toward rich, heavy bodies in my IS's, but this has a bit too much residual sugar and it becomes cloying. From time to time, I found myself spitting out huge amylase ridden sugar wads. Lightly chewy as well. This would be about perfect if it wasn't cloying.

4.0 D: This is a nice addition to the GI lineup. I always wondered why they never put out a regular imperial stout (this is a hell of a lot closer than Nightstalker) and I hope this sticks around. I think I enjoyed this more than my scores suggest.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2011 22:56:35 | More by DavoleBomb

emmasdad

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Jason for hooking me up with this bottle. Poured rich dark brown, almost black color with a finger of light brown foam. Aromas of roast, molasses and cocoa powder. On the palate, this on was full bodied, with flavors of cocoa, smoke, charcoal and dark fruit/peaches.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2011 02:37:53 | More by emmasdad

ehammond1

California

3.7/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle (2011)

Thanks for opening this with me, VaTechHopHead!

(Aged for 1+ years)

Black throughout and relatively thick in body. Very small dark brown head of small bubbles. Leaves the glass with an oily sheen. Appropriate and pretty enough.

Lots of roast and bittersweet chocolate in the aroma, along with mild coffee presence, and a distinct licorice character.

The flavor follows the aroma similarly, with roast notes, chocolate, and licorice combining nice enough. A simple, big, flavorful stout with only a minimal alcohol burn. Complete, though I think this would have been better fresh.

Medium-nearly full in body with low carbonation.

I'd wanted to try this for a long time and happy I finally got the opportunity to do so. I was hoping for more from this one, however. I imagine this one is much better fresh.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 23:43:54 | More by ehammond1

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Pours a solid thick black color with a smallish tan head that disappears too quickly. Smells sweet with an alcoholic edge. Heavy dark bitter chocolate and tons of molasses dominate the aroma. Mix in some dark fruits and alcohol for good measure. Taste is again thick sweet and alcoholic. Lots of dark chocolate mixed with brown sugar and molasses. Long lingering alcohol burn after each sip. If not for the alcohol I think this would be a bit overly sweet. Thick viscous body with a sweet velvety smooth mouthfeel and low level of carbonation. I really enjoyed this one but I think a little time will help the flavors meld together a little better.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2011 02:34:15 | More by johnnnniee

Hojaminbag

Colorado

3.3/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I got this one from Mikesgroove. Thanks, Mike! Bottled on 3/25/11.

Big John has a thick, black body with a small brown head. The head vanishes quickly, without leaving lacing.

Big aromas of both chocolate and coffee, with chocolate bering more powerful. Lots of sweetness and a little bit of roast.

Big flavors of cocoa followed by a good bit of coffee. The finish has a ton of sweetness and a good bit of booze. It’s pretty hot actually. A hint of bitterness hides in the finish also. I’m a little bit surprised that this is all that I can pick up from this beer, but it is what it is. Chocolate is the mouth powerful flavor, followed closely by both booze and sweetness.

The mouthfeel is very good. Thick and viscous, but a little bit hot.

Big John is a little too sweet, but the chocolate flavor is pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 02:07:34 | More by Hojaminbag

rfgetz

New Jersey

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

Pours a rich, deep and dark brown with thin cap of dense brown bubbles, gone quickly but leaving a ring of active bubbles. Scent is huge... notes of chocolate, roast and booze dominate with notes of dark fruit and anise like spice. Taste starts out big and bold with heavy roast, chocolate, booze and touches of sweet cream and dark fruit, but the finish becomes somewhat lifeless with dry and powdery cacao nibs taking over. Full bodied, coating with a touch too high carbonation, overall lightly dry on the palate. Overall this beer was a good, strong Imperial Stout but it seemed like it wanted to be big for the sake of being being, without too much effort put into complexity, layers or subtle touches found in some other big stouts.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2011 13:16:40 | More by rfgetz

mdaschaf

Washington

3.58/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Review from notes.

A: Pours incredibly black with a one finger dark tan head. Some lacing forms, but dissolves rather quickly.

S: Dark roasted malt, a good bit of dark chocolate, and hints of vanilla and coffee.

T: Chocolatey for sure, but was expecting a bit more, was hoping for a fudgy brownie, but instead got a plain hershey bar. Not bad, just not amazing. Also some roasted malt, vanilla, coffee, and a bit of sugary sweetness.

M: Medium bodied with a nice level of carbonation. Slight heat from the alcohol.

O: Pretty good, but not the chocolate monster I was expecting. Have another bottle in the cellar and will revisit it sooner than later.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2011 21:31:15 | More by mdaschaf

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

As I often do, I need to thank Masterski for providing this beer. It was our drink of choice during the 3rd period of Bruins Game 7 last night. Great game and really nice beer. Thanks Alex!

Even with an aggressive pour you hardly get a bubble atop this beer let alone a head. Shiny black colored. Looks very slick and also fairly thick.

Sweet chocolate syrup aroma with plenty of dark roasted malt to compliment this sweetness.

Flavor reminded me of malted milk at times and other moments like Nestle’s Quik. A hint of molasses perhaps. Pretty sweet. The cacao nibs seemed to add depth to the dark roasted malt flavors.

Slick as advertised and pretty bold body. Carbonation did not come to mind, but it also wasn’t flat. Just a prickle to liven up the flavor.

Nice little beer, but certainly no BCS....

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2011 12:30:00 | More by Reagan1984

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

prototypic

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Big John pours an onyx color. Looks pitch black. No light cutting through at all. Very ominous…and impressive. Unfortunately, there were only a few mocha colored bubbles that collected on the top. Just enough to cover the surface. It disappeared quickly, leaving trace amounts of lace behind. Love the color though.

The nose is alright. It kicks off with a healthy amount of chocolate malt. Cocoa is definitely noted, but it also smells quite sweet and sugary. Roasted malts and light coffee follow. There’s a host of secondary scents – dark fruit, molasses, caramel, vanilla bean, black licorice, and a bit of a burnt smell. It really is quite the mix. Alcohol is a little stronger in the mix than it should be. Smells boozy. I’m hopeful it’s a little less apparent in flavor.

The flavor is pretty good. It’s actually quite consistent with the nose. Chocolate, caramel, and roasted malts kick it off. The chocolate variety features a little cocoa, but it seems to be masked by the sweet presence of caramel and milk chocolate. It is very sweet and sugary. A little too sweet, if you ask me. Secondary flavors include a little coffee, tangy dark fruit, molasses, and licorice. It has a slight burnt flavor, but it’s very subtle. Alcohol is definitely noted in flavor. It’s a little boozy and runs just a tad warm. Finishes with a sweet combo of caramel and chocolate.

Big John, incidentally, has a medium body. It’s not quite as full and chewy as it probably should be. Edit: warming helps a little. Light carbonation helps to smooth it out some, but more body is needed. In any event, it’s still a sipper. The alcohol certainly lends to its ‘big’ stature moreso than the body.

Big John is an okay release from Goose Island. It’s not bad. But, given the loft status of Night Stalker and Bourbon County Stout (and its variations), I knew Big John probably would not live up to its siblings. It most definitely does not. I’m not a fan of the tangy dark fruit presence. There’s also the overly strong alcohol, very sweet flavor, and deficient body. That all probably makes it sound worse than it really is. I’m probably being hard on it because Goose Island has done a wonderful job with its other stouts. For what it's worth, it's pretty good. Not great, but not bad either.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 04:25:11 | More by prototypic

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

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -12%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

pour is opaque dark brown with a tight tan head. The nose is interesting, it has hit of bourbon as in bcbs, a bit sweeter, fair amount of olive, light vanilla in back, hints of magic marker. The taste is sweeter than I thought, not as much bourbon in the nose, there is hints of tootsy roll, vanilla and chocolaty, roasty malts underneath. On the sweeter end, very soft feel, light carb, inviting palate.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 17:00:13 | More by cpetrone84

Pencible

Virginia

3.85/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: This poured an opaque black with moderate dark tan had.
S: It smelled like strong metallic copper, with some artificial vanilla and salted caramel and honey butter.
T: It tasted like burnt coffee and cream and metallic hops, with some dark chocolate and sweet vanilla. It had a bittersweet aftertaste with alcohol warming.
M: It was super thick with moderate carbonation. Huge body.
D: This was an interesting double stout, with sugary scent and bold taste and tons of body. The finish was somewhat harsh, so it must be sipped. Age may help mellow. Fresh, this beer seemed like the result of big aspirations that didn't quite come together.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 19:41:58 | More by Pencible

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

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

Tasting notes from 6/18/11. Thanks to korguy123 for this bottle.
Poured in to Duvel tulip.

A - Dark brown/black colour with half a finger of medium brown head that slowly dissipated.

S - Cocoa, bitterness, sweet molasses, roasted malts. Very bold and robust overall nose.

T - Bittersweet cocoa, intense licorice, sweet molasses and dark fruit. A touch hot but that seems to nicely balance out the sweetness.

M - Medium to full body; thick and chewy at times. Light to moderate carbonation.

O - An excellent imperial stout. I loved this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 03:00:33 | More by TheSevenDuffs

claspada

New Jersey

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

Pours pretty much black in color with a medium size dark khaki head that leaves some solid lacing as it recedes.

Aromas begin with an almost chocolate liqueur smell. Lots of dark and milk cocoa with some lesser coffee and dark, roasted malts. A bit of molasses emerges as it warms.

The tastes begin with intense amounts of chocolate flavor. Lots of darker bitter chocolate, cocoa powder and some sweeter milk chocolate. The same sort of chocolate liqueur character is there along with the lightly roasted malt and mild espresso coffee. More sweet than roasty for sure.

The mouthfeel is medium to heavy in body, but not as thick and rich as I expected. Medium, balanced amount of carbonation which is necessary for such a rich beer.

Overall I had very low expectations for this beer given its bad reputation/ratings but some cellaring has done this good. The booziness was mellow and the chocolate seemed appropriate and not over-bearing for a beer that advertises itself as a beer aged on cocoa nibs. Not sure how this tasted fresh but it is definitely going in the right direction now.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 17:39:09 | More by claspada

BretSikkink

Mexico

4.05/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Big is apt. Pours black and quite thick. No real head to speak of. A non-BA said it looked like soy sauce when I poured.

Chocolate is huge in the nose. Some alcohol is noted, along eith a bourbon note.

This is a big badass beer. Chocolate, cocoa, espresso, smoke, and woodiness all seep in here. Alcohol is massive, and although the flavor complexity is increased, drinkability takes a huge hit.

I enjoyed it but it's not for everyone.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2011 05:15:17 | More by BretSikkink

ktrillionaire

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

The brew pours a deep, oily black hue, and is capped with a healthy share of khaki froth. The nose offers more general roast character than any specific nuance of chocolate or cocoa. The aroma is not off-putting, but it is quite one-dimensional, even if that dimension is pleasant. The flavor, on the other hand, is bordering on acrid in its roastiness; even less nuance is to be found here. The beer is silky and rich-feeling on the palate, which covers up for a lot of the overly burnt flavor. Overall this is an underwhelming brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 17:36:38 | More by ktrillionaire

sweemzander

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz. bottle poured into a snifter. 03/25/11 bottled date. Thanks to cjacobsen for sharing!

(A)- Pours a fairly thick pitch black color. Produced a decent cap of tan froth. Surprising retention for the ABV.

(S)- A good roasted profile. Bits of cocoa, raisin, and a light spice.

(T)- Similar to the smell. A really nice combo of a green hoppy roasted profile with a dry yet sweet neutral cocoa flavor.

(M)- A good mellow carbonation level. A nice balance too of roasted, sweet, and hoppy. Just a bit too green yet for my taste.

(D)- A solid to great stout. I can see this getting even better and a great idea to try it around the end of the year holidays to see how it has developed.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2011 13:55:25 | More by sweemzander

mcallister

Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Jet black yielding a mocha colored foam cap that quickly fades to a ring around the glass.

Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, vanilla, black fruits, heavy cream, light tobacco and leathery notes.

Nice creamy mouthfeel, good amount of carbonation keeps things light on the palate. Big cocoa, dark chocolate, cream, mocha latte like, bitter chocolate on the finish with black fruits through the middle. Blueberry on the finish is very nice and adds a layer of complexity. Vanilla is driven and sweet. Some sugary sweetness throughout. Another great stout by the Goose. Will they last?

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2011 22:36:22 | More by mcallister

rye726

Colorado

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

Up for review is a 22oz bottle of Big John from Goose Island. Poured into a snifter at cellar temp. Nice dark color and an espresso head. Notes of chocolate over roasted malts, dark pitted fruits and hops. Mediu to full body drinks well. Perhaps a bit over carbonated.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2011 00:36:41 | More by rye726

harrymel

Washington

3.4/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bottled 25MAR11

A: pours near black. Transient foam production is mocha and disappears before I could type this. Pretty much a black mirror surface. No lace.

S: Chocolate, molasses, alcohol and dark cherries. Some hints of vanilla.

T: More of the same. Starting to wonder why they made this. Just tastes like Nightstalker with 18 months on it. Just a little less molasses and a little more cocoa.

M: Thick with high carbonation. Semi dry finish.

O: Well, this doesn't have near the chocolate I would expect. Too much molasses/dark brown sugar. Doesn't fit the bill for the description. That being said, it's not a bad beer, just not something I will be seeking in the future.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2011 12:43:34 | More by harrymel

Arbitrator

California

3.33/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Chilled bottle into a glass. Generously sent by MasterSki. For the past week, I've been referring to this beer as "Big Johnson" among our tasting group, so I was a little embarrassed when I slipped and called it the same in front of my cousins, with whom I shared it. When worlds collide.

Anyway...

A: Pours a pitch black body with a dark mocha head, much like all of the Goose Island imperial stout series. I think this is the same recipe as Night Stalker, but without the dry hopping and adding in cacao nibs, right? Anyway, poor retention, no lace, no swirls.

S: Fudgy chocolate is immediate on the nose, as are concomitant flavors of roasted malt, licorice, and dark fruit. There's a noticeable component of booze, too. It's not super-solventy, but it's kind of off-putting for someone that rarely finds heat forgivable.

T: This has the hallmarks of aged Night Stalker, which turned into a beer with surprising flavors of licorice and dark fruit. Those are both present here, and they are more dominant than the cacao, which is more subtle than the nose promised. Roasted malt lends the beer some notes of coffee and an occasional, grainy sourness. Unlike Night Stalker, this doesn't have a dominant hoppy flavor or bitterness. It's pretty tasty, but it has a lot of extreme flavors that haven't melded together properly. It's rough around the edges.

M: This has the full-bodied, velvety feel of all of the Goose Island stouts -- and their characteristic heat, as well. It's not as solventy as fresh BCBS, but it's hot enough that you can't help but notice, and trying to drink this quickly will singe your nostril hairs. It's velvety and full -- but it's hot. Kind of a wash for me.

O: This is well-made, but it has some flaws (others might call them signatures) that I've come to associate with Goose Island. I have more coming, and I will definitely sit on one bottle for at least six months to see if that quells the alcoholic beast raging within.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2011 03:29:29 | More by Arbitrator

Sean9689

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the Goose Invasion @ Small Bar Fullerton.

A - Pours black, mocha-color head, thin collar, no lace or retention.

S - Big chocolate, roast, oak, malts. Lots roast and sweetness here, in fact, the alcohol is very well-hidden.

T - Huge chocolate sweetness, roast, malts, burnt sugars, oak, and slight dark fruit notes in there as well. As with the nose, the alcohol is masked by the huge chocolate and roast notes.

M - Full body, rich and smooth, very viscous.

O - Perhaps a bit too sweet for me and really, I could use a little more alcohol on the nose and palate. That said, it's still a very solid stout and we'll see what some age does to this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2011 14:56:03 | More by Sean9689

scottfrie

California

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

22oz bottle into Duvel Green tulip. Bottled 3/25/2011.

A: Pours black with a very dense finger of dark brown head that quickly faded into a thin film.
S: Rich notes of dark chocolate, burnt toffee, dark fruits, caramel, licorice and roasted malts. I get a bit of alcohol vapor as well.
T: Follows the nose with the addition of a splash of black coffee. Sweet toffee, caramel and roast dominate. The finish is boozy but not hot, and the aftertaste is sweet with notes of brown sugar. I get some vanilla as well.
M: Medium-thick body, creamy moderate carbonation, with a soft mouthfeel.
O: Liked it. Would drink it again. It’s no BCBS or one of its variations, but it’s great.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 03:56:09 | More by scottfrie

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.46/5  rDev -15%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bought this 2 years ago at Russell's in Amherst, MA. Bottled back in March 2011, poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Pours a deep dark brown, not quite black hue with a one finger dark, dark brown head that fades rather quickly to leave thin wisps and a light, light halo.

S - Aromas of...oxidation. Not potent, but its there. Old chocolate syrup, caramel, dark fruits, malt sweetness. Definitely smells like an aged stout.

T - Ohh..it flirts super dangerously close to soy sauce. Its just a flash in the beginning before going to well, almost musty older dark bakers chocolate, caramel, HUGE dark fruits with a fair amount of bitter roast on the finish. Flash of vanilla here as well. At least there's no alcohol.

M - Mouthfeel is damn solid. Oily, creamy, lowish carbonation. Not that much booze either.

O - Overall, pissed I forgot about this one as I had bought 2. Wish I'd cracked one fresh....Oh well, time to try and get rid of my other bottle....

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 23:33:16 | More by rudzud