Big John - Goose Island Beer Co.

Thurgoft

Illinois

3.84/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber dated 12/07/12 split with a friend poured into a snifter.

Pours very dark brown, almost black with a thin 1/4" mocha head that does not linger. No lacing on the glass. Smell immediately reminds me of a strong dark belgian - dark fruits, prune, raisin, fig. Not much roast at all but a little bit of dark, bitter chocolate on the nose. Taste follows the nose very closely. Very flavorful with the same dark fruits but really not too much chocolate. Perhaps a little bit of that dark bitter chocolate, but it kind of gets lost in the mix. A bit of ashen taste way back on the finish. Hop bitterness on the finish and just a bit of alcohol, but its very well hidden for 11.5% Feels moderately heavy on the tongue with very low to medium carbonation. I enjoyed this beer, but it was really not what I was expecting as an "Imperial Stout with Cacao Nibs." Not in a hurry to get it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 06:53:33 | More by Thurgoft

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bottle date 12/7/2012

Pours a midnight black with a small dark tan, almost brown, colored head. The head fell quickly, leaving some little islands of foam and some scattered lines and dots of lace.

Dark roasted malt and chocolate greet you first. Mild coffee notes, marshmallow, and some molasses round out the profile. Fairly subdued nose, not terribly complex.

Dark roast and chocolate delicately interwoven. Rich, almost fudge-like chocolate with some underlying coffee ground roastiness. Vanilla is buried. A lightly scorched layer of molasses lends a little bit of burnt sweetness.

The Bourbon County line of stouts has some of the best mouthfeel around, and this guy does not disappoint. As the same base beer, this is smooth, rich, and lush. Although it lacks in a little bit of boldness.

A very tasty chocolate infused stout. A little subdued is my only real complaint.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 16:59:16 | More by ColForbinBC

dar482

New York

4.06/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It comes pitch black with little to no head.

There are some chocolatey aroma to it.

It has deep dark flavors. It's also quite boozy. It's not like most Imperial Stouts. It has some big chocolate and coffee roasted flavors. I would prefer if it were less boozy and less sweet. However, the big flavors are quite wonderful.

Serving type: on-tap

03-25-2013 05:06:15 | More by dar482

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

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

alexgash

Connecticut

4.15/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

22 oz. bottle. Bottled on 12/07/12.

Dark, oily, inky brown-black. Two fingers of dense, creamy, tight, peanut brown head. Great lacing. Nose of baking chocolate and cocoa powder. Light roasted notes fight through. Nougat and sweet caramel as well. Hints of vanilla, dark fruit, and cinnamon (honest).

Roasted barley and coffee bitterness up front. Quickly gets overpowered by rich, malty sweetness; milk chocolate, dark fruits, figs, brown sugar, and caramel. Almost candy bar sweet (3 Musketeers?). Sweetness diminishes toward the finish, where some woody, herbal bitterness helps break the cloyingness. Lingering chocolate syrup and molasses in the finish. Full-bodied with a syrupy feel. Definitely for those lovers of sweeter imperial stouts. Splitting a bottle is my preferred route for this dessert beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 01:43:38 | More by alexgash

dheacck11

Connecticut

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

Pour is pitch black with rich mahogany finger of head, fading quickly to soft bit of lace.

Nose is ripe and full, dark chocolate, dark fruits, some sourness.

Flavor is big and complex. Lots of cocoa and some hint of coffee. Off set by sweetness of plum, a hint of vanilla. Finishes with big malty bourbon splash. Lots of earthiness and leather throughout.

Mouth feel is thick and full, just like it should be.

A fantastic beer. Not quite the level of complexity of BCBS, but approaching it. A little more user friendly I guess, although only slightly.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 23:47:59 | More by dheacck11

cvm4

Mississippi

4.09/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours very black & medium tan head.

S - Roasted malts, marshmallows, semi sweet chocolate & vanilla.

T - Dark Chocolate, heavy cherry, bitter coffee. Good roasted malt aspect, just not a huge character in it. A bit sweeter as it warms.

M - Thick, viscous, medium carbonation.

O - This beer is a one to pickup.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 00:42:59 | More by cvm4

rodlavers

Pennsylvania

4.24/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25

Served on tap at Kelly's Pub in Chicago. Filled to the brim in a 10oz snifter. Big John pours a thick creamy black colo, with a really smooth tan head lingers on the edge, and some chunks of lacing stick around but eventually fall away.

Aroma is pretty subdued -- some hints of dark chocolate, leather, and roasted malt. It's balanced but not overpowering or too intense. Smells light.

Taste is much more pronounced. Amazing balance of roadted malt and chocolate, with some coffee in the background.

Feel is amazing. Smooth and clear. Very minimal carbonation. Almost like a melted milk chocolate bar. Nice dark chocolate aftertaste.

Overall Big John is very very good. It has many of the same elements as the GI bourbon series, such as the smooth feel. Good stout. Cheers.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2013 14:05:35 | More by rodlavers

ksimons

New York

4.58/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A-inky black with a fingers worth of tan head that leaves a bit of lace around the top

S-roasted malt, dark and milk chocolate, molasses, vanilla, and a bit of coffee

T-tastes of roasted malt and chocolate, almost like chocolate liqueur, black coffee, and light vanilla

M-medium/full body, light carbonation, choclatey sweet finish

Overall this is quite a beer! Lots of chocolate and booze in this one, but not too hot. I really like this a lot!

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 22:49:52 | More by ksimons

elgiacomo

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

22oz bottled December 7, 2012. Served at cellar temperature.

Pours black with a tiny brown head that quickly fades to a wispy cap and ring. Leaves a few short lived spots of lacing behind. Doesn’t take long before all the head is completely gone for a flat appearance.

Aroma is cocoa/chocolate, anise, coffee, dark roasted malts, dark fruits, alcohol. Good strength.

Flavor is chocolate, dark fruits, figs/cherries, coffee, roasted malts, anise, molasses, rather sweet, decent alcohol bite at the end, minimal hops/bitterness.

Mouthfeel is full bodied, sticky yet creamy, low to moderate carbonation.

Very nice Imperial Stout. Nice touch of chocolate, but isn’t overdone. A good bit of alcohol in this one, some age wouldn’t hurt to tone that down. Alcohol does die down quite a bit as it warms, but so does the chocolate at the same time. Good, but not one of the greats.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 05:07:38 | More by elgiacomo

Vixie

Illinois

4.11/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours an absolutely pitch black, no light getting through this one. Forms a bit of a dark tan head which lingers for a bit. Very thick, looks a lot like used motor oil.

Smell is good and what I expected. Chocolate, coffee, vanilla, oak, and a slight fruit smell.

Has quite a bit of chocolate at first. Has a hint of vanilla, and a surprising amount of sweetness, this is almost a liquid candy bar. Albeit one with a punch.

Solid and thick feel to this , no doubt this is a big beer.

Reminds me a lot of Bourbon County Stout, but not quite as complex. It's a bit like it's little brother. That is not saying it's not a nice beer, it is very much in the same family, and being a member of this family is a good thing. I'd say my biggest complaint is it is a little boozy, a little mellowing would work wonders for it.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 03:07:55 | More by Vixie

siradmiralnelson

Iowa

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from 22oz bomber into Globe glass.

A. Pours a 1+ finger of dark tan colored head. Good retention. Moderate lacing. Color is all black.

S. Roasted malt, coffee, dark chocolate, molasses, some oak and vanilla. Good smelling Imperial Stout. Has a bit of alcohol smell, but not much.

T. Coffee, roasted malt, dark chocolate, oak, vanilla, molasses. Had a surprising amount of coffee bitterness for me. Pretty smooth to drink.

M. Full bodied. Medium/low carbonation. Lingering bitterness.

O. Very solid Imperial Stout. Didnt get a lot of chocolate to distinguish the cocoa nibs, but it was there. Very easy drinking for a beer this size. I could see this as a year round 4 pack from Goose Island.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 22:26:22 | More by siradmiralnelson

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.3/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from tap at the foundry in kansas city. Pours a deep black midnight with slight tan head. Smell is nice roasty malts and lots of milk chocolate. Great...wait. fantastic flavor. Chocolatey vanilla roasted malts and lots of caramel ish notes. So easy to drink...
This really is bcbs without the b.
Such a great brew and so worth the $9.99 bomber I routinely see...

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2013 00:16:14 | More by DrinkSlurm

bum732

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

S: Rich, fudgy chocolate, dark, almost fruity chocolate, slightly perfumy, vanilla with some wood notes.

L: Thick, black as night. Syrupy looking. Tan head that dissipates.

T: Dark, bittersweet chocolate up front followed by rich, fudgy chocolate. Earthy bitterness with some maltiness coming through. Finishes slightly roasty, semi-dry.

M: Thick, full-bodied. Medium low carbonation. Slight alcohol warmth.

Great chocolate presence in this beer. Pretty heavy, touch to finish the entire bottle by myself.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 01:41:45 | More by bum732

FreshHawk

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A - Jet black color with a full, creamy, thick, cafe colored head. Great retention leaving a beautiful thick layer of lace. Great looking stout.

S - Fair amount of dark fruit, particularly plum with hits of fig. Roasted malt and a mix of semi-sweet and bitter chocolate. A slight bitter roast that tends toward dark coffee. Hint of tartness in the back, but it's not too strong or vinous.

T - Starts with roasted malt flavor. Touches of dark chocolate. Dark fruit comes out strong mid sip. Plum is quite strong with hints of fig and date and only a touch of vinous flavor. There is a slight burn in the back but it is pretty subtle (possibly because it is 2 years old now). Finishes with a really nice sweet and creamy chocolate. Smooth tasting although not overly sweet.

M - Medium to full body. Average carbonation. Extremely smooth and creamy. Bordering milkshake body. Quite nice.

D - Quite a drinkable Imperial Stout. Flavors meld together really well. The body really helps this beer out. I really enjoyed finishing this bottle.

Notes: Bottled 03/25/11. I wasn't sure about how this stout would be with just cocoa nibs and especially after 2 years. I really ended up enjoying it though. It got really close to chocolate beer milkshake status. I wasn't entirely sure when I smelled the dark fruit, but it worked alright and wasn't overpowering. There was the slightest burn (not sure how it is fresh), but its finish was a heavenly smooth, creamy, chocolaty goodness. Worth a shot, maybe not BCBS but enjoyable regardless.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 04:35:37 | More by FreshHawk

kevanb

Illinois

3.66/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

650ml bottle poured into a Goose Island Brewpubs snifter. Dated 12/7/2012.

The beer pours a deep jet black color, silky as it pours, with a tightly packed tan head, nearly a finger high that recedes immediately leaving a slight ring of film around the glass and no lacing. The aroma is of roasted coffee, bitter dark chocolate, fusel alcohol and a slight stone fruit tartness at the end. Lots of bitter, dark chocolate hits the tongue straight away, tart stone fruit, a bit of cherry and a bit of plum, is right behind the chocolate. Light roasted coffee is present as well, but there is a rather unpleasant fusel alcohol flavor that lingers on the tongue for quite some time. The body is a bit livelier than I'd like, high levels of carbonation, coats the mouth well, with a bit of a metallic dry finish.

Verdict: Decent at best, but nothing I could safely recommend. The harsh alcohol and metallic flavors are really unappealing and made this tough to finish a full glass. A miss from Goose Island, I'll just stick to BCBS.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 01:31:05 | More by kevanb

Irishize75

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into snifter.

A. Pours jet black with a quickly dissipating khaki head. Plenty of alcohol legs and not much in the way of lacing.

S. tons of chocolate. Some roasty coffee and maybe a touch of caramel.

T. Follows the nose. Chocolate is definitely king here. Mid mouth I am picking up some metallic oxidation and the finish is some alcohol heat along with a slightly bitter roast that lingers for a bit.

M. This is the best part of this beer to me. Very thick, creamy and heavy..exactly how a big stout should be.

O. This one was ok, but aside from the mouthfeel nothing about it really distinguishes it from the gobs of imperial stouts out there.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 03:01:42 | More by Irishize75

MiamiRedSkins13

Ohio

5/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

So I went to a tasting in Kentucky where they had big John on draft and after staying until the end, tried to get another of the one limit per person fills. I had gotten to know the guy and he offered to fill a growler.. I had to take him up and promptly grabbed one off the shelf. It's amazing. Really, I wish I could elaborate but I'm at a loss for words.

Serving type: growler

03-01-2013 01:02:34 | More by MiamiRedSkins13

Chico1985

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Cam for sharing, forgot about this beer. Bottled 3/25/11, almost 2 years old now.

Poured into my Darkness tulip, black body with a small tan head that quickly reduces to a thin ring, remains that way throughout. Not the greatest appearance, probably due to age/ABV.

Dusty chocolate syrup in the nose, caramel, dark fruits, certainly on the sweeter side. Shows some age but good.

Taste once again shows its age a bit, but tasty. Lots of chocolate mostly, with big dark fruit and caramel prevailing as well, along with light roast and vanilla. Simple and sweet.

Slick oily mouthfeel with lowish carbonation. A bit hot and heavy on the tongue.

Don't expect Bourbon County-greatness, this is a pretty basic imperial chocolate stout, but it's solid. A bit of a tough drinker with the sweetness/alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 17:16:43 | More by Chico1985

rfbenavi80

Missouri

3.48/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a snifter.

A- Pours black as night, with deep dark mocha colored head that looks thick, but does not linger very long receding to a thin cap and ring on top of the beer.

S- The chocolate on the nose hits you first. Followed by a huge malty, coffee, dark roasted malt quality that every imperial stout has.

T- Follows nose well. However, there is a flavor that lingers in the aftertaste that is in this years Nightstalker. This one starts out nice and roasty, with big flavors of dark roasted coffee and chocolate. Then it is followed by a surprising and unpleasant earthy, soy sauce flavor. Goose Island has e-mailed me telling me that this flavor is due to a change in the hop used on their Nightstalker Beer, but it seem that they might of used it on this one too. Who knows. This one is at least drinkable.

M- Wonderful mouthfeel. Extremely thick, extremely creamy. Minimal carbonation. Perfect for an Imperial Stout.

O- Torn on this one. Appearance and Mouthfeel wise this one is a huge winner. Smell and taste wise not so much. I have no idea if Goose Island used the same hop on this one as they used on the Nightstalker, and I don't really care. I do know that this beer is worth drinking unlike the Nightstalker.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 06:14:36 | More by rfbenavi80

DrewV

New York

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

Pours black as night -- this is the backest brew I've ever seen. Absolutely zero light gets through, even when put up against a bright bulb. A solid 1-1/2-finger mocha head sits on top. Dark fruity chocolate malt aroma pours out from the head as you inhale. Definite chocolate notes peek through. First sip, tons of chocolate with some roastiness backing it up. Delicious. No sign of the 11.5% ABV whatsoever. Creamy mouthfeel that's off the charts. Overall, one of the best Impy Stouts I've ever had. Deserves all the praise it gets, and then some. A bit pricey, but worthy nonetheless. To me, this is an extremely similar recipe to their Bourbon County Stout, except without the bourbon aging and vanilla flavors. Still a ridiculously solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 02:06:07 | More by DrewV

cbutova

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

03/25/11 dated bottle that I have been meaning to open and taste for well over a year. Shared last night and finally reviewed from notes.

A- Oil black pour from 22oz into a tulip. Dark brown head forms to a finger in size with decent retention. Falls to a small ring and only small lace patches.

S- Some oxidation and age comes across but in a nice way combined with the rest of the aroma. Pretty big milk chocolate and caramel. Dark fruit, aged vanilla feel and some dustiness here as well.

T- Age shows more here but again it's not in a bad way. Oxidation and that deep caramel feel at first but more opens up with time. Dark fruit, rich cocoa and roast cracked grains making up a bulk of the flavors. Fairly sweet and some vanilla here too.

MF- Creamy and thick body. Low to moderate carbonation with a smooth feel overall.

Good aged stout with a mix of big roast cocoa and aged caramel fruits.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 04:53:44 | More by cbutova

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Big John opens to a full-bodied Imperial Stout aroma, heavy with sugars and touches of black notes. The sugars are the most noticeable here, with huge fruit esters of fig, prune, and raisin mixing with slightly lesser touches of mandarin orange and berry. More sweetness is added from notes of molasses and brown sugar, as well as thick vanilla. The cacao nibs blend well into these sugary notes, and at least in terms of aroma, are synchronized enough that if the label didn’t specifically mention them, it would be easy to think the stout’s milk and dark chocolate edges were the result of carefully blended malts. There’s also a nice, if light, dark base of tobacco, ash, toast crust, and rising wheat dough to add a counter to the sweetness. Mixed together, the sugars, vanilla, and touches of ash combine with the high 11.5% ABV to bring bourbon touches, though the beer itself has not been barrel-aged. As a whole, the aromas are very nice, and while the sugars do greatly overpower the ashy notes, there’s still a decent balance here, and the dark fruit esters alone are quite lovely.

On the tongue, the beer proves immensely sugary, the opening notes being a sweet rush of fig, raisin, and prune fruit esters, with boosting shots of molasses, brown sugar, vanilla, and even touches of port wine. The bourbon notes from the sugars and high ABV are also immediately apparent, adding an oaky, alcoholic edge that becomes more obvious after the beer is swallowed and vapors fill up the nostrils. In subsequent sips more grain notes emerge, with toast crust, tobacco, ash, and sticky wheat dough adding earthy tones, and the hops bringing in just a touch of bitter pine and grapefruit rind. The aftertaste is a continuation of the main mouthful, the sugars and alcoholic bourbons present in decent force, with an increasing ash presence, and lingers on the tongue for a good while. Mouthfeel is medium, and carbonation is medium.

Overall, this is a nice Imperial Stout, which, even though it does swing heavily toward the sugary side of the scale, still brings just enough ash and tobacco to largely counter the sweetness. What is surprising, however, is the relative lack of chocolate notes; in fact, for a beer with cacao nibs, there’s almost no chocolate in here at all; instead, it seems to simply blend with the molasses, fig, and bourbon notes, disappearing largely into the background. Did the label not say “with cacao nibs added,” I would have assumed I was drinking a standard Imperial Stout. The alcoholic kick is also a bit heavy, filling the nasal cavities with whiskey vapors. Still, it’s worth a try for fans of the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 17:48:45 | More by jondeelee

plaid75

New York

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

On draft at The Lark, East Northport, NY.

Poured a solid back huewth a half finger frothy tan head. There was decent retention and lacing.

The smell featured sweet chocolate and alcohol.

The taste was likewise dominated by an initial sweet chocolate, caramel and a touch of lactose. The flavor dried out toward the finish.

The mouthfeel was full and you feltveery bit of the hefty ABV.

Overall a brawny stout that forces you to slow down and savor.

Serving type: on-tap

02-22-2013 04:23:08 | More by plaid75