Goose Island Beer Reviews

Goose Island Honker's Ale

I am sure everyone has had this beer. After all, this is Goose Islands flagship beer. However, this fresh keg is worth another sample of this beer. The nose is floral with aromas of citrus, lavender soap, and cracked pepper. The nose disappears quickly though, leaving no time for dallying. The taste is slightly bitter with hints of raspberries, soap, and lemon pith. The finish has flavors of lavender, grapefruit, and hints of perfume. The entire beer is quite floral bringing about thoughts of Spring. This is a very easy drinking beer with a dose of tasty hops.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.25/10


Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale

Next we review Goose Islands everyday American Pale Wheat Ale. The nose is quite light with soft, floral notes. Hints of banana, spaghetti sauce, lime peel, and clove intermingle to create a subtle but pleasant nose. The taste has a creamy mouth feel for how light of a beer it is. Soft flavors of lime juice, honeycomb, sweet white corn, and grapefruit juice provide a nice opening. The finish is practically non-existent with only trace hints of hazelnuts and mineral water. This is certainly no Bell's Oberon, but it is better than this beer usually is.

Mike and Tyler's Rating -6.75/10


Goose Island Ten Hills Pale Ale

We seem to be having a theme here from all of the Goose Island beers, as every single one has had an underwhelming aroma to it that doesn't linger long. This one is no different with light hints of marshmellow fluff, alpine air, and rose petals. The taste catches you off guard with a strong dose of bitterness. That mellows a bit and provides flavors of bubblegum and lemon. Floral and herbal notes are also picked up at the front. The back is lighter with hints of mineral water, sourdough, and oats. Still, this beer packs enough hop punch to intrigue some of the hop lovers out there.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7.5/10


Goose Island India Pale Ale

 We move on to Goose Islands English-Style IPA. The nose has plenty of hop presence with hints of armpit and pine present. Lighter hints of honey and hay rounded out a pleasant nose for this IPA. The first taste is all red berries with hints of lemon drops, lime, and mint. These flavors disappear quickly and are replaced with a bitter, toasty finish. This beer has a great flavor to it, but those flavors disappear all too quickly for my liking. It is certainly a nice Winter IPA.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7.75/10


Goose Island Sofie Saison Ale

This has always been one of my favorite Goose Island beers, and this isn't the keg to change my perception. The nose is subtle with aromas of sour grapes and bruised granny smith apples. Lighter hints of sweat socks, wheat bread, and coriander appear throughout the nose too. The taste is quite tart with strong flavors of sour grapes, sour apples, and lime zest. The beer gets a bit creamy towards the end with effervescent flavors of apple must and white wine vinegar. This is a perfect example of a Saison.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 9/10


Goose Island Bourbon County Stout

This is a big Imperial Stout, that is for sure. It pours like motor oil and coats the glass like a red wine. The nose is intense with aromas of candied ginger, raisins, bourbon, and brown sugar. More subtle aromas of black cherries, vanilla, dark chocolate, and chili peppers emerged as well. The taste is sweet up front when its cold (that sweetness dies some if you let it warm up) and presents flavors of fudge, candied raisins, red hots, and chicory. The finish is smooth as silk and blends its collection of flavors quite well. Smoke, cracked black pepper, dark chocolate, brown sugar, oatmeal, and cream formed to make quite the diverse finish.At 15%, this one sure packs a wallop, but the quality shows.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 9.25/10