Goose Island Pere Jacques

Beer: Goose Island Pere Jacques
Brewery Location: Chicago, IL
Beer Style: Dubbel
ABV: 9%



I am not that familiar with the Dubbel style like I am with other beer styles. I do know that it is a style what was popular in the middle ages, but died out, and then came back in the mid to late 1800's. They re-started with the Belgian Abbeys brewing them again. I have enjoyed all of Goose Islands bigger beer series they have been doing. I was extremely impressed by their bourbon county stout I had a few months back.

This beer pours a deep brown with amber accents with a light tan head on it. I get scents of this beer as I pour it and I get scents of sweet toffee, candy sugar, malt, and a yeasty scent coming to life. It borders on being too sweet, but it is just really a nice nose on this beer. The flavor profile is a melting pot of caramel, figs, plums, and some spiced rum. The flavor profile on this beer is delicious and focuses on the sweet and complex malt profile. The mouthfeel is very full with lots of carbonation that makes this offering quite smooth and refreshing, and for 9% ABV I only barely noticed the alcohol warmth in this beer. The drinkability is superb on this beer, and I am thinking about what kind of food can I pair with this beer.

Another tasty big beer from Goose Island. I do have to admit I am on the fence about most of Goose Island's offerings, but the special beers they have been putting out are really superb. I also like the fact that the bottle lets you know that you can age this beer for over five years, but this beer wouldn't make it that long around my house.

Cheers!
Matt

Goose Island Bourbon County Stout

Beer: Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
Brewery Location: Chicago, IL
Beer Style: American Imperial Stout
Serving Style: bottle
ABV: 11%


I always associate Goose Island with the Chicago Cubs. When I go to games at Wrigley Field I usually stop by Goose Island before the game for a pint or two (it helps with what I know will happen at the end of the season). I've never had this beer before, but have heard so many good things about it. I have not tried this yet though because I am cheap. I have no problem dropping ten or more dollars on a bomber of beer, but I won't pay half of that for a 12 oz beer for some reason. This is five bucks per bottle. There is no reason to be like that, but in my mind I can somehow justify spending more on a bomber.

Pours an opaque black with no highlights around the edges. A small swirl of mocha colored head dissipated right before my eyes immediately after the pour, and it left minimal lacing on the walls of my glass. I can smell this as I pour it. The bottle states this beer was aged for 100 days in whiskey barrels, and that fact isn't missed getting my nose into this. My first smell is bourbon and charred wood. I also get huge scents of roasted barley, burnt caramel, and sweet vanilla. Glorious! I could keep my nose in this beer for another hour, but I can't wait to taste this beer. The flavor profile on this beer is so amazingly complex. Bourbon tends to be quite harsh, but the bourbon flavor on this beer is in no way harsh. It is as smooth as some of the finer triple distilled Irish whiskeys, but with the bolder American bourbon flavor. Dark cherries and rum soaked plums mingle with chocolate, sorghum, and bitter coffee. All of the flavors coexist extremely well and no one flavor dominates any other. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, but there is a good shot of warming alcohol on the mouth as well. The ABV is a high on this, so the drinkability is more of a sipper and would be most enjoyed in moderation.

I really loved this beer. I haven't been this happy with a beer since I last had some Yulesmith. I am going to need to pick up some more of this and put some age on this beer, but the way this tasted I don't know if I will be able to let this age very long before I will want to drink it. I will warm you though that if you don't like the smell or flavor of bourbon I would suggest not trying this beer, but if you like those scents and flavors this is well worth the five dollars a bottle.

Cheers!
Matt