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Harvest Ale
Goose Island Beer Co.
- From:
- Goose Island Beer Co.
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
- ABV:
- 5.7%
- Score:
- 84
- Avg:
- 3.73 | pDev: 12.06%
- Reviews:
- 405
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Apr 01, 2019
- Added:
- Sep 03, 2007
- Wants:
- 25
- Gots:
- 60
Dark auburn color, citrus hop aroma, caramel flavor, medium body
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Beerandraiderfan:
Reviewed by Beerandraiderfan from Nevada
3.5/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A rather dark amber appearance for what I was expecting in a harvest ale. An enjoyable aroma that isn't really hop forward, this is like a combination of every style for this time of year: Octoberfest and hop harvest beers. It has the nutty malt roast that really is as prevalent as the hops.
Plenty of caramel, malt nuttiness in the flavor profile. A discreet bitterness to the beer. Throw in a little bit of toffee as well. This is definitely the most unique harvest ale I've ever had. You have to wonder what hop harvest this came from, seems a lot more likely to be a noble hop variety moreso than anything Yakima based. I dunno, is there like some midwest grain harvest time that is the same as the usual hop harvest window, that is the basis for this beer? This really comes off as an Octoberfest harvest, from the mildly sweet toffee, to the solid malt backbone.
Overall, not anything that I was expecting, but also, that was part of what made it unique and enjoyable. Lots of other harvest ales I'd rather have, but this one definitely occupies its own place in harvest ale history.
Oct 08, 2012Plenty of caramel, malt nuttiness in the flavor profile. A discreet bitterness to the beer. Throw in a little bit of toffee as well. This is definitely the most unique harvest ale I've ever had. You have to wonder what hop harvest this came from, seems a lot more likely to be a noble hop variety moreso than anything Yakima based. I dunno, is there like some midwest grain harvest time that is the same as the usual hop harvest window, that is the basis for this beer? This really comes off as an Octoberfest harvest, from the mildly sweet toffee, to the solid malt backbone.
Overall, not anything that I was expecting, but also, that was part of what made it unique and enjoyable. Lots of other harvest ales I'd rather have, but this one definitely occupies its own place in harvest ale history.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
3.67/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.67/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Dark golden in color; very see-through.
A frothy head & lacing.
Malts & hops compete in the nose, perhaps the malts get the upper hand with a hint of syrup-y sweetness.
Fairly substantial mouthfeel, but quaffable.
Bread-y malts dominate the front end; touch of bitterness on the back.
Not a ton of flavor, but I think that's how I feel about most ESB's. Far from the worst I've had, but not enough to make me love the style.
Apr 01, 2019A frothy head & lacing.
Malts & hops compete in the nose, perhaps the malts get the upper hand with a hint of syrup-y sweetness.
Fairly substantial mouthfeel, but quaffable.
Bread-y malts dominate the front end; touch of bitterness on the back.
Not a ton of flavor, but I think that's how I feel about most ESB's. Far from the worst I've had, but not enough to make me love the style.
Reviewed by Offa from California
4.34/5 rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.34/5 rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Had 16 Dec. 2013- transcribed from notes from that day.
Copper, big off-white head slowly shrinks to frothy ring, dense wisps and foam, some lace.
Aroma is bright herb, citrus,caramel, light dried fruits, toast.
Taste is nice dried cherry and cranberry, caramelised toast, wood and citrus. Nice, full-bodied, zesty. It's excellent and one of their best beers of the ones I've had.
Nov 04, 2018Copper, big off-white head slowly shrinks to frothy ring, dense wisps and foam, some lace.
Aroma is bright herb, citrus,caramel, light dried fruits, toast.
Taste is nice dried cherry and cranberry, caramelised toast, wood and citrus. Nice, full-bodied, zesty. It's excellent and one of their best beers of the ones I've had.
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.46/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.46/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Comes in between auburn and amber. The aroma was Oktoberfest like, got me thinkin this wasn't a hop "harvest" ale, maybe its the barley? Nutty.
Caramel and nuttiness dominate. I know Goose Island makes an Oktoberfest, I think this is just like, a "fresh malt" version? Its a well made beer, it just wasn't at all what I was expecting.
Aug 05, 2016Caramel and nuttiness dominate. I know Goose Island makes an Oktoberfest, I think this is just like, a "fresh malt" version? Its a well made beer, it just wasn't at all what I was expecting.
Harvest Ale from Goose Island Beer Co.
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
1094 ratings
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