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Pepe Nero
Goose Island Beer Co.
- From:
- Goose Island Beer Co.
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- Saison
- ABV:
- 6.4%
- Score:
- 85
- Avg:
- 3.75 | pDev: 11.47%
- Reviews:
- 520
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- May 09, 2022
- Added:
- Mar 30, 2010
- Wants:
- 49
- Gots:
- 336
Belgian style Farmhouse Ale brewed with peppercorns.
Mahogany color, black pepper aroma, roasted malt and spice flavor, creamy body.
Mahogany color, black pepper aroma, roasted malt and spice flavor, creamy body.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by donkeyrunner:
Reviewed by donkeyrunner from Massachusetts
2.59/5 rDev -30.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
2.59/5 rDev -30.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Black with a light tan head. Retention swirl breaks up the all black appearance of my mid-beer experience but Pepe Nero lacks the rocky head and clinging retention I'd expect from a saison.
Aroma is the best part of this beer: chocolate, woody and smoky with a Belgian yeast twist. Intriguing.
Tastes is a flat mess. Belgian yeast sloppily throws around char and wood smoke. Lacks the dry saison refreshment.
I don't like this beer as a saison and I don't like it on it's own. This is my second black saison and if I don't see another that's just dandy.
May 30, 2011Aroma is the best part of this beer: chocolate, woody and smoky with a Belgian yeast twist. Intriguing.
Tastes is a flat mess. Belgian yeast sloppily throws around char and wood smoke. Lacks the dry saison refreshment.
I don't like this beer as a saison and I don't like it on it's own. This is my second black saison and if I don't see another that's just dandy.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey
3.48/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.48/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Had this from a bottle.
A: pours a dark, blackbody with small, tan beadwork ok retention and lacing
S: subtle bretty, olive smell with some alcohol notes
T: some strong alcohol notes with some roasted undertones; pretty winey overall
M: pretty overcarbonated; airy, nothing too impressive
D: ok feel and taste, but the overcarbonation made it difficult to really drink; ok for a saison, but ok overall
May 09, 2022A: pours a dark, blackbody with small, tan beadwork ok retention and lacing
S: subtle bretty, olive smell with some alcohol notes
T: some strong alcohol notes with some roasted undertones; pretty winey overall
M: pretty overcarbonated; airy, nothing too impressive
D: ok feel and taste, but the overcarbonation made it difficult to really drink; ok for a saison, but ok overall
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota
3.84/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
These are simple notes from 2013.
A 17 month old 12 oz bottle into a pint glass.
L: Quite dark brown. Essentially black.
S: Malts and caramel, peppercorns, fruity, citrus and clove.
T: It is malt forward with citrus, dark fruit, caramel, spicy?, coriander, light yeast.
F: Well balanced, somewhat creamy and not too carbonated.
O: Very complex and satisfyingly.
Oct 16, 2021A 17 month old 12 oz bottle into a pint glass.
L: Quite dark brown. Essentially black.
S: Malts and caramel, peppercorns, fruity, citrus and clove.
T: It is malt forward with citrus, dark fruit, caramel, spicy?, coriander, light yeast.
F: Well balanced, somewhat creamy and not too carbonated.
O: Very complex and satisfyingly.
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.2/5 rDev -14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.2/5 rDev -14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Rerate: Well I bought it again "by accident" at Fermentoren, Aarhus. The fruity acidity is still there, so it is probably intended. Not a bad beer though. Original rating: 355 ml bottle, from Ølkonsortiet, Aalborg. ABV is 6%. Dark brown colour, nearly black. Huge and lasting beige head. Pleasant "Belgian" ale aroma with spicy / peppery and fruity notes. Hints of coriander, banana, citrus and cloves. The flavour is citrussy, possibly a bit more sour than intended? (slight infection??), moderately spicy / peppery, just a hint of dark malts and coffee. Okay, but not as great as I hoped. Won’t buy again.
May 08, 2021Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio
3.87/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bottle 2011 drank 2021
Look - fantastic almost black with big tan head
Smell - kind of like a cherry coke
Taste - taste like cherry coke turned into a beer
Feel - medium body creamy with a slight carb
Overall - interesting, not sure about cherry coke
Apr 14, 2021Look - fantastic almost black with big tan head
Smell - kind of like a cherry coke
Taste - taste like cherry coke turned into a beer
Feel - medium body creamy with a slight carb
Overall - interesting, not sure about cherry coke
Reviewed by JudgeRoughneck from Louisiana
3.92/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
App - 8-ball black, w low tan head, decent retention, poor lace
Aroma - licorice, light pine, wintergreen, very low roast, thick caramel, strong aroma of hay
Flavor - cherry, licorice, sweet caramel, light roast, wintergreen, nougat, creme brulee, bready center, no bitterness, spicy yeast,
Overall - very interesting beer, not really a saison but more in the Belgian-stout vein,
MF - very layered flavors, medium-light bodied, velvety, medium carbonation,
Jul 13, 2020Aroma - licorice, light pine, wintergreen, very low roast, thick caramel, strong aroma of hay
Flavor - cherry, licorice, sweet caramel, light roast, wintergreen, nougat, creme brulee, bready center, no bitterness, spicy yeast,
Overall - very interesting beer, not really a saison but more in the Belgian-stout vein,
MF - very layered flavors, medium-light bodied, velvety, medium carbonation,
Rated by Googie from Pennsylvania
4.5/5 rDev +20%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +20%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Very nice dark color, just a little bit peppery. A very nice beer
Nov 14, 2019Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.25/5 rDev +13.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +13.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottled 1/15/13; drank 4/30/14 @ the Yarchives.
Dark plum color.
Tan head; decent lace.
Mild clove & melon nose.
Medium thin mouthfeel.
Coffee, candle wax & black pepper up front; as it warms notes of cream & dark chocolate emerge.
Easy to drink yet rich & complex. Excellent.
Jul 14, 2019Dark plum color.
Tan head; decent lace.
Mild clove & melon nose.
Medium thin mouthfeel.
Coffee, candle wax & black pepper up front; as it warms notes of cream & dark chocolate emerge.
Easy to drink yet rich & complex. Excellent.
Reviewed by WickedBeer from Alabama
4.03/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2013 bottle, The Brass Tap, Tuscaloosa, AL.
Pours a dark brown, flecked gold with the light. Small, thin amounts of carbonated head ring the beer.
The nose has a nice complexity, with malt serving the backbone and balancing notes of plum, raisin, hints of citrus peel, coriander, and Belgian yeast. Good balance, but with just the slightest twinge of off tartness that lingers oh so slightly.
Again, very malt-forward but with much more of a coriander and spiced essence to it. Flecks of citrus and dark fruit, with a nice clean finish.
Smooth, with a low carb and a lightly sticky mouthfeel. Very drinkable, and holding up very well.
Apr 07, 2019Pours a dark brown, flecked gold with the light. Small, thin amounts of carbonated head ring the beer.
The nose has a nice complexity, with malt serving the backbone and balancing notes of plum, raisin, hints of citrus peel, coriander, and Belgian yeast. Good balance, but with just the slightest twinge of off tartness that lingers oh so slightly.
Again, very malt-forward but with much more of a coriander and spiced essence to it. Flecks of citrus and dark fruit, with a nice clean finish.
Smooth, with a low carb and a lightly sticky mouthfeel. Very drinkable, and holding up very well.
Reviewed by mothmanscott from Georgia
3.96/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From notes 12/5/12: Pours a clear black producing 2 fingers of frothy, tan, moderately lasting head that leaves clumps and rings of lace. Aroma is Belgian yeast must, pepper, dry spice, orange peel, coriander and a hint of roast. Taste is dominated by Belgian yeast, dry grass/hay, spice and coriander. A malty sweetness develops as the brew warms. The finish is dry, lightly bitter with a faint note of roast. Crisp, clean and quite dry.
Jan 11, 2019Reviewed by kemoarps from New York
4.23/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
2011 bottle poured into a Hill Farmstead tulip.
Deep borderline colour like cold brew coffee. Fuzzy head the off brown/white of almond meat. Doesn't swell up much, but doesn't fade away either.
Nose is dark complexity. Dark sour cherries and molasses. Hints of plum around the edges with other fruity components, but I keep coming back to that deep rich molasses, which I was not really expecting, and which I'm quite enjoying.
Flavour carries the same interesting complexity that is headed up by a rich sweet molasses and flanked by various dark fruits. Pleasantly surprising.
Body is relatively thin, and it carries heavy carbonation. Very easy drinking.
I was wary of this one as it had been sitting in my 'cellar' from very early on in my 'cellaring' (collecting) of beers. At a lower abv in particular I was worried it wouldn't hold up. I am extremely pleasantly surprised, and in a different universe would gladly seek it out again.
Aug 16, 2018Deep borderline colour like cold brew coffee. Fuzzy head the off brown/white of almond meat. Doesn't swell up much, but doesn't fade away either.
Nose is dark complexity. Dark sour cherries and molasses. Hints of plum around the edges with other fruity components, but I keep coming back to that deep rich molasses, which I was not really expecting, and which I'm quite enjoying.
Flavour carries the same interesting complexity that is headed up by a rich sweet molasses and flanked by various dark fruits. Pleasantly surprising.
Body is relatively thin, and it carries heavy carbonation. Very easy drinking.
I was wary of this one as it had been sitting in my 'cellar' from very early on in my 'cellaring' (collecting) of beers. At a lower abv in particular I was worried it wouldn't hold up. I am extremely pleasantly surprised, and in a different universe would gladly seek it out again.
Rated by Keepnitrl from Washington
3.59/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
3.59/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
2016
Jan 21, 2018Reviewed by AyatollahGold from Indiana
4.35/5 rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.35/5 rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
2011 bottle. Beautiful finger and a half of light tan/khaki colored head. Great head retention. Dark brown beer. Mahagohny.
Nose is kind of sour with some nuttiness with a deep breath. A lot of nuttiness.
Taste is a very nice nuttiness and very nice malts. Roastiness that plays well with the nut notes.
The feeling is perfectly carbonated. Even after 7 years.
Overall, this beer held up amazing. Very good.
Jan 15, 2018Nose is kind of sour with some nuttiness with a deep breath. A lot of nuttiness.
Taste is a very nice nuttiness and very nice malts. Roastiness that plays well with the nut notes.
The feeling is perfectly carbonated. Even after 7 years.
Overall, this beer held up amazing. Very good.
Pepe Nero from Goose Island Beer Co.
Beer rating:
85 out of
100 with
1815 ratings
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