A Beer Named Sue
Goose Island Beer Co.

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From:
Goose Island Beer Co.
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
Black IPA
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.93 | pDev: 11.2%
Reviews:
10
Ratings:
18
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 08, 2016
Added:
Dec 19, 2010
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  1
Chef Collaboration Series: Brewed with Chris Pandel from The Bristol. A dark yet deceptively light bodied IPA brewed with Debittered Black malt.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ChicagoShakeAndBake26:
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Rated by ChicagoShakeAndBake26 from Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

Aug 29, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by RichH55 from Illinois

Mar 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4.47 by RonRygs from Florida

Aug 22, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by CaptainNomihodai from Illinois

Feb 25, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by DmanGTR from New York

Jan 29, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by spycow from Illinois

Jan 17, 2013
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Reviewed by Auracom from Illinois

2.85/5  rDev -27.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
On-tap at GI Clybourn. 8 oz. served in a snifter on August 17th, 2012.

A - Typical dark stout coloring, more Guiness like. Very thin, light brown head. Good lacing.

S - Pinesol solvency, light alcohol, pineapple, vanilla.

T - Primarily roasted malts, with lesser coffee bean and dark fruits. It's fairly underwhelming in the taste.

M - Light medium body, high carbonation, semi-sweet finish.

D - It's tough to keep in mind that this isn't a stout and really doesn't taste like one at all. The barrel is certainly interesting but I would hesitate at revisiting.
Aug 21, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by bradner from Illinois

Mar 03, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by oline73 from Maryland

Nov 16, 2011
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Reviewed by TurdFurgison from Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I had this on tap at the Clybourn brewpub. The menu notes: "Brewed with Chris Pandel from the Bristol. A dark yet deceptively light bodied IPA brewed with debittered black malt"

The beer was a dark brownish color with a thin tan head. The hops are of the pine needle variety, and the malts are roasted. The interplay is pretty good, not overly roasty and not overly bitter, I guess you could call it balanced in a black IPA sense. Slightly more malts in this case, but the overall effect was good. Medium bodied, light enough to ensure good feed rate.

I haven't really embraced the whole black IPA thing but this one was good.
Jan 30, 2011
Photo of burnheartsMKE
Reviewed by burnheartsMKE from Wisconsin

3.7/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Brian brought up a growler of A Beer Named Sue from the Goose - Clybourn Brewpub. He admitted to a weak seal so a bit of carbonation loss was to be expected. The beer was a quite bitter india black ale. I noticed loads of resiny pine notes which seemed to take on a menthol-like quality. I would've like to tasted a little more of the dark malts/roasted barley which darkened this beer. Overall, I found this beer enjoyable but a bit mediocre.
Jan 23, 2011
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Reviewed by MrDriscoll from Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A - slightly cloudy brown tint with an off brown/tan foam. Nice lacing all the way through to the end of the glass.

A - beautiful combination of a belgian mixed with a slight smoke and subtle southern earth....if you have ever driven through north carolina you know what I am talking about.

T - nice blend of the roasted malts and bitter hoppiness. Slightly earthy with fruit tones.

M / F - slightly bitter and a little dry finish with a nice sweetness. Overall a nice drinkable mix of IPA and belgian.

Served in a snifter on draft at Clybourn.
Jan 20, 2011
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Reviewed by tjsdomer2 from Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Thick brown-black ale with yeasty or wheaty cloudiness. Pretty thick with nice red-brown tint. Good foam and active carbonation. Very cool.

Smell: Bitter hops with a waft of light fruit. Some smoke too. Very good, not incredible though.

Taste/Mouthfeel: A wonderful combination of an IPA and a Belgian-style ale. Bitter piney hops, citrus, banana, and ultimately smooth yeastiness. This one is definitely unique!
Drinkability: So novel, and so enjoyable.

Overall: One of the most unique beers out there. This one fools.
Jan 14, 2011
Photo of AgentZero
Reviewed by AgentZero from Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had this on tap at the Bristol after trying the three ladies (Juliet, Lolita, and Madame Rose). This was definately the best beer I had that night.

A - Black beer that is brown on the edges with an off-white/tan head that dissipated into some decent lace.

S - An intriguing mix of malt an cascadian Hops in the good black IPA sense. Little bit of tobacco, earth, and smoke smell. Interesting.

T - Very nice. Sweet, deep caramel malt backbone with some resiny hops that manage to remain distinct but do not cut into the mellow sweetness very much. Smoke laces the entire flavor, not too much, but a good presence. Really good beer.

M - Moderate carbonation and medium bodied.

D - Pretty good stuff, this is one of the best, if not the best, GI collaboration beer I've had.
Jan 05, 2011
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Reviewed by GbVDave from Illinois

3.97/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served in a snifter at GI Clybourn 1/3/11. Thanks to HollyAnn for the assist!

A: Served an interesting looking black with what looked like a spoonful of lighter brown dirt mixed in. Head never grew more than 1/2 finger and retention was non-existant.

S: Aromas of roasted and caramel malts and some mild dark chocolate. Hops were suprisingly muted. I guess that helped the other ingredients stand out a little more.

T: Once again, this was pretty much on the roasty/malty side of things with the hops not soaking up the limelight.

M: Nice mouthfeel. Big and coating without ever feeling syrupy or too oily.

D: Drinks really well for the abv. The snifter was the perfect serving size.
Jan 04, 2011
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Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
On tap at Clybourn.

Pours pretty close to black with a good tan head and some sticky lacing as it makes its way down. The nose brings forward a good dose of roasted malt as well as some deeper pine and earthy hops. The flavor is pretty similar with a good level of bitterness driving home the hops that sit atop a solid roasted malt base. Good light to medium body with a solid, dry finish. A really nice take on the style that drank quite, quite well.
Jan 02, 2011
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Reviewed by jrallen34 from Illinois

4.12/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at GI into a tasting glass...Pours dark mahogany with a light tan head that is really creamy, good lacing...The aroma and taste are both super interesting. Its an ipa with a roasted malt background. Aroma reminds me a of a light porter. The taste has more hops, bitter presence, but they are very smooth.

A roasted ipa, who would have though its good, but it really is. Try this super unique beer.
Dec 31, 2010
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Chef collaboration with Chris Pandel of The Bristol.

On tap at the Bristol, served in a stemmed Goose Island glass. Black with a tobacco stained reddish highlight in the meniscus of the glass. Sticky cap of eggshell foam that leaves spindly webs of lace.

Muted yeasty aroma, one I associate with brewpub fresh beer, not much depth until it warms, then some malt complexity surfaces.

Bitter grapefruit rind, earthy toasted malts give a tobacco leaf impression. The hop character is mostly bitter at first with some subtle citrus and pine resin lingering. Moderate carbonation. Hop resin leaves residual slickness. Somewhat understated, not especially punchy in the hop dept. but solid overall.

"The beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad, so I had one more for dessert..." -Johnny Cash
Dec 19, 2010
A Beer Named Sue from Goose Island Beer Co.
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 18 ratings