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Festivity Ale
Goose Island Beer Co.


- From:
- Goose Island Beer Co.
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- American Brown Ale
- ABV:
- 7.7%
- Score:
- 82
- Avg:
- 3.62 | pDev: 12.98%
- Reviews:
- 104
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 23, 2019
- Added:
- Aug 03, 2014
- Wants:
- 15
- Gots:
- 170
Every year we brew a brown ale to celebrate the holidays. To make each year’s special, we alter the recipe. This year we wrapped caramel and dark fruit malt flavors inside a creamy toasty brown ale. May your holidays be filled with Festivity.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
3.31/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.31/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Bottled 9/25/14; drank 11/15/14 @ the Yarchives.
Brown/orange hue.
Big khaki head; thick lace.
Candle wax, mild raspberry & acorn nose; intriguing!
Medium mouthfeel.
Candle wax, mild raspberry...and a jarring shot of pickle juice. A harsh hop bite on the finish.
The nose promised bliss, but the the flavor didn't follow through. Too bad.
Mar 23, 2019Brown/orange hue.
Big khaki head; thick lace.
Candle wax, mild raspberry & acorn nose; intriguing!
Medium mouthfeel.
Candle wax, mild raspberry...and a jarring shot of pickle juice. A harsh hop bite on the finish.
The nose promised bliss, but the the flavor didn't follow through. Too bad.
Reviewed by Hackattack from Indiana
4/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I love brown ales, and I like this one as well as most. Dark red color........low carbonation....sweet... malty... toasty toffee -caramel taste....a bit of hops seeps through in the end. Not a big fan of this brewery, but this is good.
Apr 04, 2017Reviewed by Libeertarian from Montana
4.07/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
From notes taken 02/18/17:
Bottled October 2014, glad I decided to age this although it would be nice to try fresh as well!
Dark copper, but opaque enough to make it a reddish brown, all capped with foamy, frothy almost orange golden-brown head of great retention. Dark fruit, toffee, alcohol, toast aromas. Heavy toast and toffee flavor, overwhelming even the dark fruit suggestions that this beer advertises on its label. A little spicy and boozy and leathery hops, besides. Full-bodied, sticky as hell. Mild and gentle carbonation, but consistent throughout. Warms up quite a bit. Far from your standard Brown Ale, definitely a Warmer.
Feb 24, 2017Bottled October 2014, glad I decided to age this although it would be nice to try fresh as well!
Dark copper, but opaque enough to make it a reddish brown, all capped with foamy, frothy almost orange golden-brown head of great retention. Dark fruit, toffee, alcohol, toast aromas. Heavy toast and toffee flavor, overwhelming even the dark fruit suggestions that this beer advertises on its label. A little spicy and boozy and leathery hops, besides. Full-bodied, sticky as hell. Mild and gentle carbonation, but consistent throughout. Warms up quite a bit. Far from your standard Brown Ale, definitely a Warmer.
Reviewed by Ciocanelu from Romania
3.5/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Clear dark amber color with tan head. Aroma is sweet and sugary with some raisins and dried banana chips. Taste follows with sugary sweetness and belgian yeast character, especially banana and other dried fruits. Medium to light bodied with medium to high carbonation. Overall it's a decent belgian style Christmas beer.
Feb 08, 2017Reviewed by Redrover from Wisconsin
3.32/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.32/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
The last of the 6 pack. I thought I had rated it but guess not…
12 oz brown longneck poured into a shaker, the beer is a medium brown with ruby highlights and pretty good clarity. There is some sticky tan lacing.
There is some dark fruit and bready malts in the nose.
This one has some heat as the alcohol is noticeable in the first sip. Some raisin, a bit of dark brown sugar, some dark bread and a hint of caramel. This one makes me miss the old Goose Christmas beer.
The mouth is a bit thin for me. All-in-all it is a miss for me and may be one of the first real miscues I have had from this normal solid brewery.
Feb 05, 201712 oz brown longneck poured into a shaker, the beer is a medium brown with ruby highlights and pretty good clarity. There is some sticky tan lacing.
There is some dark fruit and bready malts in the nose.
This one has some heat as the alcohol is noticeable in the first sip. Some raisin, a bit of dark brown sugar, some dark bread and a hint of caramel. This one makes me miss the old Goose Christmas beer.
The mouth is a bit thin for me. All-in-all it is a miss for me and may be one of the first real miscues I have had from this normal solid brewery.
Reviewed by DraconusDesanctus666 from Florida
3.12/5 rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
3.12/5 rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Poured from a 12 oz bottle (OCT 5,2016),into a Cigar City pint glass.
Thin,frothy,tan colored head that fades fast.Ruby red in color with nice clarity.Moderate carbonation with fast and slow moving bubbles,that are both small and large in size.
On the nose I get mostly caramel and cherry notes.A little bit of earthy malts as well,but other than that not much going on.
The palate is mostly malt,caramel,and sour cherries.There are even some alcohol characteristics.I find this strange considering it is only 7.7 abv.Also getting a metallic aftertaste.
The body is thin and a bit watered down.Dry finish,with a little bit of alcohol warming,but not too much.
This beer is not my cup of tea,or should I say cup of beer.Something seems off about it to me.Definitely would not recommend or revisit.
Jan 29, 2017Thin,frothy,tan colored head that fades fast.Ruby red in color with nice clarity.Moderate carbonation with fast and slow moving bubbles,that are both small and large in size.
On the nose I get mostly caramel and cherry notes.A little bit of earthy malts as well,but other than that not much going on.
The palate is mostly malt,caramel,and sour cherries.There are even some alcohol characteristics.I find this strange considering it is only 7.7 abv.Also getting a metallic aftertaste.
The body is thin and a bit watered down.Dry finish,with a little bit of alcohol warming,but not too much.
This beer is not my cup of tea,or should I say cup of beer.Something seems off about it to me.Definitely would not recommend or revisit.
Festivity Ale from Goose Island Beer Co.
Beer rating:
82 out of
100 with
531 ratings
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