Cooper Project No. 2: BA Blonde Doppelbock
Goose Island Beer Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This beer is a wonderful addition to Goose Islands lineup! Very good smell of roasted malts with hints of caramel and vanilla. Very good mouthfeel. Not over carbonated and nice toasted bready notes on the tip and nice caramel and toasty flavors on the back of the palate. Overall good beer from Goose!

 

 

 

I like doppelbocks and have Had 29. But, this may be my first blonde... although I've probably Had a couple of redheads.
At any rate, this Barrel-Aged blonde is a wonderfully subtle beer... despite its punch.
I had this beer near the end of its BB date... and I'm glad I did.

Looks are deceiving. But Smells and Tastes are in sync. Malt dominates and I pickup the influences of the barrel. But I'm not going to assign the same character that barrels typically have on ales. This lager yeast is more subtle and so is the aging process. While this sits in my mouth nicely and balanced, it does start to dry in the finish. ABV is concealed masterfully. And best yet, everything improves as it warms.

OA: This is another reminder that I need to get to their tap room at Fulton & Wood. I'm pleasantly surprised that AB lets Goose continue to experiment with its craft and produce interesting brews.

 

12 ounce bottle into a pilsner glass. Bottled 5/4/17, had 7/21/17.

Pours a clear golden color, with a two inch foamy head and lots of foamy lacing. Smells of bourbon, malt, caramel, some yeast, oak, toast, light black pepper. Kind of a pilsner aroma, too. The taste is malt, caramel- lighter for the style, oak, some yeast. The bourbon drops off almost entirely from the nose. Smooth, buttery, a good lighter body, well carbonated.

A lot of nice notes and some interesting twists to a traditional Doppelbock, but the flavor needs to be more intense. Will put two bottles away for a while, see what that does.

From tasting notes 10/13/17
Had on-tap at Goose Island Brewing in Chicago, IL

Appearance - Served in an 8oz glass, relatively clear and color in color with a thin ring of suds found along the edge of the glass.

Smell - The aroma is weak with an odd staleness about it. Watery whiff of bourbon.

Taste - The flavor doesn't fare much better than the aroma. Weak. Bland. Distant caramel sweetness and some faint traces of vanilla and oak.

Mouthfeel - Light-bodied with moderate carbonation. Thin, watery finish with a bit of boozy heat in the finish.

Overall - If something ever tasted like a half shot of whiskey with extra rocks now melted the morning after, it's this. Who would release something so weak and bland?

Picked up a single from King's Beer and Wine 10-21-17 for $3.99. Bottled on 30MAY17.

Beer poured a golden brown with a decent head initially but dissipated quickly.

Nose had hints of bourbon, oak, and vanilla. German yeast strain characteristics were pretty much overwhelmed.

Taste follows the nose with light bourbon and vanilla being front and center. Base beer was strong enough to show thru with hints of banana over a large malt base.

Mouthfeel was medium bodied and very smooth.

Overall i really enjoyed this brew. I am finding of late that i thoroughly enjoy non imperial stout brews like this one!