Alt
Goose Island Beer Co.

Got a bottle of this for free recently, as I don't spend my money on Anheuser-Busch products. Poured into my stange glass, this beer is a clear, yet dark copper/amber color with a slightly off-white head that's an inch thick when first poured. Head eventually settles to a creamy looking, film surface layer of foam along with a decently thick rung lining the inside of the glass and pretty good lacing. Aromas of bready, toasted malts, a hint of chocolate, and a bit of rye that's rounded out with some earthy hop notes. A very similar flavor profile of course, with toasted, bready malts with some caramel sweetness that gives way to a bit of roasted nuttiness, just a hint of chocolate, a bit of rye, and some earthy hops to give this a nice balance. A nicely integrated flavor profile. Has a crisp, yet also smooth, medium bodied mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Has a clean, somewhat dry finish.

Eric

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Served in a stange at the Clybourn brewpub.

Gotta love it when the alts are served in traditional stanges, right? This one pours a clear dark ruby-garnet topped by a finger of tan foam. The nose comprises caramel, toasted rye bread, light cocoa, and a very light smack of dark grass. The taste holds notes of caramel, cocoa powder, dark greens, and very light grass. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, a pretty enjoyable stickem alt, something easily sessioned (so to speak) whilst watching a Bears game or something here.

 

Appearance: Tons of tan foam cascades off the glass after the pour. Nice swirling look as well. A nice dark brown in color with good carbonation and lacing. While the foam is great, nothing else compares, but Goose Island Alt looks good overall.

Smell: Strong chocolate malt. Very faint, but definitely apparent. Good, not great.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Combination of chocolate malt and sour hops. Everything tastes pretty good, but it's not really exciting. Mouthfeel is nice and balanced though.

Drinkability: The lack of excitement and overall tame nature makes this a solid and easy beer to drink.

Overall: See drinkability.

On tap at the brewery after monthly BA gathering. Poured into pilsner glass, super creamy thick white head with a hazy brownish liquid underneath. Smell is bready and filled with light malts, balanced by euro hops, very grassy. Taste is dry, pale malts, grassy and floral hops, a very smooth beer. Mouthfeel is on the lighter side of medium bodied with a medium carbonation. A good take on the style, very drinkable after a night of heavier beers.

Clear amber great lace nice tight white head
Roasy nutty forward malt earthy
Really smooth roasty malty flavor, finishes balanced and satisfying, big flavor very nice medium body, very solid drinker, this has the hallmarks of a good session beer, not the best alt but a solid drinker.

Served in a big stein, perfect after checking out the hockey game.

Pours a clear copper, medium white head forms, some lace spots on the glass, okay retention, settles to a thin ring around the glass. Smell is sweet, citrus, some smoke, quite malty, bit of floral. Taste is malty, some iron and toffee, wheat, citrus/floral, weak finish. Mouthfeel is light bodied with low carbonation. I've had better altbiers, but I give Goose credit for trying lots of different styles, never had a bad been here.