Clark & Sheffield Selection
Goose Island Beer Co.
Beer Geek Stats:
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- Style:
- English Old Ale
Ranked #58 - ABV:
- 12.1%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #16,982 - Avg:
- 4.1 | pDev: 9.27%
- Reviews:
- 5
- Ratings:
- From:
- Goose Island Beer Co.
- Illinois, United States
- Avail:
- One-off
- Wants
- 0
- Gots
- 3
SCORE
88
Very Good
88
Very Good
Notes:
A collaboration between Goose Island and Binnys.
Old Ale – similar to Barelywine in strength and complexity - this historic English ale rarely gets the attention it deserves. Old ales were traditionally laid to rest in oak, yet ironically, this extended aging from which they take their name, is rarely present in today’s examples. Goose Island has a long-established love for English ale traditions, so we were confident they could craft a superb Old Ale – plus they also know a thing or two about barrel aging beer. As for the oak, we came prepared with a batch of handpicked Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels. We’re happy to report that after a year in barrels, the results were breathtaking. The Binny’s story began 70 years ago at the corner of Clark & Sheffield, and we raise a glass of this superbly crafted ale to many happy years to come!
Old Ale – similar to Barelywine in strength and complexity - this historic English ale rarely gets the attention it deserves. Old ales were traditionally laid to rest in oak, yet ironically, this extended aging from which they take their name, is rarely present in today’s examples. Goose Island has a long-established love for English ale traditions, so we were confident they could craft a superb Old Ale – plus they also know a thing or two about barrel aging beer. As for the oak, we came prepared with a batch of handpicked Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels. We’re happy to report that after a year in barrels, the results were breathtaking. The Binny’s story began 70 years ago at the corner of Clark & Sheffield, and we raise a glass of this superbly crafted ale to many happy years to come!
Reviews: 5
| Ratings: 12
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4/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Semi-clear dark brown pour with no head, as it should be. Smells of molasses forward bourbon, with oak, brown sugar and slight dried fig, pretty mild in general though. Taste is more forward with the flavoring, especially the bourbon and a kick of toffee. Very light and smooth, but boozy in the finish. I would lay down for a tad more to help with the booze, but otherwise a very solid english old ale.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Semi-clear dark brown pour with no head, as it should be. Smells of molasses forward bourbon, with oak, brown sugar and slight dried fig, pretty mild in general though. Taste is more forward with the flavoring, especially the bourbon and a kick of toffee. Very light and smooth, but boozy in the finish. I would lay down for a tad more to help with the booze, but otherwise a very solid english old ale.
407 characters
3.25/5 rDev -20.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Bottled 1/8/19; drank 3/22/19 @ the Yarchives.
See-through brown/orange appearance; champagne bubbles throughout.
A rough pour yielded a small, noisy khaki head; decent lace.
Cream soda, oak, mild burnt leaves & faint bourbon notes in the nose.
Thick, sticky mouthfeel.
Oak, pickle & cream soda flavors up front; mild bourbon heat on the finish.
The base beer is dominated by the barrel here; it's not terrible but I'd rather just have a bourbon.
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look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Bottled 1/8/19; drank 3/22/19 @ the Yarchives.
See-through brown/orange appearance; champagne bubbles throughout.
A rough pour yielded a small, noisy khaki head; decent lace.
Cream soda, oak, mild burnt leaves & faint bourbon notes in the nose.
Thick, sticky mouthfeel.
Oak, pickle & cream soda flavors up front; mild bourbon heat on the finish.
The base beer is dominated by the barrel here; it's not terrible but I'd rather just have a bourbon.
458 characters
4.33/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Interesting look. No lacing in the pour and you can’t see any carbonation but it’s in the mouthfeel. I like the light brown color too. You can see straight through it. Tastewise the barrel is there although not as forward as in BCS. I recently had the latest Firestone Aniversary (22 I think?) which is an olde ale and I found that to be a bit too sweet for me (although still great and super complex.) This dials down on the sweetness which I like, but lacks some of that complexity. For the price I paid ($9 I think) this is a great buy and shouldn’t be passed up. It doesn’t quite match the best of the best though.
626 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Interesting look. No lacing in the pour and you can’t see any carbonation but it’s in the mouthfeel. I like the light brown color too. You can see straight through it. Tastewise the barrel is there although not as forward as in BCS. I recently had the latest Firestone Aniversary (22 I think?) which is an olde ale and I found that to be a bit too sweet for me (although still great and super complex.) This dials down on the sweetness which I like, but lacks some of that complexity. For the price I paid ($9 I think) this is a great buy and shouldn’t be passed up. It doesn’t quite match the best of the best though.
626 characters
3.85/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a clear caramel color, small head fades quickly, no lacing.
Mild fruity aroma with a hint of bourbon.
Taste is similar to the aroma.
Texture is very thin.
Brewed by Goise Island for Binny's under their Clark & Sheffield banner.
233 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a clear caramel color, small head fades quickly, no lacing.
Mild fruity aroma with a hint of bourbon.
Taste is similar to the aroma.
Texture is very thin.
Brewed by Goise Island for Binny's under their Clark & Sheffield banner.
233 characters
3.65/5 rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
16.9oz bottle, drink by January 8, 2021, poured into a 14oz oversized brandy snifter.
The beer pours a dark amber color, caramel and honey hues when struck by the light with a fairly clear complexion and a thin bone colored head that has minimal retention and yields no substantive lacing. The aroma is nice, lots of toasted grain and coconut, soft burnt oak, caramel and brown sugar, light stone fruits and a warm bourbon character. The flavors are good, heavily toasted grain, lightly toasted coconut, strong charred wood, mild bourbon character, light raisin and stone fruit at the finish. The mouthfeel is good, a bit thinner and more medium bodied but it coats well and has a nice lively texture and a warm finish.
Verdict: A good Olde Ale from Goose Island and Binnys. It's extremely toasty, lots of cereal grains in this one with a nice barrel presence and a fair balance of flavors. Not quite into the BCBS realm but this is a good Olde Ale and if you like toasted grains, this beer will be a hit.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
16.9oz bottle, drink by January 8, 2021, poured into a 14oz oversized brandy snifter.
The beer pours a dark amber color, caramel and honey hues when struck by the light with a fairly clear complexion and a thin bone colored head that has minimal retention and yields no substantive lacing. The aroma is nice, lots of toasted grain and coconut, soft burnt oak, caramel and brown sugar, light stone fruits and a warm bourbon character. The flavors are good, heavily toasted grain, lightly toasted coconut, strong charred wood, mild bourbon character, light raisin and stone fruit at the finish. The mouthfeel is good, a bit thinner and more medium bodied but it coats well and has a nice lively texture and a warm finish.
Verdict: A good Olde Ale from Goose Island and Binnys. It's extremely toasty, lots of cereal grains in this one with a nice barrel presence and a fair balance of flavors. Not quite into the BCBS realm but this is a good Olde Ale and if you like toasted grains, this beer will be a hit.
1,008 characters
Clark & Sheffield Selection from Goose Island Beer Co.
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
12 ratings
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