Black Eagle
Goose Island Beer Co.

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Goose Island Beer Co.
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
English Barleywine
ABV:
8.6%
Score:
+5 ratings needed
Avg:
4.15 | pDev: 4.1%
Ratings:
5 | reviews: 2
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 15, 2026
Added:
Jan 31, 2022
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
Goose Island has once again collaborated with Beer Historian Ron Pattinson and legendary London Brewer Derek Prentice for Black Eagle: No. 1 English Barley Wine. Black Eagle is a recreation of recipes from 1666-1989. Made at Goose Island’s brewery in Chicago from a blend of two batches brewed 9 months apart. The first being a 9 month barrel aged beer and the last third a fresh batch. This gives the beer the same aged beer character in aroma and flavor, while keeping some aspects of an unaged beer.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by Chuckdiesel24:
Photo of Chuckdiesel24
Rated by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

3.82/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Nov 06, 2024
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.17 by Sparky44 from Illinois

Mar 15, 2026
 
Rated: 4.25 by mattmarka1 from Minnesota

Dec 23, 2023
Photo of DIM
Reviewed by DIM from Pennsylvania

4.24/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This is quite different from what barleywine has become in this country. The ABV is far lower than average for today at 8.6% and the flavor profile is quite a departure from what's on the shelves. Nose is musty apricots, caramel, cinnamon, and ginger. This tastes sweeter than the smell suggests. The apricot is milder and the caramel more potent. I don't really taste the spices I smelled but there is something tea like plus some dry, leafy hops. Tasted blind I would not have identified this as a barleywine. It kind of reminds me of a Brett beer from de Proef. This is a wonderful departure from the barreled booze bombs I love so much and I am enjoying the hell out of this. Day in and day out though, I prefer what barleywine is in this country today.
Oct 23, 2022
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Released 10/8/22; drank 10/16/22 @ the Yarchives.

Semi-opaque brown/orange appearance.

An even pour yielded a nice, noisy khaki head; frothy lace.

Plum, tobacco, yeast & faint caramel notes in the nose.

Kind of smells like a dubbel!

Creamy, medium thick mouthfeel.

Plum & candle wax flavors up front; caramel & a hint of clove on the finish.

This really reminded me of a well-made dubbel; I'd have another!
Oct 17, 2022