USA Rye PA
Goose Island Beer Co.

 

I had this one on cask at the Clybourne pub on 7/3/2010...served in a tulip pint glass.

A= This ale poured a deep orange amber with a creamy dense 1/2" head (keep in mind this was the cask version served via beer engine).

S= Stunning aromas of spicy rye, citrus and slight pine hops, and a light fruitiness.

T= As good as the aroma was, the flavor was a big disappointment. Started off on the wrong foot with a very stale and cardboardy taste that almost covered up the spicy rye and light hops that were struggling to shine through. Finished pretty dry but that unfortunate stale flavor carried through to the aftertaste. Not pleasant.

MF= Medium bodied with a fairly high carbonation level for a cask ale.

D= This had all the makings to be a great beer, but that off-flavor was just so bad it ruined this for me.

Served on tap in 16 fl.oz. pint (tulip) glass at Goose Island - Clybourn, (July 1, 2010).

I'm not at all sure why this is currently listed as a "rye beer" even the Goose Island beer menu describes this as an IPA: "Go USA Soccer! This rye PA is for the other cup in South Africa. We figured they could use some hops so we made an IPA with some Rye malt, Nugget hops and a ton of Sorachi Ace finishing hops." I've actually never had an IPA with rye before, but they seem to be all the rage these days.

Eyes: Pours a darkish, ruddy copper color with a nice layer of off-white fluffy head.

Nose: A nice clean nose, some lemon citrus, and light pine. I wasn't sure it would make it to the nose, but the rye aroma comes along for the ride also.

Tongue: Quite nice. The flavor, while sufficiently bitter throughout, doesn't overwhelm and the bready, rye components make an appearance in their appropriate supporting role.

Mouth: Good carbonation, with medium body.

Libation: The nose, while hoppy suggests that this beer will be a bit heavy on the malt, but your first taste will probably surprise you when the zesty, crisp hops make their presence known. alances, drinkable and tasty.

Goose Island says: "Go USA Soccer! This rye PA is for the other cup in South Africa. We figured they could use some hops so we made an IPA with some Rye malt, Nugget hops and a ton of Sorachi Ace finishing hops."

Pours a dark amber with a white head.

Really nice rye citrus nose; pleasant and appealing and one of the few rye brews where the rye really comes through in the nose.

Great mouthfeel with light carbonation but very well balanced and just feels good to drink..you want more and more.

Flavors are very yeasty/rye bread but with great wonderful bright bitter hop rye character. The brightness of this beer is especially pleasing.

Long lasting big pine bitter finish.

You don't usually see such complexities and flavors and character from a 5.5% beer; this is a winner (too bad our Soccer team wasn't!)