The Dream
Goose Island Beer Co.

Served in a tulip glass at the Clybourn brewpub.

Not too familiar with farro grain, but I'm always open to something new and unique in my beer. This stuff pours a clear honey topped by a finger of light cream-white foam. The nose comprises light lemon zest, light sourdough, light rye bread, peach skin, and light caramel. Something about this smell doesn't sit quite right with me, but I can't fully explain why (at least not in words). The taste holds notes of musty banana, sourdough, and something akin to toasted coconut. Strange-tasting, indeed. In a bad way. The body is a light medium, with a very light moderate carbonation and a silky feel. Overall, I sense there's a reason farro hasn't been used all that much in modern beers...

The other type of Farro. Thanks to whomever brought this to Mike's place. Served in a Bell's tulip.

A - Quick-dissolving white foam settles to a thin ring and some haze on top, but no lace is left behind. Hazy orange body with a hint of caramel transparency to it.

S - Fruity yeast, toasted grains, some sharpness to it - is that the farro? Phenolic, with a touch of alcohol present. Very unusual and not totally up my alley.

T - I like the taste quite a bit more - clean toffee malts, toasted grains, light Belgian-style yeast, some fruity esters. A really easy-drinking malt-forward beer that manages to avoid being cloying.

M - Smooth, chewy, medium body. Sticky finish, and a moderate-to-low carbonation level. Matches the flavor profile appropriately.

D - A pleasant malty brew of which I could easily consumer a couple pints. Not essential, but does suggest that there are a number of unexplored grains and malts that need to be explored just as much as umpteen new hop varietals.

A - Honey colored beer with a white head that had some decent retention. Receded to a partial ring.

S - Smells of pineapple, mango, a little bit of grass, and some phenolic yeast. Actually really interesting smells there, with a slight hop bitterness if you really look for it.

T - There is some initial tartness that gives way to big pineapple that is not very citric. Some sweet clover honey, with a little lemon on the end. There's a slight bittering presence right in the middle and something that reminds me of passion fruit. Soft finish, but doesn't linger, little buttery.

M - Smooth, moderate carbonation, slightly dry finish.

O - While the name style may be confusing, it's listed as an Italian Farro Ale, this seems much like a Belgian Style Pale Ale. Pretty certain it is not a single-R Faro. Actually a pleasant beer with some good complexity that was easy to drink. Surprisingly, I liked this one.

A - pours a piss yellow without much of a head on it

S - smell opens up with some fruity character, apples and lemons, with a touch of sour character

T - taste follows the nose well. Apples and some other dry, sweet fruits open this up Ina subtle manner. Fades to some subtle sour notes and straw with a bit of country flavors. A lot of cookie and cereal malt is present in this. Citrus lemon linger and pineapple on the exhale.

M - soft, bubbly carbonation with a medium body

D - interesting beer. Listed as an Italian faro, not quite sure what the characteristics of this style are, however this was solid. Worth a shot if you are in the area.