Is Goose Island Night Stalker infected?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by geneseohawk, Jan 3, 2013.

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  1. notjustgc

    notjustgc Initiate (0) Nov 15, 2008 New Jersey

    I think there are a lot of people misinformed about the indications of an infected beer.

    It's possible there's some kind of defect going on, but none of the described flavors, aromas, etc. would indicate an infected bottle. Maybe some yeast autolysis at some point in the fermentation, maybe some rotten hops, but certainly no indication of a bacterial (or even brett) infection. Not from what I've read throughout this thread anyway.
     
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  2. wunderbeer

    wunderbeer Devotee (360) Mar 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    I'm drinking 11/19 1649 and it's fine. Too fresh for my taste with the piney hops, but I'm not picking up any infected qualities.
     
  3. cogitodp

    cogitodp Initiate (0) Feb 1, 2007 Illinois

    Definitely get some cherry notes, though not saying it is a bad beer. But, it does not taste like previous versions of nightstalker. It reminds me of '09 abyss.
     
  4. jjheinrichs

    jjheinrichs Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2010 Wisconsin
    Deactivated

    Wasn't 09 abyss infected?
     
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  5. jplopez21

    jplopez21 Initiate (0) Nov 14, 2012 Illinois

    I thought this whole 'infected' thing was a joke. But I just opened up a madame rose a couple hours ago and it smelled like vinegar and tasted nasty. Granted I've never had it before, but I've had plenty of belgian ales and they def dont taste nowhere near this bad.
     
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  6. beerinmaine

    beerinmaine Initiate (0) Jun 20, 2009 Maine

    Madame Rose is a SOUR beer. It's not supposed to taste like most other "belgian ales". Do you have experience with sours?
     
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  7. jplopez21

    jplopez21 Initiate (0) Nov 14, 2012 Illinois

    I guess that makes sense then. Thanks for the heads up. It was definitely not my style of beer.
     
  8. beerinmaine

    beerinmaine Initiate (0) Jun 20, 2009 Maine

    Yes, what he said.

    Reading back through here, the only consistent complaints I see are cherry/fruity, thin mouthfeel, and soy. No sour funk, brett, graham cracker, gushing bottle signs of infection.

    I suspect there are some bottles that are off in some way -- but as I said earlier, I can't imagine how it could be an entire batch bad/infected/off, since we have bottles filled within moments of each other, some supposedly good and some bad.

    I think the rest is a combination of people not liking the style, not liking the beer, not liking GI/InBev, or not knowing what to expect.

    I've got a couple in the fridge for this weekend and we'll see how they turn out.
     
  9. forrestbetts

    forrestbetts Initiate (0) Nov 29, 2007 Illinois

    Why would it have any BCBS flavor? It is not barrel aged.
     
  10. beerinmaine

    beerinmaine Initiate (0) Jun 20, 2009 Maine

    What was the taste?
     
  11. beerinmaine

    beerinmaine Initiate (0) Jun 20, 2009 Maine

    It's not a batch thing. We've got people posting bottle numbers filled minutes apart, with some good and some bad.

    It's not the same beer as BCBS and it's not barrel aged, so I'd be pretty surprised if it had much in common with BCBS flavors. Night Stalker is overwhelmingly a hoppy beer; BCBS overwhelmingly a bourbon-soaked beer.
     
  12. poopinmybutt

    poopinmybutt Zealot (631) May 25, 2005 Nebraska

    for people who have had this and last years, what do you think the biggest difference is?

    i've had a couple of bottles from this year and i like it so much better than last years but i do agree it's much different. this years has this sweaty hop profile that i actually like a lot, i thought last years was overwhelmingly sweet
     
  13. ShemRahBoo

    ShemRahBoo Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2010 New Jersey

    what's with the soy/teriyaki aroma and flavor, I definitely picked this up and not as much hoppiness as others are saying. I don't think the beer was infected but it seemed off to me. I have another bottle for another time, but I wasn't impressed with this beer.
     
  14. chinabeergeek

    chinabeergeek Pooh-Bah (1,837) Aug 10, 2007 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    a little disappointed that nobody has gotten a response from GI/ABI yet (or that nobody has bothered to report back on any responses). but only thing i'm currently pissed about GI/ABI right now is that they can't handle distribution for shit, especially for allocated releases, or even stuff like this which one would think aren't as limited as the BCBS variants. i want to be able to try for my damn self already! :angry:
     
  15. chinabeergeek

    chinabeergeek Pooh-Bah (1,837) Aug 10, 2007 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    as only a few others have mentioned, soy/teriyaki is usually indicative of either oxidation or yeast autolysis. NOT infection.
     
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  16. amantini

    amantini Initiate (0) Jul 7, 2009 Georgia

    I had my 11/19/12 1550 bottle last Friday evening. This beer had the same defective tastes mentioned above. Big soy and salt flavors up front and then a heavy burnt sugar taste that lingered like a saccarin aftertaste. This in no way resembled a hoppy stout. I jumped on the chance to pick this up after visiting family in the Northeast for the holidays. I had never seen Nightstalker in stores and I was excited to try it. However, I was Lennay'd after I learned that the hoppy stout I had anticipated, simply didn't exist.

    In all seriousness though, I was pretty disappointed. I sent an email to GI and I have heard no response. Pretty sure their contact system says they will get back to you in 2 business days. 5 business days later, I am not anticipating a response. It seems like a brewery that is rapidly expanding distribution and is trying to combat the negative ABI association would be quick to rectify a problem like this. Sad beer day.
     
  17. TheBandit1

    TheBandit1 Initiate (0) Mar 19, 2011 Michigan

    Drank one yesterday. Tasted great. Piney and hoppy. Really well done.
     
  18. MarcatGSB

    MarcatGSB Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2011 Michigan

    Maybe resend it, it could have gotten eaten by their spam filter...I'm sure they get ALOT of emails.
     
  19. JaysusJr

    JaysusJr Initiate (0) Nov 14, 2012 Illinois

    I had one recently and it tasted good. Hopefully the one I have saved does also
     
  20. geneseohawk

    geneseohawk Initiate (0) Nov 4, 2008 Illinois


    This sir is B.S...... Plenty of knowledgeable BA's on here who have had the style, like the style, like GI/InBev, and knowing what they should expect from Nightstalker over the past several years. Not the same- no way- no how- not happening. Horrible beer that is infected or just made shitty this year..... Iwrote GI and am taking my bottle to them in person.
     
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