Goose Island Real Nice Surprise

Apparently it is available only on draft: “1/6 bbl in Select markets”.

It reads like an intriguing beer:

“Brewer's Notes

A Real Nice Surprise draws inspiration from two holiday classics – eggnog and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. When our brewers sat under the train tracks sipping on the infamous, and high-octane, Tom & Jerry the team knew the flavors of eggnog, rum and bourbon needed to find a home in a holiday beer. A Real Nice Surprise starts life as a rich porter brewed with chocolate malts that is then aged in a combination of rum, bourbon, and brandy barrels for two months resulting in a smooth, creamy beer that you will love. So curl up next to a fire, have a sip, and enjoy the holiday spirit because this beer is a surprise…A Real Nice Surprise.

Recipe Information

• Style: Porter aged in Rum, Bourbon, and Brandy barrels
• Alcohol by Volume: 8.3%
• International Bitterness Units: 24

• Color: Deep Brown
• Hops: Northern Brewery, Fuggle
• Malts: 2-Row, Simpson Golden Naked Oats, Chocolate Malt, Roasted Barley, Carapils, Munich 2

Availability

1/6 bbl in Select markets”

Cheers!

 

How are you supposed to "curl up next to a fire" when this is draft only?

 

Sounds like a delicious brew!

 

Buy a growler and take it home. Voila!!

Cheers!

 

I had it at FOBAB and was a little underwhelmed, however it may have just been overmatched by everything else in the room.

 

Find a bar with a fireplace.

 

But, yes, that's bad ad copy for a draft-only beer.

 

Why not?

 

Warrens ale house in Wheaton had it on tap Black Friday and it lasted through Saturday. I opted for the 2012 nightstalker instead....

 

ISO Surprise growlers!!

Seriously, anyone know if this is going to appear anywhere outside Chicago? Called our local Whole Foods and they've never heard of it.

 

I had this on tap at Tap House in Des Plaines over the weekend. I really enjoyed it.

 

It was on tap at Burnhearts for their Blacker Monday event on 11/30; but per BeerMenus it is gone.

 

Had it at United Center yesterday. I am a huge fan.

 

I got this in the Test Beer bottle and assuming it's the same beer, it's pretty damn good. Not a ton of barrel flavor, but it's good.

 

My buddy had one not knowing about the release and said it was really good. I am going to hit the GI taproom once or twice this weekend and plan on testing one out.

 

I would imagine it'll pop up some places. With that being said, it just dropped last week (I think? Everything runs together during the holidays...), so it might take a little while.

I didn't love it, but it's definitely a very pleasant beer. My thought is that it's the type of thing I'd want to drink at a Christmas party--Strong, but not too strong, and very easy to drink, almost like a comfort beer. Nothing like the palate-blaster that is BCBS (and GI's similar stouts).