Goose Island Cooper Project

Feel similar to this sentiment. Although the bottles/4 pack box is fucking a pleasure to look at. I love the grafic art goose incorpirates and the bottles look like mini post-modern skyscrapers mixed with cubist art.

That being said, its a damn fine scotch ale with a pretty noticable barrel presence. Like you said, very carmely, coconut toasty, malt sweet smooth drink. Little surprised by the bitternes at the begining of my drink (maybe part of the charateristic of the malt or barrel?) But that disapated as I drank it.

I like that they're kinda pushing away from their own self-made market of BA beers. But really the Grand Prestege is the winner and hope that is a beer they produce more regularly. BW is fantastic but I feel they are wanted to make a beer with the same sort of buzz as BCS but with something that has next to no BA component. Possibly theyre trying to push for outside of the company that is possibly most well known for Bourbon County.

 

Would be interesting to try, for sure! Just hoping that some will find it's way into my, although I highly doubt it

 

I completely agree with this. My take that I told one friend was light barrel presence (no surprise considering the 4 months), malty, tad bitter. I did think it had a pretty creamy mouth feel to it. Good beer, but not great. I'd take BB or CW BBSA over this, not to mention they're a bit cheaper too.

Yeah, agree here with the packaging. The bottle is pretty cool. Marketing such as this type of thing (same with BCBS) doesn't really do much for me, but I will admit, it's a cool bottle. I too was surprised with the bitter/hoppiness when cold. Definitely tamed down as it warmed. 2016 BB had a similar hoppiness up front, especially when fresh.

 

Anyone hear any updates as to when this will be on the market for purchase?

 

Picked up a 4 pack yesterday at the Naperville Binnys.

 

Was highly disappointed by this beer.

Backwoods Bastard is so much better.

Got 3 extras if anyone wants them...

 

Should have gotten a single bottle my man.

 

Sold in four-packs...

 

Lots of stores break apart 4 packs and 6 packs to sell as singles. Usually priced 20-50% higher this way, but worth it if you have no idea if you'll like it.

 

Welcome to BA, thank you for this brilliant insight!

 

Read the post above. No need to be an ass.

 

Stuff's nothing special. Had it on tap and the guy said I'd NEVER find any bottles, they went so fast. Went to Binny's and they had 4 packs - I passed. Take a Thirsty Dog Wulver any day.

 

I was really hoping for a bit more barrel flavor. It's a slightly hoppy scotch ale with no barrel flavor when cold. It's a better, solid scotch ale with a touch of barrel flavor when it warms. It's definitely no Backwoods Bastard...but I don't think it was intended to be. I think 6-8 months in the barrel would have been great.

 

I haven't had it, but I can't help but think that comparing it to beers that have spent a lot longer in barrels isn't exactly fair. I get that they're essentially the same, but that time matters in the case of Backwoods and Wulver.

 

Where did you find it

 

It's hit all of the bottle shops in Chicago. I haven't heard of it hitting out of the state yet.

 

Sure it's fair - GI knew who their target market and competitors were when they developed this beer. They must have decided the time was right for an expensive Scotch Ale that was rinsed through a barrel. I haven't tried it yet, but based on reviews I am not expecting much having had BWB and CW BA Scotch Ale, both of which are excellent.

 

I picked up a four pack at Binny's over the weekend. As a scotch ale, I really enjoyed it. As a bourbon barrel-aged beer...there's not much bourbon barrel. Whether or not it was meant to be to something along the lines of Backwoods Bastard or another BA scotch ale, people are going inevitably compare it to that. And it costs more than BB.

 

That's a bit egregious. Certainly more than CW BA Scotch Ale too then. I take back my defense of it, as this beer just became indefensible purely from the price-time in barrel ratio.

 

A buddy grabbed it from Binnys in Chicago.

I trade my extras for Toppling Goliath.