Goose Island Beer Company Goose IPA

“Cotton-candy and grape notes in the nose, with hints of perfume and light floral. Flavor profile is light but fleeting. A wash of chalkiness strips away much of the nuance. As the finish lingers, hints of pine and citrus emerge. APA body encased in hops.”

Lovely, bright, hop aroma—blood orange, mango—with wort-like sweet caramel. Unsweetened-orange-juicy—zesty, pithy flavor—with a balancing caramel note that smacks into a medium-high wave of bitterness. It sticks a bit, but you go back for that orange punch and malty hug.

**Aroma:** “A touch of butterscotch immediately hints at diacetyl. Pine and resin hops aroma take over with oranges and herbs—perhaps some Mexican oregano. Grassy, earthy hops with woody undertones. Medium-toasted malt fruity esters of peach and cherry.” **Flavor:** “Citrus fruit and pine hops flavor. Light malty, grainy flavor in the background. Oranges, grapefruit, and grass. Slight biscuity notes. Pleasant tart bitterness, then the butterscotch barrels in. Reminds me of the old days with Red Hook or Bert Grant’s beers. The diacetyl softens the palate, but is an acquired taste. The base beer seems good.” **Overall:** “Could use more hops flavor to match the intensity of the bitterness. Buttery aroma was out of place. An enjoyable pale ale that calls itself an IPA. Earthy/dank undertones give the beer a gravity or heft, but the diacetyl is too dominant, relative to the hops.”