Sips

Another evening of American craft beer reviews of Oktoberfest beers completed with Harvest Ale by Goose Island Beer Co. and Great Lakes Oktoberfest by Great Lakes Brewing Company. Both beers were good with Harvest Ale being outstanding.

Harvest Ale by Goose Island is a great mix of hop aroma into the ESB.

The first beer of the night was Harvest Ale by Goose Island Beer Co.. I knew the beer was an ESB and, I have to be honest, I didn’t know what to expect from that style being a “harvest” beer. From the time I took off the cap until the sip entered my mouth, I could smell the pleasant aroma of floral and pine hops. Awesome. The beer has a pleasant malt backbone of caramel and bread. The taste doesn’t have the robust hop aroma but it is present while the malt backbone shines. A nice transition from nose to mouth – as you drink you get the hop aroma but as you taste you get the malt. I enjoyed this beer from the start to the finish. Another fall beer that will make my annual list.

I followed with a bottle of Great Lakes Oktoberfest by Great Lakes Brewing Company. The amount of foam and retention on this beer was outstanding for an Oktoberfest. The aroma of malt, dried fruit, and grassy hop seems to be a little more complex than most beers of the style I have had. Similar, your taste buds are coated with the same sensations including some sweetness. I rated this one a seven but in hind site should have went with an eight. It is a really good interpretation of the style.

It was Friday night so I couldn’t stop there, as I was forced to watch 17 again and have popcorn, I enjoyed my last can of Gordon by Oskar Blues Bar & Grill. It is time for another beer run to Wisconsin so I can pick up another four pack of this aqueous excellence. I think I am addicted to Curmudgeon by Founders Brewing Company as I had another. No, I still didn’t rate this beer. I will do so tonight after I have a couple more Oktoberfest brews. Enjoy!