Goose Island Honkers Ale

Nothing soothes the soul better than a good old American craft beer. Yesterday was a commute home from work right out of hell. I caught a train home that I usually take and sat on it for an hour without moving. The conductor came over the intercom three times about the reason for the delay; each time the reason was different than the previous. Really a trustworthy and reliable source.

After an hour of being held prisoner, we were told we could get off the train. By this time, because of the trouble, another three trains worth of people had piled up to go the same route home. Soon they announced that a “special” train was going to our stops and the chaos ensued. Rather than trying to fight my way for a chance to even get standing room on the train (a single train is usually packed and close to standing room without having to worry about another three train loads), I decided to call the wife and see if she would mind packing up the kids and coming to pick me up.

Based on the time of the train I would be able to catch and the fact that it wouldn’t be an express, her coming to get me, going to pick up my car, and driving home would be faster. She agreed. I didn’t make it home until 9:00pm or so and had to cancel Thursday night site discussion with Rich (read Thursday night beer night). Probably the day each week I look forward to was ruined by a shitty ass switching problem on the BNSF! Fuck!

I had some swill of Chinese food from the train station for dinner that was upsetting my stomach, so I decide to have a beer at the bar in the train station. My choices: Miller Lite, Budweiser, and Goose Island Honkers Ale.

Of course I had to choose the only micro brew out of the group. Served way to cold and quite possibly in what I thought was dirty lines, I still took pleasure in the liquid goodness of an American craft beer. I really didn’t take notes as the beer just didn’t seem right; maybe it was me, since I was pissed about the train. Needless to say, what an adventure. I can’t wait for a PLE tonight. Enjoy!

Useless Fact: California has issued 6 drivers licenses to people named “Jesus Christ.”

Goose Island Rare Bourbon County Stout

Rare Bourbon County Stout by Goose Island is the last in the line of Bourbon County releases this year. It is also, by far, the most anticipated and talk about release of the four (normal, coffee, vanilla, and rare).

There are several reasons why this American craft beer is on everyone’s radar (maybe not to buy, but just out of curiosity, at least):

• This is the base beer of Bourbon County Stout aged in 23-year old Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrels for 2-years.
• Speculation on the cost of the bottles ranged from over $80 to the eventual cost of $42.99 for a 22 ounce bottle. Almost $2.00 per ounce.
• 12,000 bottles (or so) were produced.
• How much better could this huge stout get after being aged in these rare bourbon barrels?

Shared this with my wife and Rich on New Year’s Eve and it was the perfect beer to start the evening. Wow, this beer is damn near perfect in all ways. Definitely one to be savored and shared with friends. I think I could have easily rated this one a perfect 10, but I don’t like saying a beer is perfect, especially since I haven’t tried them all to compare. Recently had Black Tuesday, finding that beer to be in the stratosphere, I really believe that Rare is in the team photo.

The beer is huge in complexities and, quite possibly, almost worth the price. I wouldn’t tell you to go broke if you can’t afford it, but pitch in and share with friends. You will all cherish the occasion. A thought to ponder: based on the smoothness of this beer currently, what will aging really do to this beer as it is drinking fantastic right now? This could be the perfect time to drink it. Enjoy!

Aroma: 10, Taste: 10, Look: 9, Drinkability: 10, Overall: 9.9

Useless Fact: While in Alcatraz, Al Capone was inmate #85.

Just a quick story about Christmas Day: my Mom and Dad gave me a wrapped box that looked familiar but I didn’t want to even begin to believe what it might be. Eventually it was my turn to open and decided that this present was my number one target. What was it: unbelievably my Mom put out the coin to pick me up a bottle of Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Rare Stout. Yes, I said Rare. My wife and I will be partaking come New Years Eve.

Now back to Coffee. This is my third time having this beer and I must say that the coffee is beginning to fall out. It still has plenty of coffee on top of the normal Bourbon County Brand Stout. This is definitely better than the “normal” version as the coffee adds a unique level of complexity and hides the bourbon alcohol forwardness of the original.

It is a shame the coffee is falling out but hopefully they will decided to make this an annual offering so that I can partake each season. Enjoy!

Aroma: 10, Taste: 9, Look: 10, Drinkability: 9, Overall: 9.4

Useless Fact: At -40 degrees Centigrade/Fahrenheit, a person loses about 14.4 calories per hour by breathing.

The last beer, Oak Aged Yeti by Great Divide Brewing Company, was my favorite by the slimmest of margins over Night Stalker by Goose Island Beer Co. and Racer 5 IPA by Bear Republic Brewing Co.. The Yeti was from ’08, obviously having a chance to age, while the Night Stalker is only a couple of months, at most, old, leaving it with a bit of alcohol on the taste. I am sure with some aging it will be an outstanding beer as it isn’t that far off today.

Oak Aged Yeti is a complex brew that has everything you want in a big stout and then throws in nice subtlety of vanilla, from the oak, to send the senses into a frenzy of happiness. I have a bottle of Espresso Yeti and Chocolate Yeti in the cellar, I am now looking forward to both of those more than I was before. Now the question is how long they will last.

On a completely separate note: I am one review on the site away from 400. You see how hard Rich and I work at these Thursday night web site meetings. Truth in the numbers. Enjoy!

The beer store was loaded yesterday, the amount of new American craft beers seemed at a high, even without the leadership of Matt, the stores beer buyer. It isn’t often that I go up and down the aisle and lose track of the world around me as the new American craft beers on the shelves sparkle and fill my head with wonderment and thoughts of what they would taste like. Oh the possibilities.

New beer list:

• Sheep Shagger Season Scotch Ale by Tyranena Brewing Company
• Dirty Old Man – Imperial Rye Porter Aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels by Tyranena Brewing Company
• Chirstmas Ale by Bell’s Brewing Company
• Backwoods Bastard by Founders Brewing Company
• La Parcela by Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
• Christmas Ale by Goose Island Brewery
• Mild Winter by Goose Island Brewery
• Juliet by Goose Island Brewery

Quite the stunning group. I pruchased a four pack of Backwoods Bastard, a bomber each of the following: Juliet, La Parcela, and Bourbon County Stout (2009) by Goose Island Brewery. Once I get over my cold, happy days for my beer tasting senses. Enjoy!

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!

• Matilda (2009) by Goose Island a Belgian Pale Ale style beer
• The Lost Abbey – Avant Garde by Port Brewing Company a Bière de Garde style beer
• Salvation by Avery Brewery a Belgian Gold Strong Ale style beer

If you look at the reviews you will notice that only one of us actually reviewed the beers but we both enjoyed them. I would rank them in the following order:

1. Matilda (2009)
2. Salvation
3. The Lost Abbey – Avant Garde

Matilda (2009) really was a solid beer followed closely by Salvation while the style (Bière de Garde) of The Lost Abbey – Avant Garde might have been the biggest hindrance for me. I would easily suggest the first two to anyone interested in Belgians. Enjoy!