Recently, I noticed that the beer fridge was a little low and in need of some craftiness. A quick trip to Roger Wilco (formerly the Wine Warehouse) remedied that situation. One of the bottles from my mixed six was the Goose Island India Pale Ale. Having had a lot of success with other Goose Island beers (i.e., the Harvest Ale, the 312 Urban Wheat Ale, the Matilda and the Sofie), I thought their IPA would be a safe bet..

Goose Island is a craft brewer steeped in the tradition of Midwestern mass produced beers. Founded in 1988 as a craft alternative, they have rolled out an impressive lineup of beers. In 2011, Anheuser-Busch upped their ownership from a 32.25% share of the Craft Brewers Alliance’s 40% share to an outright purchase of all of Goose Island. While the purchase had been viewed with great hesitation as craft beer advocates feared that Goose Island would lose some of its craftiness as it was absorbed by a macro brewer. To date, I have found that the only change has been a greater availability as Goose Island has been added to Bud’s distribution channel.

Here is what Goose Island has to say about the IPA:

Our India Pale Ale recalls a time when ales shipped from England to India were highly hopped to preserve their distinct taste during the long journey. The result is a hop lover’s dream with a fruity aroma, set off by a dry malt middle, and long hop finish.

I found this beer to be…

Appearance: Hazy, orange marmalade with light foam and lacing.

Hazy, orange marmalade with light foam and lacing. Aroma: Sweet, with a big blast of citrus (mandarin oranges and apricots) followed by a lot of hops and pine cones.

Sweet, with a big blast of citrus (mandarin oranges and apricots) followed by a lot of hops and pine cones. Taste: Just like it smelled with a nice balance of sweetness and hoppy tang. Like drinking an orange pine cone; but in a good way.

Just like it smelled with a nice balance of sweetness and hoppy tang. Like drinking an orange pine cone; but in a good way. ABV: 5.9%

As with my other Goose Island experiences, I found this to be very drinkable. The flavors were well-balanced front to back and while awfully hoppy (it is an IPA after all), it wasn’t overly bitter in the finish.