Our tour of holiday brews continues with Goose Island’s Christmas Ale. Located in Chicago, Goose Island Brewery is named after the only island on the Chicago River in Illinois. Goose Island changes it’s recipe for it’s Christmas Ale each year. Lets see what this years bottle of Christmas cheer has to offer.
Christmas Ale pours a chocolate brown color with about one fingers of beige head. It has a deep fruity aroma with notes of orange and pumpkin, and a hint of malt. This ale has a heavy fruit flavor with notes of caramel and figs. It also has a unique woodsy element to it. It has mellow carbonation with a mild creamy body. Goose Island's Christmas Ale has a sweet ending with hints of ginger, spice, and pine, followed by a nice lingering semi-dry finish. The alcohol is very apparent in this brew. It weights in at 6.2% on the ABV scale.
There is a bit more of an alcohol taste to this ale. It's noticeable in the flavor, and not as masked as some of the other winter style brews I've had with a higher ABV. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, and doesn't take away from the flavor notes of the ale itself. It really is up to the drinkers preference. If you're not a fan of strong drinks this ale may not be for you. But if you like sipping your alcohol on the rocks, this brew may be more fitted to your tastes. This Ale was stronger than most, but not to the point where I didn't enjoy it. Personally, I like strong drinks, whiskey on the rocks and such, but I don't enjoy that strong taste as much in my beer. I prefer to drink beer, not sip it. For me, this brew landed somewhere in the middle.
Pairings/ Recommendations
Had a long day? Have to do it all over again tomorrow? Then pour yourself a glass of Goose Island Christmas Ale. It would make the perfect night cap to help with what little time you have to unwind. One or two of these should have you ready for the pillow with a little less worry on the mind, and tension in the shoulders.
Cheers!!!
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