Summer Ale Goose Island

Goose Summer Ale by Goose Island Beer Company

We are officially in the grasps of the summer heat and looking for that refreshing beer to combat the heat. Summer Ale's are usually the go to during the summer because of their light and refreshing taste that cools us down, while we are at the beach or near a pool. I have had a few of this style of beer and I think that each brewery that makes theirs play to their audience that is expecting a particular style from them. For some its the light taste that they go for during the summer. For others its going after a refreshing twist on their style of brews. The beer I am trying tonight is from Goose Island Beer Company. Summer Ale by Goose Island, looking at the label, to me its the refreshing twist on a summer ale. Summer Ale has an alcohol by volume or ABV of 5.0% and IBU of 35. The twist on this beer is that it is a summer style session ale. Another interesting fact about this beer is that Goose Island in brewing this beer only used one type of hop and it was Amarillo Hops. 

Appearance of Goose Summer Ale 

Looking at Goose, I think that this looks like a tasty beer that I cannot wait to try. The aroma is something I cannot help but notice right away. I picked up on a hop note that blended with and orange citrus aroma. Usually, I would be hesitant on trying a beer like this because of the hop note, which tends to be on the bitter side and not my style of beer. I am trying to expand my beer tastes so I  wanted to make sure I gave this beer a chance and tried to figure out if I liked it or if it is still not a particular style I like. Diving into the appearance of Goose Summer Ale, the gold tint is something that sticks out to me. It almost looks like honey to my eyes, which might be dangerous trying to tempt me like Winnie the Pooh. The head or foam of the Goose Island is thick and foamy. Now time to dive in and sample this Goose Summer, session style ale because that is what I write this blog for is try biers. Taste is very important when enjoying a beer for some beer drinkers, if they do not like the taste they are most likely not going to try it again. Typically if it is a session ale brewers are trying to have the same bitter hop taste that India Pale Ale's have just at a lower level, so one can drink it all day. Hence the name Session, have an all day session with this style. Another way some people look at sessions is are they crushable, again something you can enjoy all day. Taste in a session ale is a major factor for some when drinking these beers. 

I took my first sip of Goose Summer Ale and did not hate it, which for me is a good thing. Notes that I picked up when tasting this ale was the floral hop note and a citrus note that blended very well to give this beer a summer ale taste. The bitter notes were not overpowering to the point where I could not enjoy the beer, which points out the session style ale. The mouthfeel is definitely a light body and very smooth. Overall this is a smooth and refreshing twist on a Summer Ale and I think that anyone that wants to try a smooth hoppy style ale, this might be one you should try. 

Goose Summer Ale 

I think that this is a very unique twist on a summer ale and I think Goose Island may have done a great job trying to placate to beer drinkers. With this beer I think Goose Island Beer Company is able to  target beer drinkers like myself who are not the biggest India Pale Ale fan and they are able to also target the IPA fans that enjoy bitters/hops. Trying beers can be hard, if you want to it can be rewarding in finding different styles of beers that you like and can enjoy. Below is Goose Islands Beer Company website and twitter. 

Twitter: GOOSE ISLAND

Website: Goose Summer Ale