Goose Island IPA

Goose Island IPA comes from the heart of Chicago, but its heart lies in England. While the nouveau craft beer drinkers gravitate towards hop forward west coast style IPAs, Goose Island stays true to the original with their take on an old world variation with a few modern updates, improving on a classic, creating an impeccably balanced and delightful beer. While this beer isn't being thrown onto ships and sent from Great Britain to the ports of Bombay, Goose Island takes great care to retain a similar recipe that would have been used in those colonial days, raising the alcohol and adding a heap of hops. While that concept was used in the past to prevent spoilage, it is used these days for an increase in flavor and impact.

This middle American version of the English classic pours an amber tinged gold as it drains from its bottle, forming a luxurious white head of foam on top. The nose is bright, full of flavor from the over the top hop additions. Hints of mint leaves, citrus zest, and young pine needles are dominant, but, with a second whiff, notes of toffee and bread come out as well. The taste is similarly balanced with big malty tones accented with a raw floral bitterness on the back end. Rounded out with a light carbonation, the beer is hard not to enjoy.

Goose Island IPA is perfect with a slowly simmered chicken tikka masala with a side of basmati rice. It can be paired with roasted chicken and classic sides like creamed spinach or sweet corn bread. Enjoy a bottle of Goose Island IPA while reclining on your fishing boat, dreaming of a round the world trip with stops in England and India. Share a pint amongst friends while watching an international soccer match. Sip a bit while relaxing on your favorite chair with a good book in your hands.