After going to uptown and Maggie Miley’s for a happy hour for a co-worker, I headed downtown to Fat Jack’s for a Goose Island “mini invasion.” They had taken over 12 of the taps there with different Goose Island beers. Unfortunately, by the time I got there, they were out of their imperial IPA. There didn’t seem to be much for my hop craving, so I decided to try this one.
Numbers: 7.6% ABV
Appearance & Aroma: It was slightly cloudy and deep brown in color. There was a good, creamy, tan head on the top. There was a malty, caramelly aroma from it, along with a hint of alcohol smell.
Taste & Feel: The body was pretty good, with a solidly medium to full body. It had a fairly smooth mouthfeel and an alcohol-like warmth in my mouth and throat. There was a sweet full-caramel maltiness up front. The middle and finish evolved to a bit of a caramel nuttiness. There didn’t seem to be much bitterness, but was lightly warming the more I drank of it.
Food Pairing: This was a solid winter beer with body and warmth, so I think it might go well with a bowl of chili. It might also go well with a chicken breast with sweet BBQ sauce, as the sweetness of the beer and the sauce would go well together.
Overall Impression: It was smooth and rich, with some alcohol warmth to it, but not boozy. While I wouldn’t drink this one fast, it was still fairly drinkable. Overall, I found it to be a nice winter warmer type of beer with a good caramel malty flavor.
My Rating: 
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