Summertime - Goose Island Brewing Company

After scrubbing my palate of the Wild Blue fiasco that just occurred (see previous post) I decided to try a little redemption in the form of a summer beer that shares the season's name. First Goose Island to be reviewed and I would like to give a special thanks to Sarah W. for leaving this behind after our BBQ :-)

Vitals:

Name: Summertime

Style: Kolsch

IBU: 20

ABV: 4.7%

Gravity: ??

Purchased at: Left behind after BBQ

Descriptions:

Appearance: Beer pours an enticing golden yellow, with plenty of carbonation drifting quickly to the top. This is a welcome sight, and Kolsch is a good choice, as I've been drinking mostly wheat (i.e. hefe) summer beers, so it'll be nice to have something a bit more filtered, less cloudy, etc.

Smell: Nice citrus-y and grassy smells with a hint of bread from the grain they've used here. Smells like most Kolschs I've had, nothing really stands out here but it seems that this will be a solid beer.

Taste: Grainy/bready and malt flavors stand out here with some lemon tartness. There's a faint taste of grassy hops on the back-end, but obviously hops are not the focus of a Kolsch so it's an appropriate level. This beer is not very complex but has a nice balance to it and certainly does justice to the style.

Mouthfeel: Light and carbonated on the palate with a nice crispness to it. There's a minimal bite, but nothing too noticeable in that department. This is a very light-bodied drinkable beer.

Overall Grade: B

Comments: This is a very drinkable beer for your various summer festivities - it would be good on a boat while you're enjoying the water or out at a BBQ just getting some sun. More so than hefeweizens, which are heavier in body and typically with a yeastier and breadier taste, this beer could be enjoyed all day long. You get what you expect here, with nothing particularly eye-opening, but a pleasant tasting beer nonetheless. Make sure to keep drinkability in mind here; if I'm doing less than 3-4 beers I'm probably going with a hefe to grab the good flavors, but if I'm going to be out all day enjoying the weather and some beer with friends this is a solid choice to roll with. Happy drinking!

Cheers,

Hurls