Speckled throughout past posts we have suggested several times that if a brewery’s standard line up of beer lets you down, do not give up on them, as you may be blown away by their reserve or specialty line up. Such is the case with a great bastion in the craft brew industry, Goose Islands. We have lauded their Matilda and Bourbon County Stout in the past as “tremendous” beers. It is only fitting to pay homage to their Belgian Inspired, Pere Jacques.
The story behind Pere Jacques adds an ambiance to the beer, making the drinking experience all the more enjoyable:
“We were doing these great brewery tours of Belgium. We toured the best breweries, even the Trappist breweries, but we couldn’t get into one of them. We were so determined that we kept calling until someone said yes. He was the Abbot and his name was Pere Jacques. He personally gave us a tour of one of the most beautiful breweries I’ve ever visited, and we finished it all off with a wonderful lunch of roast duck and wild boar, perfectly matched with the brewery’s own ales. I’ll never forget that day and that beer. We brew Pere Jacques with loads of malt and Belgian yeast for a wonderfully complex, fruity ale.”
I love this sentiment as it expresses a notion that I could only appreciate when I began brewing beer myself: “Beer is not just an experience, but often (most often) the fruit of an experience.” With this in mind, I must wonder…is the well traveled or cultured brewer a better brewer? It seems so. For a brewery that is not known as a Belgian specialist, Goose Island’s Belgian inspired beers are delicious.
The Pour:
Pere Jacques pours a brown cocoa color with a two finger head that is thing (made up of large bubbles) and dissappears about s quickly as it was poured. The beer is murkier than I expected with little streams of carbonation bubbling up. I need to highlight the thick murkiness, simply because I was expecting a clear thin beer.
The Aroma:
Interesting smell. At first it smells a bit acidic…I thought it may have a sour odor, sort of like slightly spoiled sweet milk. The character of the malt reminds me of the smell of mollases and maple syrup. Looking for fruit notes, one finds the banana aroma typical of belgian yeast, but I picked up on a melon note as well, similar to cantelope.
The Taste:
The flavor is more complex than one would expect of Goose Island. The beer is exceptionally smooth. In the mouth it is not as thick as it leads you on to be. It is quite bready and delicately sweet. The sweetness at times taste like honey. The melon aroma was noticeable in the flavor. Again, I thought there was a slight sour note, but not like a flemish ale or flanders. The sourness seemed to be a result of the eyast rather than bacteria.
Overall:
I am a big fan of this beer. I think Goose Island’s Matilda is better and more complex, but for a humble little brewery from Chicago, their inspiration shines through. I highly recommend this brew!
Nate’s Rating:
Overall Satisfaction: 
Among other Belgian Style Dubbels: 
Amongst Other Goose Island Premiums:
