Goose Island Endless IPA
Look, I’m all for the attempted resurgence of session ales as much as the next person — I could have gone for a few at the Orioles game this past Monday night — but can we stop kidding ourselves? A 5% ABV beer (Goose Island Endless IPA in this case) is not a session ale. Sure, some of us would consider that a low-alcohol brew. Others would just say it’s an IPA, nothing more, nothing less.
And this isn’t just a knock against Goose Island. There are many breweries pumping out lower potency brews that are incredibly hopped and slapping that “session” label all over marketing material like it’s the new “extreme” from back in the day. And while I’m not a stringent follower of all things beer styles, this whole session thing is rather silly.
So, with that in mind, let’s tackle Goose Island’s Endless IPA, a 5% ABV and 35 IBU that packs a good amount of flavor in a smallish package. The brew has a solid hop character thanks to an early harvest of Amarillo from Elk Mountain Farms — used at three separate points in the boil and once again during dry hopping. The result is a pretty tasty and thirst quenching IPA that should prove popular during Summer months.
Appearance
Endless IPA pours a clear, golden amber in color with a dense crown of off-white foam.
Aroma
Strong grapefruit and pine lead the way for a slightly catty note, lemon zest and a herbal character. There’s also a bit of malt in the mix with light crackers and traces of grain.
Taste
The beer has a strong, grassy hop character but with out the biting bitterness. Grapefruit, pine, grass, grain and a touch of late caramel come together smoothly. The low-to-moderate hop bitterness tingles lightly in the lasting finish after the fleeting crispness has faded. The mouthfeel leans a little on the watery side.
Overall
The “session” tag thing aside, Endless IPA is a tasty little brew. It’s got a solid amount of hop flavor and is easy drinking — both of which are traits you want in a beer like this. I just wish the beer had a bit more body to it. Both of the samples I explored leaned toward the watery end of the spectrum. They don’t need to be as full as stouts, obviously, but a little more oomph in this area would have been well received.
Rating: 3.5/5
This is a review of a promotional sample.
