It’s time I got around to writing about a beer. Once again, full disclosure, this beer was sent to me for my comment.
Goose Island has been running with its “Beer Hug” series for a few years now. It’s a group of IPAs, some regular, some special, in different substyles, but usually with a higher alcohol content.
In stores, we usually see it in “tallboy” cans, up to 19.2 oz., and displayed in open coolers with similarly sized brews, like megabrews and cheladas, and especially with Lagunitas cans, Elysian Space Dust and New Belgium’s Voodoo Ranger series. It’s a “brand extension,” a franchise that keeps hold of shelf space with many different flavors. Check out all the different kinds of Coca-Colas and Pop-Tarts in the store, and you can see it work.
Their latest is the Big Hazy Pineapple Beer Hug, a 9.9% abv brew that starts with a hazy New England style IPA and adds some pineapple juice.
Goose Island has already had a Hazy Beer Hug, and one with mango. So it’s time to check in on this one with pineapple.
Checking the can, I see that there’s a touch of wheat in the grain bill, which is par for most Goose Island IPAs. The label just mentions “natural flavors,” which I am going to presume is some pineapple and a few complimentary fruit notes.
Yes, its appearance is a pineapple juice color, which is pretty similar to a regular beer-type color. Once poured, it shows some New England haze, almost opaque. Once poured, it leaves about half an inch of foam.
Pineapple taste is right up front. I’m possibly also getting a bit of orange. It’s a nice fruity nose. So let’s top off a little more.
Well, this is really much more of a fruit beer than it would be an India Pale Ale-type beer. I mean, there are some hops toward the back. Presumably if they’re going to call this a hazy, it’s a New England style, so probably, um, not quite Pacific Northwest hops, but a couple of American and German combinations. But they are not really that prominent here. Instead, I’m just getting a nice, subdued, pineapple juice note. But, not a big one, because generally pineapple juice is not agreed with me. But when it’s in a flavoring like this, it’s pretty good.
Overall impression is more of a fruit beer than even a hazy IPA. A nice, relaxing beer to have around. I’m sure the alcohol is going to catch up to me later. The Goose Island Big Hazy Pineapple Beer Hug IPA is available on the liquor shelf and in grocery stores near you.
