Goose Island Night Stalker

Goose Island Beer Company has held the title as "Chicago's favorite microbrewery" for quite some time. From their flagship brew Honkers Ale to their 312 Urban Wheat to their collection of Belgian-style ales, Goose Island has a brew that will tickle any discerning palate. Their Bourbon County Stout is a beer geek's best friend and is a brew that collectors covet from coast-to-coast. Using the same grain recipe as Bourbon County, Goose Island created Night Stalker, a velvety Imperial Stout.

Night Stalker pours darker than a steer's tookus on a moonless prairie night. It is viscous, jet black and quite imposing in the glass. Aromas are of mocha, licorice, pipe tobacco and toasted vanilla beans. Night Stalker is dryhopped heavily with Simcoe hops, which adds a slight whiff of pine wreath. Rich, roasty flavors of sweet dark chocolate, caramel, espresso and molasses linger on the ridiculously long finish. It has a heavy mouthfeel and is quite tongue-coating. Night Stalker is an entire dessert in a bottle. I suggest pairing it with either an aged gouda, a few chocolate truffles or a heaping bowl of vanilla ice cream. Clocking in at a whopping 11.7% alcohol by volume, proceed with caution while savoring this belly bomb of a beer.