Pere Jacques

[steveh]

Limited Edition Belgian style ale, Goose Island Brewing, Chicago, IL. 9% ABV, 12 oz. bottle, bottled 04/16/04. Label clearly proclaims: "Flavor will continue to develop over five years."

This label is nothing like any G.I. label out there, it has the beer's name in a hand-written script, large and slightly off-center with the story of its inspiration stated around the title. PJ is named for the Abbott of a Belgian Trappist brewery who allowed a full tour to Greg Hall (head brewer at G.I.) and his friends - followed by what sounds to have been a wonderful, exclusive banquet. Anyway, I digress...

Pours a hazy, reddish bronze with a thin, but lively, tan head.

The nose is sweet malts with fruit esters of light strawberry. Alcohol becomes apparent with warming, along with some light DMS.

Fruit esters are prominent in initial taste, with sweet, caramel malt back in a very smooth balance. Alcohol becomes more present with warming. Roasted malts peek through in finish.

Smooth, syrupy mouth feel. Effervescence keeps the heavy malt character at bay and the body to medium.

Very complex, yet smooth drinking brew. Trappist style indeed - would love to compare with Westmalle tripel, but I'm laying down the last 3 of the 4 pack!

S.

[studentofbeer]

i enjoyed this beer a lot when i had it at the brew pub, although i was a bit annoyed at how i came to be drinking it.

i asked for a belgian-style beer on tap, which the bartender told me and my friend they were out of. he suggests we try this beer instead. We are very happy with it and the cool glasses they serve it in, until we got our bill and realized the bartender had "upgraded" us a bit from a 20oz. draft for $3.50 (special going on at the time) to a 12oz. bottle for $7.50 without mentioning the price difference. Made me mad, especially when Sam's sold the 4-pack for $2 more just accross the street.

Anyway sorry to vent. Back to the beer. I think it's a clone or at least homage to Chimay Blue. I haven't had that in a while so it would be fun to do a bit of a taste test between the two.

also of note, i was in sam's when greg hall stopped by, and overheard him talking to brian about how they had an imperial ipa they were planning on rolling out in this new packaging line, but he didn't like how the brew translated over to bottling. so maybe down the road we could see a super ipa from goose. personally im kinda glad to see them not jump on the IIPA bandwagon, and do appreciate them branching out a bit with this particular brew.

[steveh]

Originally posted by studentofbeer
Anyway sorry to vent. Back to the beer. I think it's a clone or at least homage to Chimay Blue. I haven't had that in a while so it would be fun to do a bit of a taste test between the two.

I haven't had Chimay Blue in a while either, good suggestion. Paired with some Chimay chesses... oh boy, it's too early to be thinking so decadently!

AFA your more-than-helpful bartender, I hope your tip reflected your dwindling funds! $7 a bottle - yikes! I thought my 4 pack was $7, maybe it was $9?

S.