Goose Island's Mild Winter
The title sounds a bit like a post on a travel blog, but instead, it's a wonderful beer. How great is that? I ran across this fine beer this afternoon on my weekly Monday liquor store run and I'm always excited for a Goose. I didn't quite know what to expect from a beer called a mild winter. When I got home tonight, I fixed up some leftovers for dinner. I had some flank steak, mac and cheese and fajita peppers and onions. I made a quick stir fry of the vegetables and flank steak slices and poured my Mild Winter Ale.
It poured a mahogony color and had just a hint of a hop smell. I didn't know what to expect from a beer labeled mild. As someone who is always seeking the bold or the spicy, mild is not exactly a selling point, it reminds me of Wayne Brady. But, you know what, Wayne Brady sure did make me laugh on "Chappelle's Show" (is Wayne Brady going to have to choke a bitch?") and mild can taste pretty damn good too. The mild winter has a very nice malty taste, not too sweet and has a really nice full flavor. I didn't learn until later (even though it says it has rye in it on the label) that the taste I was enjoying was rye, the most underutilized ingredient in brewing. I love rye beers just like I love raspberries, they almost never disappoint. And disappoint is not a word I would use to describe the Goose Island Mild Winter.
Sitting here typing this, I can't think of 3 better winter beers. I'd probably go with Nutcracker at 1 and Sierra Nevada Celebration at 2 and Goose Island Mild Winter at 3 for the 6 pack, everyday beer varieties. Winter beers are my favorites, so this is pretty high praise for me. I found myself cracking open a second one while typing this out and for a beer weighing in at 5.6% ABV, a second one this early (6:15) doesn't signal great things for the rest of my evening. But, at least I'm going to enjoy it.
BTW, this beer was released today and from a cursory examination of the internet, I think I'm safe in saying that this is the first review for the Goose Island Mild Winter that mentions Wayne Brady.
