*Pairs well with sports games; a relaxing mobile game; something you play casually every day.

Welcome to another craft beer review for Games And A Glass! This week I am reviewing a beer from the well known Chicago brewery, Goose Island. Their beer for this week will be the Midway IPA, an “Easy drinking IPA,” as the beer describes. But of course, before going into the review, let’s talk about Goose Island.

Found on their website, Goose Island has a long history in the craft beer scene.

“Our famous beer began with a trip across Europe, when Goose Island founder (and unabashed beer lover) John Hall took a tour across the continent. Pint by pint, he savored the styles and selections of brews in every region, and thought to himself, “America deserves some damn fine beer like this, too.”

Craft brewing wasn’t widely known at the time, but upon return from his European sojourn, John set out to change all that. He settled down in his hometown of Chicago—a city perfect for craft beer, with rapidly evolving tastes and the largest system of fresh water on the planet. And then he got to brewing.

First he made some stellar beer. Then he invited his consumers in to watch his process at the brewery, bringing them behind the scenes every step of the way. The result was a new fascination with craft brewing, and beer that not only catered to people’s tastes, but challenged them as well.

That was back in 1988, and we haven’t slowed down since. By 1995, John’s beer had become so popular that he decided to open a larger brewery, along with a bottling plant to keep up with demand. 1999 brought even more growth, along with an additional brewpub, and today, what was once one man’s pint-filled dream has become the Goose Island empire you know and love.

Here’s where we tell you that in 2011, Goose Island Beer Company was acquired by Anheuser-Busch. Since then, we’ve continued to brew beer that we’re proud of and now we get to share these beers with our friends both nationwide and internationally. We think that’s pretty neat. If you’re ever in Chicago, we’d love for you to stop by the brewery and have a beer with us.”

Being around for so long, Goose Island is known for their mainstays, which includes their Goose IPA; Goose 312 urban wheat ale; Green Line American pale ale; and of course, their famous and delicious Bourbon County stout series.

Their notes provided on the can for Midway includes “Tropical hop aromas with slightly sweet malt notes and a bright & clean finish.”

And now onto my thoughts!

Nose: The hops are noticeable, but not overbearing, and they add a hint of bitterness to this beer. But at the back end of the smell, there’s a slight tropical scent that gets you excited for warmer weather (depending where you live). As I get more familiar with the beer, that tropical aroma becomes more specific and I now smell mango. It’s pleasant, and it makes me excited to see what this beer will taste like. It smells balanced, and I’m hoping it tastes the same.

Palate: This is a very friendly and easy beer to drink. There’s a combination of a crispness that complements the slight taste of hops, finishing or rounding out with a touch of the tropical flavor at the back end of the beer. This is definitely a great summer beer, and at 4.6 percent ABV, it’s very easy to drink like the beer suggests. While it doesn’t do one thing exceptionally well, it’s balanced and consistent in quality.

Overall: This is a friendly beer! It smells and tastes pleasant with a slightly fruitiness. It’s a good reminder of the fun to be had in warmer weather. This beer would fit perfectly with a barbecue, getting together with friends, or attending a baseball game on a warm summer day. I definitely recommend it; it’s Goose Island, so their beer will always be solid.

I’d like to thank you for reading my craft beer review. If there’s ever a craft beer you’d recommend I try and/or review, please let me know and I will try, to the best of my ability, to acquire it! And remember, like a fine alcoholic beverage or a memorable video game, please enjoy in moderation.