Goose Island Rambler IPA Review

Name: Goose Island Rambler IPA
Style: India Pale Ale
ABV: 6.7%

Tonight I've got a fairly new (to me) beer from Goose Island Brewing. It is the Rambler IPA, the brewery's new Red IPA. On both the label and in the video on the brewery's website, they proudly talk about how they use Amarillo & Mt. Hood hops in the brewing process.

Not to take the wind out their sails or anything but a lot of beers out there use both hop varieties (either together or separately.) Were these brand new experimental hops used in Rambler, I could say that would be worth boasting about. As for the name, maybe the brewer is an Allman Brothers fan....?

Rambler pours a clear dark orange color with very little visible carbonation. The head is thin yet foamy and the lacing is quite good.

In the aroma, I'm picking up on some moderate piney hops upfront followed with some fairly strong caramel maltiness, a bit of roastiness and some mild spiciness. I'm even getting a bit of earthiness in here as well.

The flavor has some moderate piney hops on the front of the palate with a accent of bitter hoppiness. Caramel malts also supplement the flavor as a whole and the spiciness that was present in the nose is also here as well and shows up in the back of the palate. As for the aftertaste, it can be summed up in one word: bitter. By that I mean, it consists almost entirely of bitter hops with just a hint of caramel sweetness.

You know what? This is a nice solid IPA, especially if you like your IPAs to be more on the bitter side! I wasn't expecting too much with Rambler, but I'm pleasantly surprised with just how well put together this beer is. I would definitely recommend checking this out should you get the chance.

Goose Island Rambler IPA - 8.5/10