Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale

Brewery: Goose Island Beer Co.
Location: Chicago, IL
Style: American Wheat Ale
ABV: 4.2%

Today, I am checking out a beer I have had countless of times and have never sat down to review. Goose Island's 312 has been a welcomed site on many of my business travels that have me flying through Chicago. It's also a beer that is pretty new to the Florida market--distribution has only been in Florida less than a year.

Although Goose Island is now owned by Anheuser-Busch (AB-inBev), it is one of the few breweries, post-purchase, that remains reputable in the craft community. Regardless of its current owner, Goose Island beers are frequently found in craft drinker's fridges and cellars.

312 is an unfiltered wheat ale that is meant to appeal to the masses. It's often referred to as a "Gateway" beer, making Bud-drinkers into craft-beer-converts!

312 pours slightly hazy with a bright yellow hue and a quickly fading head.

The smell is mild. I detect traces of citrus (maybe lemon) and some grassy-yeast aromas. But so far, this is a light looking, lighter smelling beer.

The taste brings a bit more to the table, but it's still not going to knock your socks off. The flavor begins with some lemon and sour flavors, followed by bold wheat flavors, and finishes with a hint of herbal notes and yeasty flavors. It's a fairly clean finish with a pleasant touch of lemon that lingers on the palate.

Overall, this is a refreshing beer. It's enjoyable and easy to drink. 312 isn't going to impress anyone, but it'll certainly quench your thirst on a hot day.

I recently read a review of this beer where the writer said, "I've moved on to bigger and better things." While I, too, find myself enjoying bolder beers, I don't discredit 312 for being a light and refreshing beer. There's a time and place for beer like this. Let's not be snobs about it!

Lest we forget whence we came.

New Belgium Spring Blonde

Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Co.
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Style: Belgian Pale
ABV: 6%

Spring is around the corner. Everything about this time is about being lighter. The days will begin to stay lighter longer. Diets are in full swing as people are trying to get lighter for the swimsuit season. As we exit the winter season, we leave behind those heavy winter warmers, porters, and stouts, and turn our attention towards the slim and sexy blondes, like the one we have in front of us today.

Spring Blonde is brewed to commemorate New Belgium employees who take a Spring trip to Belgium after their 5 year anniversary with the company. It's meant to be a light and refreshing Belgian pale that gears us up for the warmer months. So, let's get to it!

Appearance: Pours a pale golden color with plenty of visible bubbles from the carbonation. There is a half-finger head that caps the pour nicely.


Aroma: There is a nice spiciness that comes off the nose that is complimented with sweet malt and bready yeast scents. I can also pick up some fruit aromas--apples, oranges, and lemons mostly.

Taste: Bread and biscuity yeasts followed by Belgian style spices and a cleansing lemon finish. Black pepper and floral bitterness come in on the aftertaste, but it's still a clean finish. The hops play a nice part in this Belgian. I didn't expect to notice them much, but they contribute to a satisfying bitterness on the back end of the flavor profile. Surprisingly, the Belgian spices that are so noticeable on the front of the palate are almost completely replaced by the hoppy notes of the finish.

Mouthfeel: This is a light, crisp, and clean beer with medium carbonation that would serve well on a hot summer (or Spring) afternoon.

Overall: This could easily be a go-to beer for the warm weather months. It's light and refreshing, but packs flavor. The label says it's a Belgian Wheat, but I think the Pale description is a better fit. Spring Blonde puts forth just enough hop flavors to separate it from a traditional wheat beer.

Spring Blonde is tasty, enjoyable, and very drinkable. Cheers to the end of winter!

Shock Top: Less than Shocking on the Palate!

Preface: If you're reading this and you're a big fan of Shock Top, you might feel a bit defensive at some points of my article. You might also be tempted to think of me as a "beer snob."This is not about beer snobbery. If someone is choosing between a Bud Light or a Shock Top, I suppose I would advise someone to go with the Shock Top (assuming there's not spoiled milk, hose water, or human urine to drink instead). I am not a snob. I just prefer good beer.

Brewery: Anheuser Busch
Location: St. Louis, MO
Style: Belgian Wit
ABV: 5.2%
Price: $6.99/6pk

I am constantly amazed by how many folks still don't know that Shock Top is not a craft beer. In fact, I am even more amazed by the amount of people who argue with me when I tell them Shock Top is nothing more than a product created with a crafty label to disguise its true origin: Anheuser Busch.

Regardless of the slight nausea I feel every time I think about a Bud product, I decided I needed to take one for the team and drink a whole Shock Top and provide an objective review.

The night I cracked this open, I tipped off my Twitter followers with a subtle hint of how I felt about Shock Top.

Appearance: Shock Top pours a murky yellow haze with a slight cream head. The head quickly dies leaving a little lacing, but nothing significant.

Aroma: I can definitely pick up on the orange flavoring (I would be shocked if this was brewed with real fruit). The aroma is thick and there's no denying the flavor profile I am about to taste.

Taste: As expected, lots of orange flavoring. Slight Belgian spice, finished by a copper/metallic after-taste. Lots of carbonation--drinks more like an orange soda than a beer.

Mouthfeel: Light body. Fairly watery, but the carbonation helps to give this beer a bit more presence in the mouth.

Overall: I think I let the cat out of the bag with my initial paragraph, but I am just not a fan. Sure, my opinion is tainted and, admittedly, even if this was the most amazing beer in the world, I would have gone into this tasting with a negative mindset. Still, I just don't know why you would settle for this when there are MUCH BETTER BEERS to be had.

Next time you're out and in the mood for a citrusy Belgian similar to Shock Top or Blue Moon, ask your server for one of these beers:

• Bell's Oberon
• Allagash White
• Live Oak Hefeweizen (sadly, only available in TX)

Moral of the story: If Shock Top is a beer you really like, then get excited because you're about to be blown away with some of these other beers. Get out there and expand your wheat beer horizon!

Cheers!