The color is a mostly clear amber. The head evens out to a nice, thin hat on top of the delicious-looking beverage. It grips the rim like a stripper on a pole - so I'm told. the aroma is a good mix of hops and malt. It already reminds me of the Kentucky Ale I had a good while ago. It's faint, though.
First sip is interesting. The bready malt hits first, and there is a very mild hops that follows. It's not particularly bitter, but it's also not sweet - I guess neither the hops nor the malt is winning in that department. There's a hint of citrus (maybe orange?) in there, but I really think the bread taste of the malt is the overriding concern. It's a pretty good taste, but it's not as complex as its ingredients.
A big swig reveals a smokey center with an earth core. It's deep and gritty with the bread bowl holding it together. The orange is so slight that it's almost unnoticeable. The finish is a bit harsher, though. It has a bit of a sting in the back of the throat and leaves a film on the tongue with an almost pine quality to it.
All told, it's a decent beverage, but it's not as good as either of the others. I have to say, however, that I would gladly order another beverage from Goose Island. This may not be as good as the others, but it's still a good trend - Goose Island hasn't sold me a bad beer yet. That's more than I can say for Magic Hat.
2.75/5