Is Goat Island a place? I assume it is, but I can't be bothered to look it up. Why do beer makers try to make beer and also give me homework? There's no reason for this nonsense. Look, I want to drink a dunkel, and you made one. Let's just end our relationship there. Do I also have to give you money now? Figures.
The dark red beer doesn't erupt with very much of a head, and the little bit that it manages to build becomes a dusting that cannot completely cover the top of the beer. The aroma is very dunkel with dark fruits mixing with a dark yeast in a fun and provocative way. While there doesn't seem to be a whole heap of carbonation going on, trying to sniff the beer gives me the sensation of popping bubbles from somewhere... and the bubbles on top aren't popping.
First sip is all kinds of dunkel. I am reminded that a dunkel tends to have a dry finish, and this one does, but it's not overstated. After the wash of dry fruits and molasses, the dry finish is relatively brief and it compliments the sweetness of the fruits pretty well. In the center, there is kind of a dull thud, and I don't know how to deal with it.
Tip-in is a start of dry with a bit of sweet dark fruit - raisins and plums. The middle gets carbonation starting around the tongue, and it's hard to taste much else from there, but figs and prunes appear to be on the menu. The finish is a delightful sweetness of molasses with a bend to dryness for the trail-off.
Bottom Line: Quirky and nice.
3.25/5