Beer Review: Ego Suicide

Reviewing the Ego Suicide from Goose Island Beer Company out of Chicago, Illinois. This beer is Identity Crisis (a bourbon barrel aged Baltic porter brewed with lactobacillus, maple syrup, coffee and vanilla beans) randalled through orange peels and cacao nibs.

Score: 96

Tap pour served in a snifter glass and enjoyed on 03/29/14 at Stoutfest. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Pours a murky dark brown fudge color with caramel highlights and a thin layer of tan head. Poor lacing and retention. 3.5/5

Smell: Whoa! So much going on -- some complementary, some contrasting, but all working together in a really interesting and unique way. Orange zest, wood, vanilla beans, maple syrup, coffee, light roast, chocolate and a light sour tinge. The orange zest and maple syrup are so big and bold and weird, but so enticing. 4.75/5

Taste: Orange juice, vanilla and maple syrup. Light amounts of coffee and chocolate too, both in less  quantum than the nose led on. There is a little tart tang, but it is not really "sour" despite the lactobacillus addition. So delicious, so orange juicy. Lasting orange zest and a kiss of maple. Good balance between all the pieces here. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, appropriate carbonation. Very juicy on the palate, but dry on the finish. 4.5/5

Overall: Probably one of the weirder and more unique barrel aged beers that I have ever encountered. Everything but the kitchen sink is present here, and it all works together surprisingly well. This was probably the best new beer I encountered at Stoutfest 2014.

Cost: Unknown (pour was included in the ticket price).