Goose Island Tropical Ipa

Goose Island Tropical IPA is an American India Pale Ale, listed here under Massachusetts, and the name points to the fruit-forward side of the style. Tropical-leaning IPAs usually get their character from hop varieties or additions that read as pineapple, mango, passion fruit and citrus peel rather than the resinous pine of a West Coast IPA. Expect a bright, juicy aroma up front, a medium body with enough malt backbone to carry the fruit, and a bitterness that is present but rounded. No ABV or IBU figure is supplied for this product, so check the can or bottle label for the exact strength; most beers in this category sit in the mid-to-upper range for strength and finish fairly dry. Because the hop character is the point, freshness matters more than anything else with this beer. Drink it as close to the packaged date as you can, keep it cold and out of light, and don't cellar it, since tropical hop aromatics fade faster than bitterness does. Serve it at roughly 40 to 45°F (4 to 7°C). Straight from the fridge it can taste muted and sharp, while a few minutes in the glass lets the fruit open up. A tulip or a shaped IPA glass is the best choice because the curved bowl concentrates aroma. A standard pint glass or a stemless tumbler works well if you want to sip it steadily. For food, lean on the beer's fruit and its bitter edge. Spicy dishes are a natural match, including Thai green curry, jerk chicken, fish tacos with mango salsa and chili-lime shrimp, because the hop bitterness and fruit tame the heat. It also stands up to grilled pork, carnitas and burgers with a sharp cheddar, and it works with carrot cake or a lightly sweet coconut dessert.