I’m often asked “how do I get my husband/wife/grandpa/friend/friend’s dog to drink craft beer? All they drink is Budweiser.” It can be a tricky question to answer. IPAs are usually off limits, because hops can be scary. Easy drinking, malt-forward ambers may seem like a good choice, but sometimes, people used to that fizzy yellow drink are intimidated by anything darker than straw.
Luckily, there are a few styles of beer that are the perfect gateway drug for the uninitiated. One such beer is Blue Goose, a cream ale from Buckeye Lake. “What the hell’s a cream ale? Milk beer?” No. It’s not milk beer. Think of it as what Budweiser would be if they took their same beer, but focused on quality over quantity. It’s a light, easy-drinking ale (though sometimes lagered to lock in that lagery crispness) that is an awesome thirst quencher. Blue Goose exemplifies these style points most deliciously, and makes it easy for true beer virgins to see the light.
On the nose, a light hint of grains mingles with a touch of corn (not DMS-corn, for you brewer-types out there), while a faint and underlying sweetness snakes up from the glass. There are moments of light fruit flavors, specifically golden raisins and the essence of berries (like the ghosts of berries), but they are subdued almost to point of nothingness. You’ll probably only find these notes as your beer warms, if it lasts that long. There is little detectable hop presence in each breath, allowing the light and simple malt bill to shine through.
Taste-wise, a base of mild grains supports the same, subtle fruit notes, alongside the gentle corn flavors. Take note, though, this is not some kind of fruit and corn bonanza. You’ll have to search for such flavors, and even then, they will be distant and enticing. Beyond, there is a mild hop bitterness, just enough to uphold the balance throughout the beer. If you’re looking for hoppy, this is most definitely not it. A slight sweetness fades as the light body and super-crisp finish clears your palate after each drink.
Blue Goose is a great example of deliciousness through simplicity. This is not a complex beer. This does not have layers of yeast esters, and it is not a hop-head’s dream. It is a damn fine beer, of which you can quaff most heartily, and still function. And, if you know that person who is still holding on tight to their red and silver can of “beer”, give them this. If they don’t like it, it’s probably time for new friends.
