Beware the Night Stalker!

The scene opens with Carl Kolchak, wearing his signature seersucker suit and pork pie hat, heading down a dark alley way, furtively glancing over his shoulder. He knows that in the dark shadows of the night, all types of supernatural creatures hide just waiting for their unsuspecting victims. He isn’t afraid of them, he plans to expose them to the world, that’s why he is known as the ‘Night Stalker’.

Sorry for the literary license and the flashback to the 1970’s. Goose Island has a new seasonal beer out, named Night Stalker, in tribute to the 1974 TV series of the same name set in Chicago.

You don’t have to be afraid of this Night Stalker. While it is big (11.7 % ABV) and dark, it is still very friendly. Night Stalker is Goose Island’s Imperial Stout. It is the base beer for their Bourbon Barrel Stout, however instead of aging in bourbon barrels, this beer gets dry hopped.

Night Stalker has a caramel and toffee nose with some hints of dark fruits. There is some hop aroma, however the malt aromas dominate as they should.
It is a deep black beer, with a dark caramel colored head that is long lasting. The body is rich and mouth coating. Flavors of caramel, coffee, toffee chocolate malt and black licorice dance over your tongue, causing you to marvel at the complexity of the beer. The dry hopping adds some bitterness to the finish, however it is well balanced for the style. There is a slight alcohol bite in the finish, which acts more as a warning not to over-consume.

I think this version is better than the bourbon barrel version. The Imperial Stout characteristics are able to show through and are thoroughly enjoyable.

Night Stalker is currently available on tap at Capt. Mikes, downtown Kenosha.