I’ve only had a few beers from Good City, but I’m already a huge fan.
Good City is a relatively new brewery, opening up in 2016 in MKE. But between their beers and branding, they’ve captured my heart.
The brewery’s core message focuses on seeking the good in life. “Good City Brewing is built on the conviction that everyone should live life as if they have been granted a key to their city. To have a key is to seek the good as a friend and ally of your local place. We are committed to brewing beer that inspires others to live with a key and participate in Milwaukee’s resurgence.” Beautiful, ain’t it?
To keep in line with their theme of “seeking the good,” I chose to (drunkenly) write four poems inspired by the good things in life — beer, food, music, & love.
Pils – 5.2%
“A fresh take on a style that Milwaukee was built on. Brewed with classic Bohemian lager yeast and US Pils malt for a crisp, clean tone that is light-colored and light-bodied.”
A lot of the pilsners out there are on the lighter end. The pilsner here forgoes that, and it’s perfectly filling. It has noticeable crackery malt flavor that flows into a spicey hop, semi dry finish. It’s the perfect kind of beer to offer someone who usually sticks with adjuncts.
‘to hell with all the
world’s gold
give me a good time and
a glass that’s cold
a beer to quench the thirst
of my soul
and good company at
ol’ watering hole.’
Risk – 6.5% – IPA
“Brewed with only pale ale malt for a very dry and cleanly malty undertone. Simcoe and Centennial hops lend a very balanced profile tending toward pine and citrus.”
As their flagship, it’s a solid, traditional IPA offering. It has both piney hops and citrus bitterness, with a sweet caramel, almost honey-like malt background. It reminds me a lot of Bell’s Two Hearted, which is a good thing in my opinion.
‘the best meals
tell a shared story
as both recipe
and family
history.’
Reward – 8.5% – DIPA
“The bigger and very different brother of our Risk IPA. Reward features a dry malt profile and Citra, Amarillo and Eureka hops. The result is a dank hop aroma with tropical fruit and distinct pineapple character backed up with a floral/tangerine hop flavor.”
Whoa, buddy. This was rich. It’s a very thick, full bodied beer, with heavy notes of resiny pine, and you do get some of the tropical fruit flavor, but overall, it was predominantly malt heavy. There was a lot of bready, caramel sweet richness. A strong, syrupy DIPA.
‘The slow sounds
of Detroit’s Motown
to the grand bands
of NOLA Dixieland
jazz, slow burn
of the cool, brass yearns
even the e street rock n roll
music animates the human soul.’
Motto – 5.2% – APA
The Crisp Pale Ale malts and Mosaic hops give the Motto a “character of juicy tropical fruit and resinous pine undertone.” As a huge mosaic fan, this is one of my favorites from Good City. It reminds me a bit like Revolution’s Mosiac Hero, but less hop focused, and with more sweeter, biscuit malts at play. And with the mosaic hops, there’s a noticeable juicy, tropical fruit flavor and a minor bitterness.
At this point, after a few too many of the double Rewards, my slurred word poems weren’t making much sense. But keeping in with the theme of “seeking the good,” and writing about beer, music, food, here’s one of my older poems on love and longing.
‘i’m lost, drifting in a landlocked sea.
tonight there aint much stars over illinois prairie
drifting along, by myself, for too long.
frustration sets in, when’s my turn?
young love, happening all around me.
aint got money, just my youth.
and i’m spending it fast, just to get to you.
nothing’s been the same since you died.
i know that you’re waiting on the other side.
young love, happening all around me.
are you as lost and lonely as me?
i’m taking this boat, sailing out of this place.
aint coming back until i see your face.
i hear you in the silence of the night
young love, happening all around me.
it’s a cold winter night, i’m stumbling
on indian paths from this bottle of rum and
my heart is warm, my hands numb.
now down to sleep, i lay, it’s my turn.
young love, now that you’re with me.
young love, is you and me’
— — —
(Want me to write about your beer? Click here.
Curious about what the hell a 12 pack poem is? Click here.)