Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week:" Goose Island Marisol

I helped brew the Beer of the Summer. If there were no Sai-Shan-Tea, this week's selection, a collaboration between Goose Island and Rick Bayless, would be a strong contender for the crown.

Marisol is a Belgian golden ale, spiced with tangerine zest, coriander and ugli fruit. That last ingredient's the doozy. Ugli fruit, a bastard hybrid of Seville orange, grapefruit and tangerine, is indeed ugly. Probably fugly, if you're vain about your citrus appearance. But its flavor will rock your world like I imagine any of the female principals in "Mad Men" could rock mine.

Goose Island's Jared Rouben told me Bayless was very exacting in what he wanted with the collaboration, putting Rouben through a thorough grilling prior to their brew day. I first sampled some of the in-progress Marisol at Goose Island Clybourn and was thrown by the ugli fruit and color, which seemed to resemble a Bohemia with lime and spices. The finished product, with its subdued citrus and effervescent, is a pleasing sipper.

Bayless spoke about the brewing process with Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder of local beer blog Hop Cast; he's understandably pleased as punch about Marisol. by the way, you'll only be able to sample Marisol at Frontera Grill.