Goose Island Seasonal 6Pk Cans

Goose Island Seasonal 6Pk Cans — Ten Hills Pale Ale is a 6.2% ABV American pale ale from Goose Island Beer Co., sold in six-packs of 12 oz cans. This seasonal release earned 92 points from Tastings.com and draws its name from the original ten hills of hops planted at Elk Mountain Farms in Idaho specifically for Goose Island.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.2%  |  IBU: 48  |  Origin: Chicago, IL  |  Style: American Pale Ale (Seasonal)  |  Brewery: Goose Island Beer Co.

Production & Heritage

Goose Island Beer Co. was founded in Chicago in 1988 and remains one of the most recognized names in American craft-style brewing. Ten Hills Pale Ale is brewed under the supervision of Goose Island brewers at Anheuser-Busch facilities in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Baldwinsville, New York. The beer's signature hop bill — Perle, Cascade, and U.S. Saaz — traces directly to Elk Mountain Farms in Idaho, where the first ten hills of hops were planted for Goose Island two years before the beer's release. That small experimental plot grew into a relationship producing more than 200,000 hills of hops annually, and Ten Hills honors the varieties harvested from those original plantings.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe apricot and tangerine, layered over a hoppy grapefruit quality. Underneath, a malt backbone adds a bready sweetness that keeps the hops from dominating.

Taste: The entry is hop-forward with citrus grapefruit and a bittersweet balance. At mid-palate, sweet honey and toasted malt notes emerge, providing body and depth. The overall impression is of a well-structured pale ale where herbal and citrus hop character coexist with a solid grain foundation.

Finish: The finish is moderate in length, with earthy, herbal hop bitterness that lingers cleanly. A dry grapefruit note and residual toast round things out without excessive bitterness.

How to Drink Ten Hills

Ten Hills is best served cold from the can or poured into a pint glass to appreciate its handsome copper color and carbonation. It drinks easily on its own but also works well in beer-forward mixed drinks. In a Shandy, its citrus hop character pairs naturally with fresh lemonade. A Michelada benefits from the grapefruit and herbal notes playing against lime and hot sauce. For a Beer Margarita, the honey-toast sweetness in Ten Hills adds complexity alongside tequila and citrus.

Best For

• Warm-weather grilling sessions where a balanced, flavorful pale ale outperforms lighter lagers
• Introducing hop-curious drinkers to American pale ales without overwhelming bitterness
• Bringing a seasonal conversation starter to a beer share or tasting night
• Pairing with casual weeknight dinners that call for a beer with character

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Ten Hills taste like? Ten Hills delivers citrus grapefruit and apricot up front, followed by sweet honey and toast, and finishes with earthy, herbal hop bitterness. It strikes a balance between hop-forward character and a solid malt backbone.

How does Ten Hills compare to Sierra Nevada Pale Ale? Both are American pale ales built on Cascade hops, but Ten Hills adds Perle and U.S. Saaz for a more herbal, earthy dimension alongside its citrus notes. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale leans more purely piney and resinous with a slightly lower ABV of 5.6% compared to Ten Hills' 6.2%.

Is Ten Hills good for beginners? Yes — at 48 IBUs it has noticeable hop presence without the aggressive bitterness of an IPA, making it an approachable entry point for drinkers exploring hoppier beer styles.

Where is Ten Hills made? Ten Hills is a Goose Island Beer Co. product, originally founded in Chicago, Illinois. The beer is brewed under Goose Island supervision at Anheuser-Busch brewing facilities in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Baldwinsville, New York, using hops sourced from Elk Mountain Farms in Idaho.

What foods pair well with Ten Hills? Grilled chicken or pork benefit from the beer's citrus and herbal hop character. Sharp cheddar complements the toasty malt notes. Fish tacos with lime slaw echo the grapefruit aroma. Spicy Thai noodle dishes are tempered by the honey sweetness. A simple cheeseburger matches the beer's balanced, medium body.

What sizes does Ten Hills come in? Ten Hills is available as a seasonal release in six-packs of 12 oz cans.

Is Ten Hills worth the price? Ten Hills positions as a mid-range seasonal craft-style pale ale, and its 92-point Tastings.com score and distinctive Elk Mountain Farms hop sourcing give it strong value within the American pale ale category.

Why Ten Hills?

The origin story is what separates Ten Hills from the crowded pale ale field: the hops in this beer come from the literal first ten hills planted at Elk Mountain Farms for Goose Island, a plot that grew into a 200,000-hill operation. That farm-to-brewery traceability is uncommon for a widely distributed seasonal release. The 92-point score from Tastings.com validates the quality, and the trio of Perle, Cascade, and Saaz hops creates a more layered, herbal-citrus profile than most single-hop pale ales. For a seasonal can that tells a real story and drinks well above its weight class, Ten Hills delivers.