Honker's Ale - Goose Island Beer Co.

Todd

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A hazy orange-y amber beer with a thick, creamy, white foam head that retains quite well.

Aroma is citrusy, grapefruit-like, rindy with strong notes of fresh grain.

Crisp and dry from the get go, followed by a flash of citrus hop flavour, salt, hop spice and a woody/earthy/herbal-like character. Body is light, thin. Grain flavours, bitty mouthfeel. Malt sweetness is low, but there's a toasted flavour that pulls what little sweetness there is to the front for a brief moment. This then turns into a distinct fresh bready/biscuit character that fades into the finish ... which is full of hop residuals, some oils and a dry grainy feel.

Just a bit too thin for my liking and slightly unbalanced in the malt department, however this a decent ale and a very enjoyable one at that. It's flaw (in my book) also makes it quite unique ... so I guess that's not bad thing at all. I'd simply recommend letting the beer warm up a bit to get a more diserable malt character.

Summary: Yep, I like this beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2002 15:30:26 | More by Todd

Jason

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Presentation: 12 oz brown twist off long neck bottle with a “Best When Consumed By” date on the back label.

Appearance: Bright pale copper colour with a thing head delicious looking off white lace.

Smell: Slight malty aroma with hints of caramel and toasted husk, touch of woody hop in there also.

Taste: Moderately bodied with a smooth mouth feel that gets joggled from the dryness. Soft toasted malt flavours surround the taste buds, touch of caramel within the short lived sweetness. Hops give an even woody and citric twang and give the brew a near perfect balance. Big drying finish with toasted grain and a fermented malt twang comes to the tongue in a clean way.

Notes: American session beer? I think so, pretty damn good if I do say so myself. Light enough to go down easy but right the right amount of flavour to be able to hold up against bar snack and the like.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2002 15:18:02 | More by Jason

ackeeper

Illinois

4/5  rDev +6.7%

05-21-2013 01:29:51 | More by ackeeper

CanisMajor

Indiana

4/5  rDev +6.7%

05-20-2013 22:26:06 | More by CanisMajor

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev 0%

05-20-2013 16:19:35 | More by InspectorBob

Slay40

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%

05-20-2013 00:39:33 | More by Slay40

ClayO

Arizona

3.25/5  rDev -13.3%

05-19-2013 23:57:54 | More by ClayO

Bnoise11

California

4/5  rDev +6.7%

05-19-2013 23:48:35 | More by Bnoise11

joeykratz

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +6.7%

05-19-2013 23:17:19 | More by joeykratz

Misfit2209

Indiana

3.25/5  rDev -13.3%

05-19-2013 13:34:23 | More by Misfit2209

Gregwa

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%

05-19-2013 11:49:36 | More by Gregwa

davesway10

Iowa

4/5  rDev +6.7%

05-19-2013 11:48:10 | More by davesway10

davemathews68

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev 0%

05-19-2013 02:30:33 | More by davemathews68

CMOrak

Florida

3/5  rDev -20%

05-19-2013 01:54:28 | More by CMOrak

Danno48

West Virginia

3.75/5  rDev 0%

05-19-2013 01:49:31 | More by Danno48

NJB145

Michigan

4/5  rDev +6.7%

05-19-2013 01:47:11 | More by NJB145

wiseguywood

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +13.3%

05-19-2013 01:18:17 | More by wiseguywood

discdueler

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev 0%

05-18-2013 22:28:42 | More by discdueler

RoryOMoore

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%

05-18-2013 19:02:58 | More by RoryOMoore

beatlefan56

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev 0%

05-18-2013 16:55:16 | More by beatlefan56

jono0101

Missouri

3.25/5  rDev -13.3%

05-18-2013 16:28:28 | More by jono0101

iHeartMNBeer

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +6.7%

05-18-2013 03:22:42 | More by iHeartMNBeer

Burkbom23

Connecticut

3.65/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Really nice amber looking beer with deap dedish hues. 1 Finger thick off white head with so so retention. Some lacing, but not alot. Sweet, malty aroma. Little musky. Black cherries. Little bit of lemon. The taste is grainy maltiness, with a subtle hop backbone. Very bitter finish into a long bitter aftertaste. Bone Dry. Smooth medium mouthfeel. Drinks easy enough.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 02:44:11 | More by Burkbom23

CSFerrier

Michigan

4/5  rDev +6.7%

05-18-2013 01:29:55 | More by CSFerrier

bundy462

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -13.3%

05-17-2013 05:20:34 | More by bundy462