Honker's Ale - Goose Island Beer Co.

jsisko01

Michigan

3.38/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance - Pours an amber/caramel color with an inch thick, white head that lingers for a couple minutes. Leaves a very nice, thick lacing.

Smell - I can definitely smell the bitterness and hops. Has a slight fruity aroma with caramel and buttery malts.

Taste - Pale malts with caramel, extra hops, fruity, buttery biscuits, somewhat floral, and has a medium bitter finish.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with medium carbonation.

Overall - This is basically like a pale ale with a twist.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 02:33:43 | More by jsisko01

semiartificial

2.53/5  rDev -32.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Well, this one appeared in our local supermarket, and I bought one to try after reading a few (positive) reviews here.

Got to say I was disappointed. In particular, the taste starts off fine but then fades out quickly. The taste is not particularly characterful, a bit 'nothingy' really, and there is little in the way of a lingering aftertaste.

Thank goodness that we all have different tastes and opinions, but I really don't 'get' the near-5 / high 4 scores that some folks have given this.

You may guess that I wouldn't buy another, and wouldn't recommend it to others - for me, it's just not got a lot going for it.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 11:32:14 | More by semiartificial

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.38/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Dark orange, spacious rise of effervesce with a parchment head that was thin and spongy while quick to lapse to a spotty covering. Weak, thin line lacing, not much visually.

S: Aroma of semi-dry oranges, toast, with a light bitterness but again as with the visual nothing memorial.

T: Flavor of toasted malt and oranges, spicy bright hops with an underlying fruitiness of apple-citrus. Nice spicy finish, touch of pine-honey hops come with a gentle fade out.

M: Nice feel of carbonation, spicy, with a light to medium body.

O: Overall smooth sweet with a bit of fruitiness, easy bitternes and a generally good consumption.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 23:38:13 | More by beerthulhu

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a bronze color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is malts, a touch of hops. Taste is somewhat mild, malty, a bit of hops, a touch of caramel. Feels, medium bodied in the mouth and overall is an easy drinking and pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 00:54:42 | More by tone77

BOSMECH

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Goose Island is a north east beer that is very good, I have had a lot of west coast beers but this is a great beer all around nad ranks among the tops for me.
A Dark amber golden almoust a rust color.
S You can smell the malt and then lite on the hops.
T is a malt vtaste hat is very good with the hint of hops.
M like I said you get the malt right off the bat and it is good.
O this is just another great beer from Goose Iland that makes you want to try more of there beers that I have tried and are good.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 19:05:54 | More by BOSMECH

Samp01

New Jersey

3.38/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

copper orange pour with a medium white head. Aroma and Taste of caramel malt, yeast, some grassy and citrus notes, with mild bitter notes. A medium bodied brew with mild carbonation on the palate. Finish is light toasted caramel malt, yeast, grassy citrus notes with some mild bitterness on the end. Overall a nice mellow brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 15:58:30 | More by Samp01

siege06nd

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

You da man, Rhett...

A. Pours a very clear medium copper. Half a finger of eggshell white head lingers nicely throughout the session. Lacing is thick and sticky, with considerable staying power.

S. Grains, bread, biscuit, mild floral hops.

T. Toasted biscuit, floral hops, subtle caramel. Clean and tasty.

M. Balanced, crisp, refreshing, well-integrated flavors.

O. This is a nice English Bitter at a highly sessionable 4.3%. Not enough American brewers take on this style, I feel, and Goose Island has done well by it. Enough malt and grain presence to give it a smooth body but a good floral hop kick that gives it some lingering bitterness. Great session beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 23:08:12 | More by siege06nd

RickS95

Indiana

3.4/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Very clear golden color, with some orange added in for good measure. Very clear and kinda light. The head is very thick and fluffy, bright white, looks like a cloud. Leaves a sticky lace all over.

Malt is present, as are the hops, but it smells like a cracker.

Breadlike taste. Taste has some macro lager characteristics. Malty backbone.

Hard for me to consider this any kind of ale because it tastes more like a stock American lager, but it's very smooth. There is a bitterness, but it's manageable. Has a crisp finish. Light bodied.

I don't care much for the style, but this is pretty easy to drink. Again, not really an ale; if you like macros, this is the beer for you.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 01:50:22 | More by RickS95

KomodoDragon

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Golden sunset indeed. Large head with terrific lacing

S - Caramel sweet smells, little to identify the flavor to come

T - Sweet malt,cane sugar, bitter finish. Licorice, pine nut, and some spice

M - modest carbonation allows for a creamy feel

Good session brew. Highly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 04:02:56 | More by KomodoDragon

ToasterChef

Maine

3.63/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A 12 oz bottle dated Mar 28 12 is poured into a pint glass. I've had the bottle in my cellar all afternoon, but since it's in the mid 60's down there, this serving isn't quite cellar temperature.

A good sized egg shell colored head rests atop a glass full copper liquid. Throughout the beer are patches of clinging carbonation and many streams of rising bubbles. This looks to be a well-carbonated beer. Not much lacing was left behind.

Plenty of bitter hops could be smelled even while my glass was sitting on the table. As I inhale closer to the beer, I can pick up some nice pine notes.

No aspect of this beer's flavor is very extreme, which seems to be spot on for this style. Decent bitterness is the strongest flavor, but there is also a toffee sweetness to the malt base you can't ignore.

Medium body, with plenty of carbonation, like I expected. A noticeable coat covers my mouth. It retains some of the bitterness.

A good example of the style, and a fine choice for anyone looking for a sessionable beer that is widely available.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 00:28:59 | More by ToasterChef

kimbo33

Pennsylvania

4.88/5  rDev +30.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Almost impossible to pack this much taste into a 4.3% beer! Robust amber flavor comes through and it is fantastic. Smell is nearly perfect, same with the look. Getting very picky to not give this a perfect score.

Very smooth, you can drink a sixer of this one easily.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 02:34:39 | More by kimbo33

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.58/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a Left Hand tulip. The pour is clear, light orange-amber with a nice frothy white head. The nose is slightly skunky, but notes of bread, tea, and lemon still come through.

The beer has a nice, firm mouthfeel. On the front of the palate, I get some toast and marmalade flavors. At mid-palate, they develop some slightly tart herbal tea and lemon characters and a faint little smack of hops. The finish is quite mild. It's almost like lemonade.

Overall, this is a very refreshing, enjoyable beer. At such a low ABV, one can easily down these all evening long. My only quibble is that I wish it was a little more bitter and had a drier finish.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 16:24:59 | More by deadonhisfeet

MadScientist

New York

4.6/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer is a light copper with a warm light red glow and brillant clarity. It has a half an inch of off-white head with a decently log retention.

There is a soft carmel malt aroma with a light fruitiness and a low hops aroma. The hops so mostly floral and a slight hint of lemon. A light malt of graham crackers shows up after a few moments.

A moderate bitterness with a moderately high fruit esters mostly of peach and mild lemon but not the strong American hops citrus flavor. There is a little bit of malt support in there but this is defiantly a bitter beer with a dry finish.

It has medium light body with a medium-low carbonation.

Beers like this can lead the way in the session beer revolution. Don't get me wrong, I still love my imperial fill in the blank palate wreckers but it's great to have a flavorful beer at a reasonable alcohol level too.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 02:18:55 | More by MadScientist

BostonHops

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle served in a standard shaker pint glass.

pours a clear amber tone yielding a big >2" frothy, off-white head... decent retention and lacing. can't ask for much more in terms of appearance. solid nose, not the most aromatic of beer, offers notes of toasty malt and a touch of hops in the background.

flavor is grainy with a light toasty malt presence, a hint of citrus, and some hoppy bitterness persists through the finish. crisp and refreshing. light bodied mouthfeel with average carbonation.

overall this is a decent brew. doesn't shake the earth, but beers like this aren't supposed to. very sessionable.

(originally reviewed: 05-25-2011)

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 20:48:20 | More by BostonHops

TubaManJack

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My favorite Goose Island session beer.

A standard clear deep amber body that is topped with a lush foamed off-white head. There is a trace of carbonation bubbles from the base. The taste of the beer is a balanced herbal hopping bitterness is balanced by nice caramel malt. The bit of play between the malt and hops is awesome and makes for one of the better session ales that I can normally get my hands on.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 02:56:33 | More by TubaManJack

Rhettroactive

Virginia

4.28/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

From 12oz bottle to Bruges hybrid glass on 5/27/12
*From notes

A: Lovely stuff. It's clean, rusty amber. A good pour yields a fluffy 2.5 finger head. Plenty of lacing and a thick collar follow.

S: Crispy, fresh out of the oven dark bread. There's a really pleasing floral hop aroma too, that kicks around the nostrils. As it warms, there's a pronounced earth-like quality to the bouquet.

T: Delicious. This beer is simple to be sure, yet the undertones are complex and extraordinarily quaffable. It starts with a big dose of toast, yet it's extremely fresh, and it rounds out with a juicy yet sappy hop bite. The key here is balance - this is beautifully done, and makes for some of the best under 5% ABV beer on our year-round shelves.

M: Thick and complex for a session beer. I can't believe how dense this is. It's certainly not viscous, yet it's got plenty of weight and depth.

O: I must again welcome Goose Island to Virginia! I haven't had a Honker's in years, and I'm so very glad to return to it. It's funny how a couple of years in the beer game changes your palate, but the good ones, the really good ones continue to stand out. This is a session beer champion, and one I will have around for years to come. A most welcome addition to the local craft scene. Two big thumbs up for a great, great beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 20:09:32 | More by Rhettroactive

flyingpig

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.68/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Copper to orange, a small bubbly white head that stays throughout.

Hops on a malt base along with a good summer fruit like smell. There are hints of citrus and a touch of caramel but not a lot of it.

Malt base with some fruit hops on top. It is almost like an English IPA with some sweet flavours and a helping of sugar. There is a very light pine taste and touches of citrus.

Medium, smooth but with a slight sticky sweet end that is coupled by some nice bitter notes. Sweet overall & complimented with bitter finish. Easy to drink and refreshing too.

An excellent beer, a lot lighter and more refreshing than I had been expecting. The taste is nice and sweet with a good balance between it and the bitter finish,It wasn’t an overly exciting beer but one that I enjoyed and will probably seek out again.

1001 Beers Blog: http://abarwithnoname.wordpress.com

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 11:38:00 | More by flyingpig

EStreet20

New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle, shaker pint.

A - Deep copper color with some orange tint. Off whire head purs nice, settled to a half finger but stays well, laces the glass.

S - Nice nose of British malts, some sugary sweetness. Bit of caramel.

T - More caramel malts, with a nice balancing hop, some earthy flavors.

M - Medium bodied.

O - A nice drinkable ale with substance. Nice to get a fairly true to style bitter in bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 02:22:59 | More by EStreet20

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

4.18/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass

A- Pours a rich light copper color with a light head that dissipates rather quickly. Despite the color there is a good amount of light penetration.

S- The smell is rich and spicy with some sweet floral aspects to it as well as a slight underlying maltiniess.

T- Sweet and bitter with a very fruity and floral body. The taste is somewhat similar to edible flowers with a certain spiciness to it that is pined well with a malty backbone. Somewhat of a peppery finish with a taste of more earthy and grassy floral hops.

M- Crisp and clean with a medium body and medium carbonation.

O- A very interesting beer. Somewhat too spicy to my liking. A delicious brew nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 22:14:59 | More by Zachtheporter

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pint glass.

A: Light amber with 1 finger of head. Excellent clarity and low carbonation.

N: Light fruity notes of cantaloupe, lemon and orange. Sweet caramel and honey.

T: Upfront is caramel and some breadiness with a pear essence. Mid-palate there is cantaloupe and a honey sweetness. Finishes with light hints of lemon and orange citrus. There's also some light grapefruit and grass.

M: Light-medium bodied, creamy, crisp, clean and refreshing.

O: This is a really well put together English Bitter. This could be the session ale to rival all session ales. Fantastic!

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 20:30:50 | More by justintcoons

CrazyP

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured from a bottle with a 1/4" head and a fairly sparse amount of bubbles. Clear, amber color.

S - Smells of malts, some fruity esters. A low amount of grassy hop aroma.

T - First comes biscuity malts and some fruitiness. Then the bitterness comes through and lingers. Has a minerally character as well.

M - Pretty dry, with low carbonation.

O - This is nice example of an English bitter. However there's something I can't quite pinpoint that keeps me from liking this beer more. I think the malt and hops are not quite balanced. Also I think the drinkability factor is low; the beer is filling and I don't really feel like having more than one.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 00:32:38 | More by CrazyP

Shrews

2.83/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served - Bottle poured into a Mug.

Appearance
Pours into a light caramel color with minimal head.

Smell
Pretty bitter and hoppy, not much else.

Taste
Surprisingly pretty simple with almost no aftertaste. Haven't had too many bitters, but I can say this one doesn't have much taste.

Mouthfeel
Slightly carbonated and watery. Not very much volume or lasting effect in your mouth.

Overall
Tastes much like bitter, carbonated water. I can't really say much more. Not a fan myself.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 02:37:53 | More by Shrews

TheQuietMan22

Iowa

3.28/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. “MAR 07 12” is printed on the label.

Appearance: Poured into a Goose Island “Willi” glass. The color is light copper. Three fingers of thick, buttery, eggshell-colored head dissipated slowly to leave a billowy lacing.

Smell: It has a sweet, perfume-like smell that slowly evolves to offer scents of caramel, toffee, and even a little cocoa. It also smells faintly fruity, though I cannot pin down the fruit(s); there is a little bit of lemon citrus and apple involved.

Taste: Pale malts, lightly toasted caramel, and a little earthiness and lemon citrus from the hops.

Drinkability: Very light and drinkable. This is a nice and tasty session ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 05:18:43 | More by TheQuietMan22

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A bottle from jersey into a pint glass.

Honker's Ale Pours out a gorgeous autumn orange with some bronze tints. A slight haze to the liquid, but altogether very clean. A nice amount of carb brings forth a inch of tannish/white foam that forms an island in the middle with suds on the sides going down.

About 2 and a half months out, the nose is pretty much all malt, a nice caramel scent with really no hop aroma to speak of. I know Honker's is a English Bitter, but I expected some more in the nose. Pretty one sided all together, but I get it.

Taste is on the malty side as well, I am getting a ton of English malt flavor with just a touch of earthy tones in the back. Caramel comes out the most with some apple peeking through in the finish.

There is a nice crisp carb going for Honker's, the bottle packs a punch with the force carb. Im use to drinking English Bitters on cask and I hardly buy bottles of them, so this is something new for me. The body is light and the taste does not linger for too long.

This would be a no brainer in the dog days of summer at 4.2%. I would drink a few. I drank this bottle with ease and while it's not my favorite style, this is a respectable beer. I hope to find it on cask someday.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 20:54:00 | More by onix1agr

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Honker’s Ale, poured out with a nice thick aroma of wheat at hops, fresh hops! It’s a semi-dark amber color and is slightly hazy with little carbonation. The head is thick, fluffy and light tan, it like an open invitation to jump right into this ale. There are plenty of citrus fruit smells that com through beside the wheat and hops (wheat smell is very, very mild). It’s very light on the tongue and feels and tastes very light and mildly crisp. There are some evident hop flavors as it reaches the corners of your mouth and the back of your tongue. It does have a nice semi-tart aftertaste and no alcohol is present at any point while drinking this ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 12:40:17 | More by WoodBrew