Honker's Ale - Goose Island Beer Co.

kojevergas

California

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on-draught into a hefeweissbier glass at Buffalo Wild Wings in Mall of American, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Reviewed from notes. Expectations were high given Goose Island's reputation.

A: Pours a one finger head of fair cream, good thickness, and pretty good retention. Colour is a transparent textbook copper.

Sm: Cream, caramel, light hops (chinook?), and malted barley.

T: Malted barley foundation, very light caramel, and light cream. a bit imbalanced. Pretty simple and rather boring. Strangely built. I do enjoy it, though. The malt is extremely well handled. There's a milky cream note on the side that complements the profile nicely.

Mf: Extraordinarily smooth and wet. Quite crisp in a smack-your-lips fashion. Really the best aspect of this beer.

Dr: Pairs extremely well with food due to its slick mouthfeel and high drinkability. It's expensive, but I'd have on draught at a better price. It hides its ABV well.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2011 01:17:40 | More by kojevergas

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Goose Island booth in the Chicago Airport.

A: Copper with a white head, some retention & lacing on the wonderful plastic cup.

S: Ale esters, floral & spicy hops; biscuity, grainy pale malt.

T: Citrus rind, spicy hops, grainy biscuits, good bitterness.

M: Moderate body & carbonation, dry finish.

D: Quite drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2008 01:47:34 | More by Derek

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.05/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured amber with a good head and lacing. Lightly sour aromas of grain and some crackery malt in the nose. There are also the barest hint of earthy hops. The taste is about the same. The beer is pretty light, somewhat grainy, and there are light flavors of the same earthy hops that were in the smell. Mouthfeel is slightly thin, a tad overcarbonated, and a little grainy. Eh, this is just okay. It has none of the minerally earthy restraint of a real English bitter. It tastes a little too light in flavor and is a bit one dimensional.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2008 19:13:18 | More by Georgiabeer

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into Sam Adams Sensory Glass.

Pours a 1 and 1/2 finger head. Kind of fizzy and off-white. Color is a golden copper; pretty much clear.

Aroma is of carmel, musky hops, and some bready notes.

The taste is very balanced. Nice earthy hops mixed with bready and carmel malts. There is also some kind of zest in the background.

Mouthfeel starts out bitter on the palate then it gets more smooth and easier to drink. Leaves a very dry aftertaste. Low carbonation in the glass.

Overall, this is a very easy to drink beer. Another sessionable beer from GI. However this isn't anything too special about it (not saying that's a bad thing).

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2009 20:58:08 | More by mothman

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This one was a little disappointing to me because it was not too heavy in the hops department. I don't know if that is a regional thing (west coast APAs seem to have more bite) but this is still a well rounded and smooth offering from Goose Island.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2002 08:39:34 | More by Dogbrick

tavernjef

Minnesota

3.98/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Honker's is well rounded good American drinkin ale. Solid copper color with sparatic white head that fizzed out uneven. Nice aroma of lightly done hops and caramel malt, kinda sweet. Taste echoed the smell favorably, nice light mix of hop bitterness and malty caramel. Slightly dry finish that smooths out and makes you want more. Good medium body feel, quite smooth. This stuff is drinkable and very smooth. Nothing to it really that sticks out, its just good.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2003 06:02:51 | More by tavernjef

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Crystal clear and golden orange hued, the beer has a thick inch of white head that leaves numerous ringlets of caked on lacing. The aroma is pretty weak, with faint scents of malt, hops, and lightly toasted bread. The flavor is decent and well balanced. The finish brings a fair amount of bitterness. The feel is medium bodied, more robust than I would have expected from a session ale. Overall, a drinkable brew and worth trying.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2011 20:51:37 | More by Huhzubendah

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Goose Island Honker's Ale poured a burnt orange color into a snifter glass. Lacing was there along the side of the glass.

The smell was earthy hops, just a tad minerally otherwise very scant.

Taste was very bitter. A big dose of hops overwhelmed what I believe was a light english style malting.

Mouthfeel was prickly yet smooth, interesting.

Overall, a respectable brew, that I wasn't too impressed with. Wouldn't reccommend it unless you are seriously into over hopped beers. The Honker's Ale is actually more bitter and hoppy than their IPA.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2009 04:07:41 | More by Stinkypuss

avalon07

South Carolina

3.99/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Had this beer on-tap at Gene's Haufbrau, poured into a pint glass. Had an amber color and a clear texture. There was an inch and a half of creamy, long-lasting head. Good lacing.

S: A surprisingly sweet smell, combined with a big shot of malt.

T: Tasted of malt (more than anything else), a hint of hops and a sweet ingredient (a citrusy element). The citrus was definitely a new twist on the style, but a welcome one. An interesting flavor.

M: A fair amount of carbonation with a smooth finish. Light-bodied.

O: Not your typical English Bitter, but definitely worth a shot. Easy to drink and likeable.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2013 12:32:10 | More by avalon07

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy orange-ish/ copper color, with a light tan head. In the aroma, grapefruity hops, and a caramel sweet malt. In the taste, caramel sweet maltiness, and a small grapefruity hop end. A small bitter, medium mouthfeel, and a dry caramel maltiness in the aftertaste. Very nice for a bitter. Nice sweet malt and a twist with citrusy/grapefruity hops.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2008 14:55:00 | More by OWSLEY069

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

After probing the BA website for many months, as well as taking the alstrom bros. and the BA members advice. I've learned that drinking your beer in a glass enhances the flavor, smell and mouthfeel of the beer you are drinking. I usuaully drink honkers from a glass. But whenever I would drink this bitter straight from the bottle. Almost no flavor was lost or hindered as a result of my heathenist drink from bottle ways. This beer is not a complex beer. Or a beer that will win the accolades of the beer community over. But this good ol' chicago suburb boy, Honkers Ale is my regular drinkiing beer. I always get at least one twelve pack a week for my regular after work beer. The amber beer has an excellent hoppy mouthfeel with a citrus start and a semi-butter finish. If anyone takes a trip to chicago. I would definetly recommend getting a pint or two of Goose Island's flagship beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2005 01:11:27 | More by scruffwhor

ZAP

Minnesota

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

Certainly not an American style west coast Pale Ale..definitely English in style...more of a bitter..very tasty and worth buying if you like English style ales...pours a cloudy reddish orange.....nice lacing along the glass....nose is spicy..with a bready/biscuity note..On the light side of medium in body feel..a tich watery....taste is heavy on the bready malt and spicy hops...a pretty nice beer that I will reach for again when in the mood for an English style bitter or ale...

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2003 02:52:24 | More by ZAP

dirtylou

Washington

4.05/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz single, Woodman's

I'm from chicago, most of my family is still in the chicago area, this is what you drink (other than old style!) when you grow up north of I-88

appearance: a clear copper-amber pour, thick and foamy beige head with decent lacing left behind

smell: toasted grain, sweet and smooth caramel malt, peppery, spicy, buttery biscuit, soft earthy and floral hops behind the toasty malt aroma structure

taste: lots of toasted grain, buttery biscuit, sweet caramel malt, some nice fruit - apple, pear....lots of peppery spiciness in this one. tastes like summer nights in chicago

mouthfeel: definitely finishes dry...medium body, smooth

drinkability: very drinkable, a north-side session beer

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2006 04:03:17 | More by dirtylou

Tone

Missouri

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear golden/amber color. 1/2 inch head with slight retention and slight lacing. Smells of sweet malts and hops. Fits the style pretty well. Has a smooth and crisp mouth feel. There is low carbonation and overall the feel is very smooth. Tastes of hops upfront with a good sweet malt background. There's also a good portion of fruit and maybe some caramel/butter. Great beer all around; very smooth and just sweet enough - worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2009 02:01:18 | More by Tone

kylehay2004

Florida

3.73/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: two finger thick head on a clear copper body.

S: brown sugar, subtle tropical fruitiness and some caramel malts. mildly sweet overall.

T: toasted caramel malts, burnt toast with earthy and biscuity hops. Very mildly bitter.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: very drinkable and nicely on par for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2012 00:50:58 | More by kylehay2004

TurdFurgison

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap in an airport bar at O'hare, served in a pint glass. The beer was dark gold with a thick layer off near-white foam. The smell is all right, nicely balanced between the toasted malts and the slightly bitter hop aroma. The flavor is OK too, if not too strong (maybe I had it a little cold). Mostly it seemed like a toasty bread flavor with a little bitterness in the after-taste.

I used to know this beer very well, it was one of my standards about 10 years ago. It sort of fell by the wayside as more microbrew variety became available to me but it's still an easy-drinking thirst quencher.

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2008 12:27:29 | More by TurdFurgison

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.53/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours a slightly hazy light orange color with a thick, frothy white head. Retention and lacing are excellent.

Smells pretty damn good. Light, fresh floral and citrus hops. Very soft, fluffy malts and mild fruitiness hinting at papayas and passion fruit. Also has a bit of British minerality to it that helps keep it on track as a bitter.

Wow, this may be one of the ultimate session beers. So smooth and chugable. I dont find it to be all that bitter, but it does have great grassy hop flavor. Malts are there, but they are so soft and silky, the beer just glides down the throat. This would be a mainstay in my fridge if it was available in Tejas.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2009 23:21:43 | More by twiggamortis420

smakawhat

Maryland

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance, kind of a brownish red coppery color, head sticks around for a bit but manages to dissipate and leaves a nice ring.

Bouquet is a little weak not much hop/bread to speak of but there is a faint cherry smell, but more of the hop comes through in the taste.

Taste is quite pleasant and balanced and even finishes with a surprising faint cherry aroma that while it feels sweet doesn't make the beer incredibly off-putting. Mouthfeel is a bit chewy, leaves a good coating on your teeth. A decent in bottle beer I could drink this all the time.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2010 15:07:48 | More by smakawhat

FosterJM

California

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

904th Review on BA
Bottle to Pint
12 oz

Bottled: July 13 11
Purchased from: On the Rocks, Lawrence, KS

App- A orange and amber mixed to create a nice dark base. A starting 1-1/2 finger head falls to a couple dots of cling with a lot of bubbles in the middle.

Smell- A lot of caramel and malts. Smells of spice, citrus and Thanksgiviing come up the nose. A good bit of bitter as well.

Taste- Very light all around with a good touch of bitter and and some caramel. It was light but flavorful. Wished for more of a punch to be bitter but welcomed the flavors. A bit of a nougat flavor and feel.

Mouth- A medium bodied beer with a medium carbonation level. A bit peppery malts with a little dampness behind it.

Drink- It's a unique style to me. First go around with it. But seems to be lacking a true bitter note. It's a tasty and easy drinking beer. Would have again. Just needs more punch as mentioned.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 05:04:01 | More by FosterJM

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce bottle, best before 4/1/2008. Served in a Sam Adams BL glass, the beer pours a slightly cloudy amber color with about an inch white head. Head retention is OK, lacing is good. It smells like piney hops and caramel malt, it's a good, clean pleasant aroma. The beer tastes the same way it smells, and finishes with a mildly sweet aftertaste, enough to make you want to drink some more quickly. Mouthfeel is light/medium, crisp, and leaves a slight coating. Drinkability is very good, it's smooth and pretty easy to drink. I think this would be a pretty good choice for a session beer, I could drink quite a few of these in a sitting. I'll definitely buy this again.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2007 01:33:35 | More by bluejacket74

LilBeerDoctor

New York

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

Reviewed on 10/22/08. Bottle, bottled 6/30/08. Pours a clear orange with a small white head. Aroma of toast and crackers. Flavor of buttery toast, nice toasted malt with a touch of light fruits and floral hops. Very good EPA, not sure why people don't like it...lots of toast and slight fruitiness. Yum!
7/4/7/4/15 (3.7/5)

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2008 19:51:45 | More by LilBeerDoctor

AgentZero

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Amber colored, nothing special. Decent, large bubbled two finger head with some nice lacing on the sides. Dissipated too quickly.

S - Hops and malt, pretty straight foward, smells like a standard bitter.

T - Had this in bottles before, but it is much better on tap. Nice malts lead to a bitter hop finish that leaves cleanly. I like this because it's not overly sweet, allowing you to focus on a good bitter twist.

M - Overly fizzy, lighter side of medium bodied.

D - Can drink a lot of these, but the fizz makes you feel full after a while.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2009 20:13:29 | More by AgentZero

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.78/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

as advertised, a good mix of malt and hops. pours redish amber in color, with a fizzy and frothy white head of large bubbles, good retention, mostly clear. the nose is way more malt than hops, english in nature, maybe some caramunich as well, got that sweet drivey punch to it. flavor is much more balanced, with the sweeter hops being easily and geniously tamed by hefty floral and citric hop additions. not too lemony or anything, but there is a mild acidity to the hops which cuts the sugars perfectly. long harmonious finish, kind of fresh baked pretzely malt on the final note, and definite red malt trails. the carbonation is quite excited, but it gives this brew a lot of life. body is medium to drink, but feels a little heavier once its down in the stomach. maybe a tough six pack to get through, but as one or two i think its just right for this time of year. it didnt knock my socks off, but its a nice full flavored beer worthy of a spot in my fridge.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 00:13:09 | More by StonedTrippin

Brent

Kentucky

3/5  rDev -20%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A nice solid ale, although I think this brewery's other offerings are more distinctive.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2001 14:06:03 | More by Brent

champ103

Texas

4.3/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Orange/Copper in color. A fair white head forms and recedes pretty fast, though it leaves good lace.
S: A nice floral nose with some citrus fruit. Very fruity actually. Sweet caramel malt in the nose. Bread and biscuit. Soft, but very well balanced.
T: Good malt and hop character. A nice floral hop flavor. Subtle fruits. Sweet caramel and bread/biscuit.
M/D: A medium body and carbonation. Crisp, dry and refreshing. Very easy and smooth to drink. One of my favorite session beers.

An excellent bitter. I always enjoy this when I get a chance. This use to be my go to beer when I lived in Illinois. Something I highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2007 16:47:36 | More by champ103