Honker's Ale - Goose Island Beer Co.

stoutman

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I don't really think 'small batch' when I think Goose Island. This is the flagship beer and rightfully so. It tastes like it smells and is somewhat hoppy. Kind of thin mouthfeel, fair head, light amber color, roasty malts that are set aside by floral hops. Appropriately carbonated. A great session beer. When it's truly fresh on tap, it's practically unbeatable.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2003 18:12:17 | More by stoutman

Tballz420

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Off the pour theres a big slightly off white head, sticks all over the glass. Smells like youre at the garden. Its pretty dark red in color. A really malty beer, not too sweet though, with a hint of hops somewhere in there. My first goose island experience, not my last.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2003 11:07:45 | More by Tballz420

AtLagerHeads

Ohio

3.7/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured a beautiful clear dark amber with a substantial tan head that lasted a while. Great lacing. The taste included good hop sense and was sweet, but not overly so. The smell, all hops at the start became more caramel bready when warm. The aftertaste was somewhat metallic and astringent.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2003 08:53:43 | More by AtLagerHeads

BeerResearcher

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A deep amber color with full malty, fluid body. A nice light floral aroma that fades all too quickly. Medium/High citrusy hops offer subtle contrast to the sweet malt. Balanced, smooth and easy to gulp. Flavorful and lightly sweet. Some Fruitiness. Very nice America ale!

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2003 07:21:46 | More by BeerResearcher

tavernjef

Minnesota

3.98/5  rDev +6.7%
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

bditty187

Nebraska

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear, coppery-tawny-bronze in hue, a white head of a finger in height lasted for a long while, in other words the head retention was excellent. The subsequent lacing was minimal but noticeable. It is an attractive beer. The bouquet has good potency, there is a fruity marmalade of oranges and citrus, these citrus notes blend perfectly with the citrusy and piney hops. Behind this is the malt, very pleasant maltiness, notes of toasty caramel and a bit of biscuit. The bouquet seems to be a perfect blend between an APA and an EPA. In my book that kicks ass, I find it very inviting. I have had this beer on numerous occasions and as I sit-down to update my review I find this hoppier than I remember, now how often do you say that! Now don’t get me wrong this is not over-hopped but I’d say, near perfectly hopped. The bitterness is crisp and refreshing and it imparts flavors of pine and light citrus notes, it is pleasantly juicy. The malt finds a home as well, English biscuity notes, some caramel too, vaguely toasty. The long aftertaste begs to be matched with a juicy burger. Medium in body, firm but appropriate carbonation, the mouthfeel is ideal. I really enjoy Honker’s Ale, IMO it is a bit better than Boulevard’s Pale Ale and I wish I could get this locally. As is I purchase six-packs whenever I am in Sioux Falls, SD. I think it is worth trying.

Updated on May 7, 2004

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2003 13:41:18 | More by bditty187

Mitchster

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ah, the good ol' reliable Honker's. Clear amber brew with copper accents forms a thin meringue-like light-beige head atop small to medium-sized bubbles. Carbonation and head retention are moderate, with excellent lacing. Mouthfeel is smooth in the finish, with a medium body. Aroma is satisfying with a lager-like cleanliness, a healthy dose of floral hops, toasty malts with a hint of chocolate malt, and very subtle freshly mown hay. Taste begins with a very nice floral flavor hop (jasmine in particular) which is spicy, but completely in balance with the grainy malts. There is a hint of chocolate (or is that biscuit?) malt appearing towards the middle complemented by a warm, bready graininess. The finish is smooth with more toasty grains, well-balanced finishing hops darting on the back of the tongue, and a crisp, lightly-dry mouthfeel. Belches are hoppy and sexy. No alcohol, metals, or caramel noted. One of my favorite examples of the style, and a satisfying session-brew. A great pale-ale, and always a pleasure to drink.
35 IBU, 14.5 SRM, 5.0% ABV

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2003 16:22:36 | More by Mitchster

Quaffer

Nevada

3.68/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: This was a copper beer with an almost white head that rose to two fingers. It settled down into a thin layer that covered the surface of the beer for the entire drink, leaving a lot of lace.

Smell: There were sweet malt aromas combined with an oily hoppiness. Occasionally, I could detect a hint of caramel malt.

Mouthfeel: A smooth, medium-bodied brew.

Taste: Overall, this was a pretty tame beer. There were straightforward malt flavors upfront that slowly gave way to (but were never totally overcome by) a mild hops bitterness. The hops had an oily, clingy aspect to it. The mixture of sweet and bitter lingered for quite awhile.

While this beer was good, it lacked the complexity of many other brews in this style. Very mild, but still pretty darn good.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2003 16:41:24 | More by Quaffer

inebrius

Michigan

4.05/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a deep, hazy peach under a thin khaki cap. A few fingers of lace survived on the plastic airport bar cup. The nose sounds notes of grass and orange pith over a sheet of toasted grains. Toast makes its way into the flavor and gets drawn into a long herbal hop finish. Fuzzy, round and quite the session brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2003 06:50:16 | More by inebrius

BeerBuilder

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Honker’s ale is copper in color with an off-white head that lasts. It leaves a bit of lacing while sipped down. The aroma is grainy, with a slight spicy hop aroma. The flavor has a semi-sweet caramel malt flavor and a bit of spicy hop flavor. The bitterness is minimal in this one. Overall it is an easy drinking session ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2003 10:28:20 | More by BeerBuilder

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.45/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The color is a rosey amber/bronze, and the head is disappointingly short and small. Aroma explodes with hops and suggestions of fruit, with notes of grapefruit, pears, peach, apricot, melons, ...or am I just rambling? It's a tasty blizzard of hops, no matter how flung my imagination! Medium body, soft texture, a wonderful play on the tongue, a whirlwind of hop liveliness. Malt is a perfect match, holding it all together. Refreshing, delicious taste, some toasty, caramel notes showing up in the middle. Is it a pale ale, or more of an amber? Feels like a flavorful version of English bitter, for it would make an excellent session beer for those who don't compromise on taste. This is a delicious American ale, and one that does nothing but incite happiness!

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2003 15:14:55 | More by feloniousmonk

maxpower

Missouri

3/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Clear bright copper color, small white head, sweet light malt aroma, kind of nutty. Light malt flavors, some hops noticable in the finish, clean. This pale ale is very light in body and on the tongue, a little watery, otherwise has some good light flavor, maybe a good sesssion beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2003 15:10:14 | More by maxpower

brakspear

Wisconsin

3.28/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is a nice average beer, nothing that really jumps out at you, but no obvious flaws either. It pours a medium copper body with a slight head that lingers. The aroma is a mild malty or biscuity base followed by some hop spiciness. The taste is also rather mellow and my bottle tasted a bit oxidized. I have preferred many of the other fine Goose Island beers over this rather tame offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2003 00:45:55 | More by brakspear

Gusler

Arizona

3.55/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A pretty copper color as it rest in my glass, the head a modest crown, somewhat creamy in texture, and the lace nice covering sheets. Sweet malt dominated nose, fresh and pleasant with the start malt and also somewhat sweet, the top middling in feel. Mild hop presence, carbonation middling and the aftertaste quite dry, and a beer if more readily available here would be a nice session beer as I like its crisp and clean refreshing taste.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2003 13:49:29 | More by Gusler

BeerAngel

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a clear copper color with a medium off-white head that seems to last. The smell of hops is dominant with a light malty bread background. Smells very refreshing! The taste consists of pungent hops with a piney and slight citrusy taste with light malt. This is a light bodied brew that finishes just a slight tad dry. Different, but I enjoyed this quite a bit! Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2002 21:13:30 | More by BeerAngel

Winter

Wisconsin

4.22/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a clear amber with a thin off-white head. Pleasant aroma consisted of roasted malts, hops and caramel. Taste up front was lacking, but it had a delicious roasted finish. A bit of a light ale, but rich in flavor. Honkers Ale seemed to have similar qualities to their fuller-flavored Oktoberfest in taste and aroma, just a lighter version of it. This is one I would definitely enjoy again.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2002 10:23:46 | More by Winter

zerk

California

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a slightly chill hazed copper amber, with a 1/4 inch white head. Aroma of carmel and grainy malt, with a touch of citrusy hops. Beer is medium bodied, with low to meduim carbonation... very smooth. Flavor begins with toasted malt and some citrus bitterness... followed by a biscuity flavor that lingers on the tongue. This is a great session brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2002 07:23:16 | More by zerk

RBorsato

Virginia

4.18/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I would have rated this as an ESB. Perfect interpretation of the style in my mind.

Dark Gold to Light Copper with a low head & low retention. Nice balanced aroma and flavor. Nice hoppiness when fresh with moderate bitterness. Medium bodied and creamy.

A great session beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2002 07:37:19 | More by RBorsato

doerickson

Virginia

4.18/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Amber coloring with a white head that displays adequate retention. Nose is primarily light citric hops. The taste is more balanced, with fruity hop flavors balanced by a malty undertone that becomes more pronounced as the brew warms. Rates off the charts in drinkability--a session beer that can hold its own with the best of them.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2002 21:22:32 | More by doerickson

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -12.9%
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

packetknife

Idaho

3.2/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Slightly cloudy reddish-brown. Bleached white head that held for proper time. Grapefruit peel on the nose. Served quite cool it was refreshing, biitterness of a grapefruit (lightly). It was refreshing but not quite what I'd want in a beer, maybe in iced-tea. I can't give it a poor rating but I can't give it much above average.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2002 13:18:37 | More by packetknife

ryanocerus

Iowa

3.98/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Burnt orange in color with minimal head. The aroma was slightly malty, yet well balanced with the hops. The initial malt flavor is quickly overtaken by the bitter hops finish. It had high carbonation and long lasting flavor, but it was a bit thin (if that makes sense). Overall, very refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2002 11:11:16 | More by ryanocerus

jreitman

California

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Not a whole lot going on here. Nice copper color with a decent head. Tasted some nuts (hazelnut) in there with some malt sweetness that was well hidden. Hops were not present or so well hidden that I could not find them. A decent beer.

Update 12/28/03: After having this a couple times in Chicago (Blackhawks game, the Bennigans across street from Art Institue), I must say that I like it quite a bit more. It's a good solid beer with a nice malt/hop balance that definitely loses something with shipping and age. Quite enjoyable and quenching. Upgraded tatse from 3.0 - 4.0 and smell from 3.0 - 3.5.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2002 15:11:44 | More by jreitman

Todd

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +5.9%
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

proc

Michigan

4.03/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Is this a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale? No. Is it a Bell's Pale Ale? No. But, with that said, I must admit it is a refreshing little hop quaffer. Pours out to a good-looking amber in the glass, with a decent head. Taste is that of malt with a nice hop finish that lets you know you are having a Pale. If you are a fan of the Pale Ale style, give this a try. Underrated.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2002 05:55:46 | More by proc