Matilda - Goose Island Beer Co.

jar2574

Missouri

5/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bottled on 12/20/10. This was an exceptional experience; there is no other beer that I'd rather have right now.

The beer poured a bronze color and was tough to see through unless you held it up to light. A big white head dissolves slowly, leaving very good lacing on the sides.

It smells tremendous. Peaches, hops, dirt, earthiness, manure, (yes, manure), and grapefruit. Unique, excellent.

It's a very complex tasting beer and perfectly balanced. Hops, fruitiness, peaches, a little grassy, a little honey sweetness in the aftertaste. Neither the malts nor the hops predominate. Instead, they complement each other.

The sweetness in the aftertaste reminded me of Hopslam, which I had recently and loved. But I actually prefer Matilda because I like balanced beers a little more than hop-dominated beers.

It feels the way a beer should, with the right smoothness, creaminess and density.

I could drink this all day. They serve it in heaven.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2011 19:20:35 | More by jar2574

rickyleepotts

Arizona

5/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Oh I have had this beer before. I can’t remember where I first had this beer, but it is one of my favorites from Goose Island. I am still sad that Anheuser-Busch bought them. Regardless, this beer is one of my favorites from them. I have had this both in bottle and on draft. I like ordering this on draft when I am at their Wrigley location. It’s also got a pretty big ABV, and one that is not very noticeable when drinking this beer.

The beer smells incredible! Holy cow, it smells of fruit and… and happiness! Then you taste it, and are just blown away with not only how smooth this sucker is, but the somewhat thick, soothing mouthfeel you experience. It slides down the back of your throat, and sticks around for a few minutes as you enjoy that bittersweet aftertaste. By the time the aftertaste fades, you are ready for another drink!

This beer is readily available. You can get it at pretty much any liquor store (sold in 4-packs if I do recall correctly) or by the bottle at places like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. I highly recommend this beer to anyone who likes… who likes a good tasting beer. It doesn’t taste like beer, and truly does get better with age. You can cellar this beer for up to two years and still get all those same notes that you pick up right off the shelf. Big fan of Goose Island and a HUGE fan of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2011 03:55:07 | More by rickyleepotts

dertyd

California

5/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

from a bottle drank out of a wineglass

A-looks like a orange soda with a nice 2 finger head realy nice looking beer

S- clove citrus tangy floral smell

T-kinda fruity get a lot of clove spicyness not bitter at all realy smooth for a 7%abv

M-realy crisp dry feal lots of carbonation

Overall- this was a damn good beer picked it up out of town because I never seen this brew before and I was very impressed such an easy beer to put back kinda scary because I feel like I can drink theese all day and at 7%abv I would b smashed lol
I can't wait to try more from goose island

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 06:49:26 | More by dertyd

ALESwhatCURESya

Wisconsin

4.97/5  rDev +23.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A-Crystal clear burnt orange body with a thin head that slightly sticks to the rim of the glass. Very light yeast suspension.

S-This is a bouquet of goodness. A grassy, herbal, and spicy aroma is sharp and wonderful. Before taking a sip, you can taste the crispness in the beer. Very slight Brett aroma that makes me want to dive in.

T-Where do I start. This is one of those beers that you do not forget about. A multitude of peppery spice and wild yeast compliment the malty belgian body. It is biscuity, but just enough to add body. The hops are present but must be very low AAU nobles that give off phenomenal flavor and dry bitterness. This is truly an earthy beer that reminds me very much of Orval. A sweet finish brings out the evident use of sugar in this beer. There is definately some wild funk blended into this one, but perfectly balanced. Outstanding flavor!!!

M-The spicy, funky, dry, chalky mouthfeel is magical. The body is thin, but loaded with depth. The finish on this beer is legendary and I would love to see this style of subdued funk in more of today's beer.

D-Oh my god, this beer is so good, it should be banned. I love that it is only 7% because it holds enough body and flavor but doesn't wreck you after the first bottle. I could easily drink this all night (every night)

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2007 02:26:03 | More by ALESwhatCURESya

ikantspel

California

4.97/5  rDev +23.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

bottled on 12/21/10

355 ml served into duvel tulip

pours a beautiful hazy amber color with a medium creamy head.

sweet bready smell with some belgian yeast and malts mixed in. also some banana.

this tastes like it can be a gimmick beer. sweet banana bread beer. the taste is even better than the smell

balances the carbonation perfectly with the slightly heavy

this is THE best BSPA ive ever had.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 08:07:07 | More by ikantspel

shootncast

Illinois

4.93/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I tend to stay on the black beer side of things but decided to give this beer a try seeing as I am from Chicago and frequent Goose Island Brewery. All I can say about this beer is I wished my tongue was long enough to lick the inside of the bottle. Thier will definatly be a case of Matilda in the fridge at all times.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2010 12:52:21 | More by shootncast

Realale

Missouri

4.9/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Slightly hazy orangish gold. Extremely fine, bright white head starts at an inch or so and settles to an incomplete cap.

Simply stunning nose! Bright crackery malt, lemony citric hops, and a hearty whack of bretty barnyardy goodness fill the nose. Mouthwatering stuff.

Medium light in the mouth Waves of dry lemony malt arrive, and are amply supported by wicked acidity and complex earthy barnyard flavors. Outstanding length. Great, great beer here.

Extremely fine carbonation keeps this light and lively, though it does have a slight drying effect on the palate. Perilously drinkable, wonderful with food, and a wholly captivating beverage. Bravo! 2006 Release.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2006 01:57:03 | More by Realale

Chizoad

California

4.88/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Amazing. This was the first Goose Island beer I'd had and I wish all of them could be this good.

Golden cloudy body, excellent cream colored head, good lacing.

Yeasty, bready, definitely some funk in there.

Slightly sour at first, fades rapidly to a bread-like yeast flavor. Funk lingers just long enough to move into a dry finish with crisp, bittering hops right at the end. It's really rare to find a beer that tells a sort of story with each sip.

Perfect sipping beer. Medium-heavy body, highly crisp carbonation. Never gets old.

Too bad there seem to be some consistency issues with this one. At least my bottle was probably the best Belgian pale ale I have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 15:52:36 | More by Chizoad

hustlesworth

Ohio

4.85/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

vintage 2006, i'm hoping that with slight aging that the flavors will have complexed a little without losing the hop edge...

A- absolutely striking fire-glow orange/apricot is clear at first becoming hazy then cloudy burnt apricot with little flecks of yeast sinking to the bottom. the orange tinted beige head is a monster and is completely unstoppable, and also contains little specks of yeast giving it a very rustic and unrefined look along with the packaging. foam forms a loose network of bubbles ranging from huge to teeny-weeny under its leathery skin, and pouring it in a duvel glass seems to enhance this effect.

S- fruity bread sums it up, but i like to dig deep as possible. it smells like the first saison i ever tried. tart and extremely floral, it has the smell of fruit blossoms and fermenting apricot and red plums, or a summation of just about everything in the prunus subgenus. i remember a plum tree in my grandpa's yard and the way the dropped fruit would smell when it got all mushy and hot. incredible yeast as well, it's musky and barnyard, with a hint of clove and maybe some other spices. malt is up front in the aroma too, giving me visions of dense rich egg bread and honey. only a small amount of grassy hops in the nose, possibly also attributing to its amazing floral character, but with such complexity here, i don't really need to smell hops.

T- all at once, tart fruit and sourdough bread, and fresh cut flowers, namely roses and lilies. though slightly mellowed, the hops push through unchallenged, then oddly all the other flavors seem to gather together making the back half a seamless balance. goose really did it to em this time. apricot, plum, dried peach, white raisin, and cherry notes are all wrapped up in those rose/lily petals, and in some ways i wish the taste lived up to the aroma. it seems to be lacking a certain fruity kick, perhaps more sourness, however, this beer is so damn enjoyable that it's hard to take more than 0.5 point away. another thing i appreciate is the absence of candy sugar sweetness, which allows all the earthy primeval flavors to shine. strong yeast taste is showcased here, for good reason, and all its exotic spiciness just sits on the tongue indefinitely. crisp grassy hops, probably nobles, make for a zesty dry citrus finish that leans on the lemon side and becomes ever-so-orange near the bottom of the glass. quite a nice transition.

MF- damn near perfect for the style, juicy in the cheeks but light on the tongue thanks to delicate prickly carbonation. a medium dryness is achieved at the end, something i've noticed as rather uncommon, dryness in most beers seems to be miniscule or extreme. i could appreciate a little more richness to the body, but i have a feeling that it would become unappreciated as time goes by SO all in all... i'm ready to go waltzing, matilda, because this is at the top of my 200 or so beers this year.

D- sincerely impressed by one of my favorite breweries, i never expected these hop connoisseurs to go belgian, but they did, and i gotta thank em for it. not an everyday beer of course, or even one to drink in session-- that would diminish its majesty, but i want another one right now and i can't cuz i have to go to work :(

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2008 20:21:28 | More by hustlesworth

Gunslinger711

Indiana

4.85/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On tap at GI - Clybourn

Tasting notes from 2-15-11

Served in a sample glass.

A - Matilda pours a light hazy amber color. Sparse head, almost no lacing.

S - The smell is incredible, you have a variety of scents: malt, sweet honey, something floral in the mix...

M - Light but a little sticky mouthfeel

T - All of the scents transfer to taste along with a gentle Belgian wheat finish.

Excellent example of a strong pale ale, I would definitely drink this again.

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2011 01:47:42 | More by Gunslinger711

Torps

New York

4.83/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into Spiegelau stemmed pilsner.. 2009 Vintage.

Pours a small 1 finger off white head that dissipated very quickly. Looks like organic honey picked up at a local farmers market. A beautiful golden yellow with amber highlights. Fine carbonation dancing along the sides of the glass. Aroma of honey, coriander, apples, wheat, medicinal herbs and spice. There's just a ton of sweet and floral aromas emanating from the glass. Wow.. this tastes so much like Orval. Brett really shines through. Slight tart balances with the honey, yeast and spiced flavors to meld an awesome tasting brew. I'm getting a new taste adventure with each sip. So many layers of taste. Mouthfeel is great and the drinkability superb.

I had one excellent Orval once and this is right up there with it I'd have to say. I've had the infected Matilda too and was put off by the sourness. This is wholly different.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2010 01:22:55 | More by Torps

Beerbuddha

Louisiana

4.8/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bottle dated: 030206

Appearance- This beer was a gusher! I lost 1/4 of the beer upon opening. I was warned ahead of time so thankfully I was prepared. The beer poured a nice hazy orange with a huge, cloud like fluffy off white head. Lacing was present throughout the short life of the beer.

Smell- Wow. Nice hints of cherries,apples, citrus and barnyard mustiness.

Taste- The smell and taste are almost identical. It has a nice malty sweetness with again hints of cherry, apples and citrus. The beer also has a nice sour quality to it as well. The hops add a nice spicy pepper quality and give it some bitterness.

Mouthfeel- Nice medium body with lots of carbonation.

Overall- An incredible beer that I wish we could get ahold of down here in Louisiana. My former boss at Southern Eagle who gave me this beer can help with that! (Hint, hint Trey!) Goose Island did a great job recreating a Belgian beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2008 18:30:21 | More by Beerbuddha

bmelanco

4.8/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Super nice. This is the smoothest Belgian I have ever tasted. Nice orange color. not as strong as many belgians, but that may be agood thing for this beer. Granted, Belgian isn't my favorite style, but I do appreciate 90% of them. THis beer had a very nice floral smell and taste with a great sweetness balance. Not sure what the matilda name is about. Matilda reminds me of a bruiser; theis beer is a delicate flower.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 00:31:43 | More by bmelanco

MABZ

Nebraska

4.78/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Holy crap! This is THE best American Belgian I've had! This is another of the leftovers from the Iowa City Brew Fest, provided by our Goose Island distributer.

The beer pours to a cloudy pale golden color with an odd rust colored glow. Looks great. Has a very fine head that takes a while to recede but stays at about 1 cm. Carbonation is good. Lacing is spotty.

Smells very light and fruity with some spicy and grassy hops. Definitely some funky yeast going on in there. Amazing stuff.

The taste is exceptional. Very juicy but not too sweet. Taste somehow reminds me of a mamosa with a bit of grainy beer flavor and hops added in. The hop bite is very subtle, but sharp on the tongue. Actually tastes like it's from Belgium, unlike many American renditions of Belgian beers I've tried.

I only wish this was a more readily attainable beer, as I've really got a taste for it now. It would make a great session beer otherwise, but I am still savouring my only bottle as I wrap this review up.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2005 07:11:32 | More by MABZ

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.78/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Serendipity is a fun word to say. It's also an incredible experience to have. It is, as defined in the dictionary, as "an instance of making a desirable discovery by accident." And every now and then, in good fortune, you do. In my case, it was my friend Viggo offering me a bottle of Matilda, with which, I instantly and inevitably fell in love.
Pours with great head, an ocean of fluffy white clouds. A good two fingers worth at least that settled. Reams of lacing left along side the glass. The colour is beautiful. Like a gemstone coloured orange that has that ornament glow to it. Glassy looking. The aroma is divine. Full of zesty yeast, coriander, spices, and tangy character. Wow, a wealth of character with some complexity. To call it just pleasent would be an understatement. It's zestful, it's tangy, it's .. enchanting. A multitude of flavours that I could not predict were coming. It must be a spice or tweak to the yeast they use that makes this so unique. Gentle, perfumy hops on the finish. Yeast compliments the flavour profile so well. Such grace. This pushes the boundaries of perfect... Matilda - what a magical beer.
Thanks again Eric!!!

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2006 16:58:57 | More by biegaman

jpoder

Pennsylvania

4.78/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at public house sports bar in Chicago Great beer!

A: hazy orange white head falling to nice lacing

S: funk, sour, cherry

T: nicely sour with yeast. AlcIHollywoodForum present

M: medium body. Slick, rye-like finish

O: really like this beer! Very nice

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2011 01:22:42 | More by jpoder

BelgLuvr

South Dakota

4.78/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Poured a cloudy amber. Bottle gushed a bit on opening - it's alive! Tall Belgian style head left some nice lace. Marvelous complex aroma of spices and fruits. Mouth feel was creamy, tangy. Spice notes came through strongly in the flavor. I have a weakness for Belgian style blonde ales, and an automatic suspicion when American brewers claim to make them. For me, Goose Island knocks this one out of the park, and at only 7% ABV, I can have another!

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 06:07:33 | More by BelgLuvr

bnes09

Illinois

4.78/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Bottled 10/11/11.

Bright, golden-orange color and slightly hazy. Corona of yeast haze below the surface. Pours a towering two and a half finger head which provides ample lacing.

Smells like apricot nectar, apple juice and menthol, Mild ginger spice. Sweet and fruity with yeast character.

Light and fluffy biscuity malt background. Make way for apricot jam, white grape and apple juice. Just enough floral, herb hops to balance. Simple, yet sophisticated and the balance really brings out the best of each flavor.

Medium bodied with a grainy, yeasty texture. Crisp, juicy texture. Well carbonated.

Great Belgian-styled ale. Subtle, delicate complexity in perfect balance.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 03:36:04 | More by bnes09

Thickfreakness

New York

4.75/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- A 12oz. bottle (dated 11/5/10)poured rapidly into a Tulip glass. A fluffy white cloud of foam sits atop a beautiful orange sunset colored brew. Tons of carbonation still bubbling 10 mins after the pour!

S- First sniff was dried Cherry, followed by orange peel, apple pie spices, and fresh herbs. I can't get enough!

T- OMG! Sweet, tart and tangy... Cherry/apple pie... The malt really shines through on this one... almost like chewy raisin bread. Citrus hoppiness in the finish that blends perfectly with the honey sweetness! I definately need another one of these tonight! I can think of so many dishes to pair with this beer... Prosciutto wrapped Melon appitizer..., Maple Turkey breast with dried cherry stuffing and mashed sweet potato's main course, and pretzels dipped in honey and pistachio's for dessert.

M- Honey and maltiness that really stick to your tongue... Just a hint of hops for balance. Absolutely perfect!

D- This is certainly one to drink all night at a Holiday party and perfect for matching with many styles of food! Better than Reisling with spicy Chinese food! i wish they made a gum that tastes like this!

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 01:29:07 | More by Thickfreakness

pmsawyer

Pennsylvania

4.73/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - Hazy pale dull orange. Good initial head. Fades to ring around edge with good lacing.

Smell - Herbs, hop, fruity, slight medicinal and cloves.

Taste - Great flavor. Good bitterness, some pineapple like fruit. Alcohol warmth.

Texture - Crisp smooth with a medium body.

Drink ability - Outstanding

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 01:49:25 | More by pmsawyer

EPseja

New Jersey

4.72/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Thanks to Ego for hooking me up with this bottle.

Served from a 12oz. bottle in a Duvel tulip glass at cellar temperature.

A - Crazy activity in the bottle as soon as the cap is popped... almost overflows! Into the glass it goes. Huge ivory head rises instantly above the slightly-hazed, glowing sunset-orange body, coming to a halt at two full inches. Marshmallowy and dense. Begins to subside, but not without leaving behind thick clumps of lacy residue, leaving its high-tide mark. Head levels out at an island rising high above the film that obscures the beer. Very appetizing indeed!

S - Unmistakable Belgian fruity tartness along with a less pronounced candy malt nuance. Granny smith apples. Tangerines. Key limes. Very fresh. But there's something else as well... something funky, but not your typical Belgian funk. Perhaps a touch of Geuze-ish sourness? Interesting to say the least!

T - A touch of fresh green hay greets the palette upon sipping, leading to a reound and sweet light malty middle. At the back of the tongue, the fantastically unqiue yeast makes an entrance, and a crisp hoppiness manages to balance it very nicely. The finish brings about another dose of sweetness masquerading as candied fruit. The aftertaste leaves the mouth dry and yearning for another sip. Excellent balance overall. [Edit 07-21-2006: This beer achieves what I believe to be the ultimate balance of sweet and dry. Bumped to a 5.0 from a 4.5.]

M - Near perfect carbonation, swelling so nicely in the mouth. Tingly on the tongue, and gliding down the back of the throat like a spoonful of Cool Whip.

D - This is a very nice addition to Goose Island's "Special Beer" series as I'll call it. Super drinkable and very enjoyable -- just look at the numbers! I think I'll quit gushing about the beer now and get to enjoying the rest of it. [Edit 07-21-2006: This beer has become a favorite of mine in the style and a pleasure to savor. Bumped to a 5.0 from a 4.5.]

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2006 01:41:13 | More by EPseja

Joeynocturnum

New Jersey

4.72/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

2008 vintage Matilda, recieved in a trade from beersis. This beer blew me off the couch. And I am hoping that I can get more.

A- Orange/Red cloudy Hue.

S- Probably the least distinguishable characteristic of this brew. Slight smell of alcohol and yeast.

T-Taste is unreal. One of my favorite Belgian style brews not from Belgium. Definitely taste the yeast and some fruity overtones.

M- Right amount of carbonation, great mouth feel.

D- Great session beer, could drink it all day. May walk to the brewery to get some right now.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2010 02:39:25 | More by Joeynocturnum

BrewCrew2010

New York

4.72/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A: A clear copper-orange like color with a very minimal head and visable carbonation. The head is about 1/2 finger, creamy in texture, and disappears to just a pin stripe around the glass leaving no lace.

S: First thought that came to mind is the Belgian yeast with a slight hop aroma balanced with some fruits (apple & pear) and spices (cinnamon & clove). As it warms up you smell less clove and more yeast.

T: A wonderful and complex flavor of clove, honey, apples, and Belgian yeast. A perfect balance between the hops and malts resulting in a great beginning, middle, and end. Finishes dry and warm. As it warms up, you taste less yeast and more spices.

M: A medium body with lively carbonation and juicy texture.

D: I wish they sold these near us. Absolutely wonderful and easy to drink. One of the best Belgian Strong Pale Ales I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2010 00:19:51 | More by BrewCrew2010

generallee

New York

4.72/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: It was poured from a brown 12oz bottle into a tulip glass. The label has the year (2009) and a "Bottled On" date of 09/18/09. The ABV is listed as 7%. They mention "Belgian Style Ale" on the label but don't say which Belgian style it is.

Appearance: The body has warm reddish orange amber color with a cloudy haze. A thick and tall off white head caps off the beer and makes some nice lacing on the glass.

Smell: In the nose I pick up lots of good things. There are notes of spicy and medicinal phenols with tropical fruit, yeast and sweet honey like malt. It also has a light touch of funky earthy hops.

Taste/Palate: On the tongue there is a tasty mix of all the spicy/medicinal and yeast notes with some tropical fruit and honey sweetness. The funky and sweet notes are tempered with a good balance of earthy dry hop spice and bitterness. With its medium to full body I get a slightly different mix of flavor notes each time. The texture is kind of smooth and dry with a nice level of carbonation.

Notes: This is an absolutely wonderful and complex Belgian Style Ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2010 15:57:04 | More by generallee

philbe311

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

2010 Version - Dated 04/01/10 (possibly infected) - Poured into a Chimay Chalice...

A - A fingers worth of off white colored head that is light, airy, tightly packed, and slightly creamy... Minimal retention gives way to a very delicate and inviting veil of lacing that is slightly thicker in the center of the glass... The color is a orangish honey amber color... Some small bubbled moderated paced carbonation can be seen under close examination...

S - Sweet fruit... Dried apricot... Overly ripened peach... Fig... Golden raisins... Some candied sugars... Belgian yeast...

T - Belgian yeast strains... Pear... Apple... Apricot... Golden raisins... Some faint candied sugars... A very subtle spiciness... A slightly tart tangy sour finish... Some band aid notes as well...

M - Medium bodied... Starts with a nice lush quality... Perfect carbonation... Slightly invigorating... Semi dry finish...

D - What a beer... This may be an infected bottle, but its stellar... I would drink this over and over and over again... Possibly the best American made Belgian style ale that I've ever had...

Note - I'm not sure if this is an infected bottle or not... The date code matches the recall, but the sour notes are so subtle that I'm not quite sure... I will be exploring another batch shortly to compare and I will update my review at that time if necessary... I can now confirm this was an infected bottle...

Below is a review of a regular (read non-infected) bottle of the 2010 version... However, I'm going to leave my ratings for the infected version since it remains one of the best beers I have ever tried...

A - Close to two fingers worth of rich creamy very light khaki colored head... Modest retention gives way to a full even creamier lacing... The color is slightly muted amber... Lightly carbonated... (4)

S - Belgian yeast... Bosc pears... Bubble gum... Some subtle but eloquent spicy notes... (4)

T - Subtle Belgian yeasts... Pear... Light spice notes... Light peppery notes... A very light, but very effective funkiness lies beneath the surface and becomes more potent as this one warms... (4.5)

M - Medium bodied... Slightly dense... A bit of lushness... Some light prickly carbonation... (4)

D - Not quite as epic as the "infected" version, but still a darn tasty brew... One of the best Belgian Strong Pale Ales going... I wish I had this available to me on a regular basis... (4.5)

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2010 03:03:40 | More by philbe311