Matilda - Goose Island Beer Co.

macrosmatic

Florida

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes. Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a CCB pint glass.

A: Hazy deep amber, with one finger's worth of white head, and low-ish visible carbonation.

S: Fruity esters (apples, pears, cherry), pilsner malt, and some booze – standard Belgian nose here.

T: Follows the nose. Fruity yeast esters, light bready malt, with a bit of funk and barnyard. Overall quite tasty.

M: Body is on the lighter side, not quite watery. Low alcohol presence, good carbonation sensation.

O: This is good, and easy to drink. But there's really nothing to make it particularly stand out.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 20:07:26 | More by macrosmatic

Premo88

Texas

3.79/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 3.75

On tap at the Hay Merchant in Houston ...
13 oz. poured into tulip glass.

L: crystal clear amber with great-looking 1 1/4-inch head that seemed to dissipate fast. Not much lacing.

S: a little hefeweizen-like; muted wine smell ... yes ... esters. similar to Rochefort 8 without the raisins. again: fruit.

T: bit of bite from hops muted by ester/hefeweizen-like estery taste. bananas?

F: perfect carbonation.

O: despite the ester taste, I expected slightly sweeter finish. pretty dry. the muted wine taste/smell seemed different ... not terrible by any means.

I need to try this one again. As a proud American, I want to give my patriotic best to try our versions of all beers, including the Belgians. And this certainly reminded me of Duvel, which is on point for the style, obviously.

(note on lacing: Is it possible that a glass is so clean and waxxy smooth that it doesn't allow for much clinging of the foam, i.e., the foam slides back down into the water and nothing will stick to the glass? I'd swear that was what was happening at the Hay Merchant)

Serving type: on-tap

03-16-2013 07:11:29 | More by Premo88

mtstatebeer

West Virginia

3.24/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

20 oz. bottle (date 04/01/11-2149) served in a tulip glass. Pours a fairly clear amber color with a very thin off-white head, good lacing. Aroma is caramel, sweet citrus, slightly spicy, a hint of alcohol, and vinous. Flavor is sweet malts, caramel, peppery, a bit of cinnamon, dark fruits, and yeasty. Mouthfeel is medium, fair amount of carbonation, a little cloying. Decent beer, a bit too sweet for my liking, I suppose the hops have all faded away.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 03:11:49 | More by mtstatebeer

stoplookdrink

Wisconsin

4.4/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

My first outing with a Goose Island product. Bottle date of 7/26/12. 12 oz. Btl.

A. Pours a very light carmel color with a very slight haze. Not much head to speak of. Clinging lace.
S. Amazing fruity with hints of floral aroma. Very inviting.
T. The aroma gives the flavor away. An assualt of smooth rich "fruityness" hits the back of your throat. A very rich assualt at that. I'm not a big fruit beer guy but this is a unique mix that works for me. Light on the carbonation. Just enought to tingle the tounge.
F. Excellent feel. Starts with the fruit /floral and ends with a gradual fade of flavor to a warm alcohol finish.

Sounds like I'm reviewing Juicy Fruit gum! Sorry to be so redunant with fruity. This beer was a surprise to me, so I was pleased. I would recommend this beer as great change of pace brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 03:07:44 | More by stoplookdrink

Pencible

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: This poured a hazy gold with some off white head.
S: It smelled like sour apple and orange zest, with some apricot and grassy hops and spicy Belgian yeast.
T: It tasted like grassy and waxy hops, with some sour apple and orange zest and spicy Belgian yeast. It had a musty aftertaste that was sweet and sour.
M: It was watery with moderate carbonation. Decent body.
D: This had a great scent, but only mediocre taste and body. The finish wasn't entirely clean, so it was not the easiest to drink. I'm curious how age would affect it, but it was only average fresh.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 20:33:27 | More by Pencible

dar482

New York

3.39/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

One of first Belgian ales that I have had in a while. It appears light, a bit cloudy, and yellow. The taste is a bit flat. It has a good biscuity malt flavor with a slight sweet taste. The mouth feel is silky, but it is light and drops off a bit fast. Watery almost.

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2013 23:30:17 | More by dar482

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.49/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I believe I paid 3.18 for this one at Vintage Estate.

A - Pour is very oily with a 1/2 inch of sticky white foam atop of a orange yellow colored beer. Slight yeast floaties make it have a bit of haze.
S - Kind of smells like a triple with coriander spice, fruity yeasts, and some biscuit malt. Strong smells rather authentic.
T - Very tasty the hops are that of a citrus tone, the coriander spice is there but well integrated, and the finish has a nice bit of sweet honey like yeasts that give it a semi dry feeling.
M - Very easy to drink like a balanced IPA. Hides the ABV well.
Overall another great beer from Goose Island makes me psyched to get my (2) four packs of BCBS. Solid Belgium pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 02:15:28 | More by DrDemento456

Vixie

Illinois

4.11/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a nice orange with just a hint of red. Has huge tan head with a lot of bubbles coming up from the bottom of my Duvel glass.

Smell starts out sweet, there is lemon, grass, malt, and yeast, and a little floral.

Starts out with a bit of citrus, then spices kick in. Has notes of pepper and coriander. It finishes with a bit of hop bitterness, just enough to balance the initial sweetness.

Good feel to this one, nice and solid, very good for the style.

One of the nicer Belgian styles to come from an American brewery. Actually tastes like something from Belgium, had I not known where it was made, I would have guessed Belgium. Has a nice blend of the flavors I expected, all balanced well. I will definitely be drinking more of this.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 03:30:16 | More by Vixie

ckollias

Maryland

4.36/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this bottle out of a Beligian tulip glass.

A: Pours a golden hazy hue with a 2-finger, white, frizzy head that slowly dissipates down the side of the glass and ends in a solid persistent lace with a decent trail.

S: Pineapple and fruity aroma with hints of Belgian yeast and honey.

T: Sweet pineapple and tropical fruit flavor. Hoppy Belgian yeast middle and finishes on the spicy side.

M: Thick body and med-high carbonation.

O: Really good Belgian strong ale. Solid all around.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 01:19:52 | More by ckollias

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.05/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep reddish golden color with a decent sized fluffy beige head that slowly dissipates to a cap on top. Smells of sugary malt with pomme and light pitted fruit and a hint of spice and pepper to round out the nose nicely. The flavor is sugary sweet with hints of honey and light sugar. Heavy fruit flavors remind me of pear, tangerine and sweet orange. Hints of spice provide the only balance to the sweet malt and fruit flavors. Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and a sweet almost syrupy mouthfeel. This is a nice Belgian strong, simple straightforward and quite enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 01:01:26 | More by johnnnniee

hardy008

Minnesota

3.25/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a hazy dark orange color, with a 3 finger foamy white head. The head slowly faded to two fingers, then a collar. Leaves spotty lacing. The aroma has pears, apricots, white grapes, yeast and pale malts.

The taste is not as bold as the aroma suggest. Has white grapes, pale malts, and yeast. No sign of the pears or apricots in the aroma. Lightly sweet, almost watered down. Not sure what happened here, but the taste does not live up to the aroma.

A little more than light bodied, with soft carbonation. Almost feels watery. This is a 2012 bottle, not sure why there should be any issue with lacking flavor. It seemed to have plenty of carbonation when I opened it. I may try this again later, and update the review and scores if needed. Seems to be just average for now.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 03:18:29 | More by hardy008

mralphabet

Virginia

4.41/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle poured into le poured tulip glass.

A: Poured a cloudy copper color with a little less than a fingers worth of head that settles to a small ring with a touch of lacing.thin head that disappears quickly.

S: Big cinnamon, with touches of cloves and sweet malts. I'm also getting a little unripe banana and yeast.

T: Wow strong sweet notes right up front lots of cinnamon with hints of sweet caramel malt and a little unripe banana just like the smell. Then I'm getting a quick hit of tart fruit maybe green apple?? ... It is quite a wild mix flavors. I'm getting a little pepper and clove in the aftertaste.

M: Medium bodied with a little stickiness.

O: Wow very complex flavors mixed in here with a wonder balance of sweet and tart.... A fantastic beer. At 7% ABV this is a one or two and done.. Just sit back and enjoy the ride, let this one warm up and little and it just gets better and better... Very much worth looking for.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 03:20:44 | More by mralphabet

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

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

searsclone

Arizona

3/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

poured from a bottle into a chimay goblet.

I really hope that I had an off bottle of this. I had really high hopes, but was really let down. I will try again and edit my review later, but for now, here goes.

clear straw color with minimal head and no lacing.

smell and taste were all clove. I tried to get more, but that was about it. a touch of alcohol flavor in the end, but mostly just spicy, overpowering, clove.

mouthfeel was chewy and wet, good carbonation.

overall, I will try again soon and edit, but for now, not impressed.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 01:53:23 | More by searsclone

patpbr

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Golden pour with a white head and lots of carbonation bubbling up.

S- herbal and floral

T- The taste Fruit, honey, lemon. A bit of spice and a bit sour. Earthy.

M- medium body and crispy. bitter notes.

O- A really nice balance has been created. This is one that makes you want to try more of the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 22:51:25 | More by patpbr

CloudStrife

New York

4.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle split and poured into a snifter. 2010 vintage. 12/20/10 0612.

A: Pours an opaque bright orange with a red. Two finger dense white head that sticks around for a good long while leaving great lacing as it dissipates. Lots of visible carbonation.

S: This has developed quite the nice sour fruitiness. Can get a decent Brett yeast aroma along with cherries and other berries. Wine like aroma with a touch of spiciness. Pale malts to it and a touch of booze.

T: Great balance going on here. Starts with a light balanced malt that reminds me of a belgian, then the sour kicks in providing a unique tartness. There is a nice spiciness to it as it warms

M: Light body with an effervescent carbonated body. Crisp and dry finish from the tartness. Very easy drinking, could enjoy this all day.

Overall this is a prime example of a beer that is much tastier with some age. Lucked out and just got this off the shelf at Wegmans today. Great Belgian aspects to it.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 20:25:53 | More by CloudStrife

warrenout330

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 650ml bottle... 28oz snifter in hand

A- pours a burnt orange color... hazy... huge 2 finger of thick white head... decent retention ... sticky lacing to the glass

S- combination of pale malts, slight bready caramel malts, earthy citrus hops, sour Brett cutting through

T- pale malt forward ... slight orange tang from the hops... welcoming sour twist that almost does a spinning swirl on the taste buds.... good harmony with the sweet and sour here

M- heavier carbonation .... slight hop bite on the tongue ... starts off slightly sour finished up to a crisp dry mouth... minimal evidence of the 7% alcohol

O- this is very impressive to me and my taste buds right now.... the dryness with the citrus and sour notes are at perfect harmony for my palate .... I will def be grabbing more of these off my shelf and might even throw one in the cellar to experiment...

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 06:21:44 | More by warrenout330

MrCee

4.6/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

After tasting Goose Island's underperforming Sophia, I was not expecting much from their Matilda. But I like to try Belgians of all kinds and so gave this one a try. I was pleasantly surprised. It had a nice light smell of hops. It was nicely carbonated but did not have a foaming head that one would expect. The color was of rust. The high point was a distinct sour flavor and sharp aftertaste, both of which make a good beer to pair with food. This could turn into a regular beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 15:48:41 | More by MrCee

fatmusic14

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

served on tap at Falling Rock tap house on 12/27.

A - pours a beautiful orange/red - autumnal in nature. Color is soft and inviting.

S - Smells strongly of fall and raisins, some hints of honey and a slight hint of the sharpness from carmelized sugar. Floral.

T - tastes like honey and earth. Notes of an appetizer, tons of flavors. Sweet and bitter, put together very well.

M - no head, no lacing. Perfect for the drink.

O - a real treat.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2012 23:07:02 | More by fatmusic14

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.78/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

650 mL bottle poured into a tumbler. I didn't note the date on this bottle. Reviewed from notes.

Appearance - Murky orange with an ample white head and nice lacing.

Smell - Bretty, whoa. Floral and earthy notes, but it's got a brett-like acidity to it.

Taste - Brett bomb. Fruity and bready. Yeast flavors all over. Malt profile is grainy and fruity without any real sweetness. Bitter finish.

Mouthfeel - Dry and slightly bitter. Earthy finish and kinda heavy for its size.

Overall - Nice brett character but that's kinda the most interesting aspect. I wish I had written down how old this bottle was. Alas.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 18:57:04 | More by Alieniloquium

Star80

Illinois

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours out of a 12 ounce bottle dated 12/06/12. No noticeable sediment has had time to settle in this bottle.

A: Pour out a copper orange color with a thin head. A nice color for a pale ale.

S: Smells very spicy, picking up some clove, and faintly getting some grassy hops. Also getting some allspice. Not extremely floral smelling like some pale ales but still nice.

T: Taste is slightly sweet, yet drying from a good amount of euro style hops. Some of tasting notes are clove, a touch of vanilla, and some orange zest.

M - Mouthfeel is a bit bubbly.

O - Overall a nice example from Goose. Would love to compare a properly stored and developed bottle. I imagine the hops would blend a little more and lose some of their sharpness. Usually I love hops as fresh as possible but in this instance I imagine it would improve.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 01:45:10 | More by Star80

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz

Pours a slightly hazy orange honey gold. Minimal white lacing for a head.

Smells of oranges, honey, coriander, and citrus zest.

Lemongrass and coriander with grassy malty notes and honey sweetness. Some grassy bitterness.

Light tingles of carbonation on the roof of the mouth. Medium to full bodied and slightly more viscous than average.

Really nice well balanced ale, good body and flavor with a moderate potency. Falls somewhere between a saison and a Belgian pale in character. Very enjoyable, wouldn't pass this up.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 22:57:48 | More by Cylinsier

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Split a 22oz bottle, into a duvel glass

A: pours a hazy orange amber with half a finger of slightly off white, some very light spots of lacing.

S: don't have much to say about the aroma here, smells lightly sweet and a light spicy yeastyness.

T: floral sweet melonyness, touch of honey and hint of
Belgian yeast spice. Nicley rounded and tasty.

M: on the heavy side of medium with a slight slickness. Also has an high crisp carbonation that keep the palate clean, slightly sweet aftertaste.

O: This is a pretty tasty, pretty well rounded Belgian pale, perhaps a touch in the sweet side, but the carbonation works that out nicley. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 01:55:51 | More by PeterIngemi

MarioM

California

3.85/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz poured in a tulip

A: Very nice orange color, slightly cloudy with tiny bubbles showing from the carbonation. Head retention was minimal, lingered for around a minute.

S: Slight sweetness, very floral with some yeast.

T: Very interesting, floral notes are very apparent and upfront.

M: Slight warm mouth feel lingers, slight bitterness and a little dry.

O: I find this beer very interesting and unique every time I try it. Not as balanced as I would like, floral notes seem to dominate this beer for me. Abv is nice, it makes for a pleasant mouth feel without getting in the way of other flavors.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 07:22:54 | More by MarioM