Matilda - Goose Island Beer Co.

OneDropSoup

Pennsylvania

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

Had this at House of 1000 Beers in New Kensington, PA.

Poured into a stemmed tulip: Amber body with rusty orange highlights & half-a-finger of head that dissipates quickly.

A lot of pineapple in the smell, a little honey, some bread crust, apple.

Taste is cidery, with pineapple, honey, a little booze for balance, ends dry. A little more berry flavors open up (strawberry, blueberry).

Medium-bodied, starts sweet but turns dry, nicely effervescent.

Nice overall. Was maybe expecting more brett character, but there was a good fruit profile that was kind of surprising.

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2012 12:02:09 | More by OneDropSoup

EdwardLongshanks

3.68/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The fruit sweetness and the relatively unwieldy mouth feel threw me off at first and it seemed cloying. But I will admit that this beer is a fine one having delineated its various components. The strong pear notes up front are to be appreciated and the esthery gummy sweetness is a purposeful counterpoint to its inherent astringency. Ultimately, this beer finished smooth after a thoughtful, diverse rollercoaster of Belgian flavors and textures. Bet it's better on tap, though. Maybe even spectacular.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 05:53:42 | More by EdwardLongshanks

farrago

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hyper fizzy head on about a finger, off-white with an orange tint, all tiny bubbles which boil off at a sprint, retains a decent surface covering, the lacing at first leaves wide splotches but they don’t really stick much. Gauzy orange rust color, closer to yellow than to brown or red,strong whirlwind of loose bubbles zip about within, holds the light well within it, stays bright. This is a yeast dominated nose with banana, bubblegum, clove and sweet unbaked pie dough, also has a large black pepper component, truly not that funky, the peach, pear, fig scents clean and fresh, touch of coal tar or black tea leaf, ends with spiced orange peel notes. Full-bodied, at once bottom heavy and soaking into the palate while the churning carbonation lifts it into a decent perfume. Has a salty, saline quality to go with the pepper and clove, here more like a mix of fennel and Darjeeling tea. The orange, lemon, grapefruit citrus plays a major role, more sweet than sour. Supplements the apricot, pear, fit, banana fruit and sweetens further. The dough has a mildly more baked quality, not raw dough. Creamy texture extends finish and keeps it clinging to the mouth pores. Does a very admirable job of providing subtle complexity which would not turn off the neophyte while impressing the experienced.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 00:28:45 | More by farrago

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.08/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into tulip glass

Appearance - Pours a hazy orange-copper color with a nice two finger white head that receded quite rapidly. Once the head has faded, a moderate level of lacing is left on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma is heaviest of lighter fruit aromas of pear, banana, apple and peach. Mixed with these fruit aromas are notes of a yeasty smell as well as some spice aromas of clove and nutmeg. Rounding out all these are some aromas of a bready nature, which when combined with the rest create a very nice aroma overall.

Taste – The taste begins with many of the fruit flavors that were also present in the nose. The apples, pear and peach which start are also accompanied initially by a biscuity flavor. Soon as the flavor advances however the yeast and spice show up bringing a yeast cake, banana, and classic yeast spice profile (clove and nutmeg) flavor to the tongue. In the end flavors of a more herbal and grapefruit citrus nature come to the tongue, leaving a sour and sweet (emphasis on the sweet) flavor to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer was on the slightly lighter side with the carbonation level being rather average. Both were quite fitting for the fruit flavors of the beer as well as the style.

Overall – A nice fresh tasting Belgian strong pale. While not super “strong” it is smooth and flavorful. A good drinker and one to try if you get a chance.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 00:38:38 | More by Darkmagus82

TheRealBigC

Nevada

3.95/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a pretty clean, deep orange. Decent head, bubbly. Smell is a little yeasty and sort of fruity. Taste is remarkably clean - a little apple and a little citrus, but it works. Vague hop bitterness to keep the balance. Smooth, oily feel makes it all the more easy to drink. It's not a beer that will blow your mind, but it's remarkably drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2012 04:05:45 | More by TheRealBigC

JWU

Pennsylvania

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

12oz. bottle poured into a snifter

A- hazy orange/amber with a thick ivory head. Nice lacing.

S- Big notes of clove, honey, and belgian yeasty funk.

T- Clove, honey, lemon tartness. A bit of yeasty funk, but not overboard.

M- A crisp medium carbonation is very tight on the palette. Slick, and pleasantly dry on the finish.

O- Scratches the belgian itch, and brewed here in the good ol' USA. AB-Inbev owned or not, good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 00:29:48 | More by JWU

mkh895

Arizona

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours very nice with a desert orange color, the smell reminds me of apples and fruit that are almost over ripe. The taste is smooth and has a apple and spice taste that is a little funky but enjoyable. As the beer warms slightly in the glass the aroma changes to more of a earthy note. It is a drinkable beer not too overpowering either way.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 01:01:46 | More by mkh895

oldirtycaffrey

Virginia

3.8/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a medium copper color with a slight foamy head. Smell is sweet & slightly hoppy. Taste is sweet as well with a smooth creaminess. I tasted a hint of honey as well. Very easy to drink considering the 7.00% ABV. Perfect medium-bodied brew. Paired well with a monte cristo sandwich.

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2012 01:51:56 | More by oldirtycaffrey

ProudBeerSnob

New York

3.93/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle marked 4/8/2011 into tulip glass.

Nice light copper color with beautiful fluffy head. Definite funky aroma which follows through in the taste. Nice hop sting up front, followed by that funkiness.

Nice mouthfeel, overall a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 01:46:31 | More by ProudBeerSnob

DelMontiac

Oklahoma

4.53/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

04/01/09 dated bottle poured into a tulip.

I've been familiar with Matilda for quite some time, but never wanted to review it until I had an aged bottle. I always thought it would age well. I was shooting for five years, but I think three is good.

Color-wise, Matilda doesn't change in three years. It still has that glowing yellow-orange hue with a very slight haze. It's still topped with about two fingers worth of white foam that puts on a quick show, takes a bow, and makes way for the main event. Wish that foam would stick a bit more, but it's all good.

Aromas are sweet. Real sweet. And I think a bit more refined than those found in a fresh batch. Slightly vinous and very fruity. Think of plums, dates, figs, cherries, and apricots with candy sugar simmering in a double boiler. There is still a bready-malty element there, but not pronounced. Spices seem to have come alive after these three years. Delightful.

Flavors mostly mirror the aromatics, but the main contributors are sugary dark fruits, gingerbread, and a champagne-like nuance. Very nice.

Not as bubbly as a fresh bottle, but a medium feel on the tongue and noticeably smoother than fresh.

Matilda is one of my favorites. It's worth putting a few in the cellar if you can stand the wait.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 23:28:43 | More by DelMontiac

abrand

Illinois

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

2009 23 ounce bomber served in a snifter

Pours an orange color that is somewhat hazy. Nice 2 finger head that leaves some retention. Smells of yeast, funk, lemon, and banana bread. Pretty sweet smelling. Taste still has some hops to it. Fruits and yeast also compliment the malt backbone. Mouthfeel is medium bodied. Overall this is pretty complex and very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 10:31:24 | More by abrand

WynnO

Florida

4.68/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Have thus far enjoyed 3 from a six-pack over a year period. I am prompted to write after drinking the most recent one.

A year obviously does wonders for the Matilda.

Being on the light side for this style I found this beer to be a palette powerhouse. I expected to find this BA's top beers for this style list, but it's not there. IMHO it varies too far from the fold to be Belgian Strong Pale Ale...it's a specialty.

I found the appearance nominal but unexceptional (that is not a criticism). The smell was better and worthy of re-examination several times.

The taste was outstanding---interestingly though, it did not excite me a year ago. My first response in identifying would be, it is like a one or two year old Orval in which a crazed monk took it upon himself to throw a bag of spices into the pot after hours.

The balance was mighty fine too. Multiple tones of spice paired wonderfully with caramel malts. It left no bitterness on the back end, either with the first taste or the last.

I sincerely desire to obtain more Matilda, *HOWEVER* the entire brewery's line is likely to be compromised soon due to InBev taking over Goose Island in 2011. They are ramping up production to cover all 50 states from their current 15-state distribution. That surely means moving production elsewhere to satisfy the higher quantities. If past history is a good indicator, then it's GOODBYE GOOSE ISLAND.

Maybe Greg Hall’s urinating in two beer glasses in a Chicago bar is the new adjunct that InBev will use in all their new (and improved) Goose Island varieties. That would be an apropos ending for this brewery. I am happy for the Hall Family in getting a big payout for their hard work; I just wish they had sold it to another company. What a shame.

Get Matilda while you still can and cellar it!

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 03:51:32 | More by WynnO

paleoplant

New York

4.43/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this beer on tap at a local restaurant and I instantly enjoyed the smell. It has a rich, fruity smell that makes you want to drink the beer.

My first taste of the beer was nice. It is rich, with a robust flavor. I truly enjoyed each sip, with a slight change as I approached the end of the glass.

Mouthfeel was nice and good carbonation. The color is a light amber color and beautful.

I will be drinking this again.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2012 15:57:20 | More by paleoplant

MrHurmateeowish

New Hampshire

2.93/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22oz bottle purchased at Market Basket in Somersworth. Pours a murky amber with nearly an inch of off-white head. Smells cidery and a little barn-yard-ish... Tastes cidery with malty notes. Medium in body and carbonation.

The aroma concerned me a bit. The flavor was not bad but a little one dimensional. Not sure I'll be getting this one again.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 23:56:08 | More by MrHurmateeowish

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

4.03/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle poured into Weyerbacher tulip. Bottled 4/17/12.

A - Pours a cloudy copper color with a thin head that disappears quickly. A halo of carbonation remains on the surface but doesn't produce much in the lacing department.

S - Big pear, cloves, cinnamon, and candied malts. Banana and fruity yeast esters are present as well.

T - Sweet on the front with caramel malt and plum. Tart pear and green apple stays constantly balanced by the complexity of malts. The Belgian flavors evident in the nose are prominent on the finish. Aftertaste is filled with peppery spice and clove.

M - Wonderfully carbonated with a slick, but light body.

O - Since moving to Delaware I am enjoying having some Goose Island beers available to me. This is not a style I usually drink, but I was impressed by this beer. Good aroma with complex fruit and malt flavors. I will probably get it again.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 00:33:41 | More by NoLeafClover44

mooseo

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into tulip.

A - Clear copper amber with a large dense white head.

S - Light fruity notes of apple juice and peaches. Also sweet biscuits, Belgian yeast and a slight spiciness.

T - Apple, banana, and peach fruitiness up front, mildly tart. Belgian yeast, clove, and herbal spice on the back. A solid bready malt backbone throughout. Taste is overall very light and subtle, but pleasant.

M - Light-medium body, low-medium carbonation, smooth. Wish it was a bit more lively. Semi-dry finish.

O - A nice light enjoyable Belgian pale ale. Not as flavorful and complex as some other examples, but very solid. Would pair beautifully with salmon or a good steak.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 19:31:05 | More by mooseo

Tobe

3.93/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer poured a hazy amber with a white head. The head started a full two finger width and settled to one.

The aroma is all sour brettanomyces, with a faint spiciness. There is some clove and banana. A rich flavor greets at first taste. There is a flavor of buttery caramel. A sourness from the yeast compliments this beer. A really enjoyable beer that I look forward to aging.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 16:04:31 | More by Tobe

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

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

2012 bottle.

Beer is copper/amber in colour, with a moderately-sized white head. OK retention.

Smell contains yeast, light bready malt, light fruit (green grape, apple), spice. Seems dry.

Taste has yeast, spice, apple and green grape, bread. Dry. Yeast flavour is quite nice, the most distinctive part of the beer for me.

Medium bodied, low carbonation. A bit lifeless.

Overall, good, though not great. Nice smell.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 22:56:15 | More by jrenihan

GeckoPunk

Connecticut

3.8/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours hazy orange with two fingers of light tan head. Head has nice retention.

S - Banana, cloves, yeast, a bit of sweetness and some lemony tartness.

T - Nice hops up front, with a big bready yeast character, followed by cloves, some mild funk, a bit of banana and lemon. Really enjoyable.

M - Nice creamy medium mouthfeel with a good carbonation level. Slight lingering bitterness on the finish.

O - Very nicely balanced flavors and great mouthfeel make this a very enjoyable Belgian pale. Certainly a very complex beer. This beer is good for those who like a challenge dissecting the ingredients in their beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2012 13:02:52 | More by GeckoPunk

Hopfenpeter

Maryland

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

A. Very nice slightly hazy orange, with three fingers of light tan, creamy bubbly head. Good retention an lacing.
S. banana , bread, yeast and glove.
T. Same flavors with some spice and tard.
M. Very refreshing medium bodied beer, very drinkable.
Overall a beer that truly reprsents the style. A beer I will purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 03:58:47 | More by Hopfenpeter

Jmamay22

New York

4.15/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours an orange hued amber with an ecru colored head. He smell is a very enjoyable horse blanket and slightly phenolic. A slightly sweet fruit of pear and cherry lingers in the background.

The taste is similar to the scent beginning with sweet Belgian candy sugar and finishes with the funky mustiness balanced with a spicy finish. Altogether everything is very well balanced with everything kept in check. No one character overtakes another. Medium bodied, but lacks a bit of the voluminous carbonation you would expect from a Belgian styled ale.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 23:25:06 | More by Jmamay22

ONUMello

Ohio

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

12oz bottle poured into a snifter
A: Gorgeous deep orange with a 12 finger head that settles to a thin film
S: Bread, sour fruit and bretty musk
T: Apricots followed by a clove/nutmeg-esque spice kick, a huge dose of brett, rounded out with sour fruit and bread/yeast.
M: Medium-bodied, crisp and funky.
O: Amazing what a little brett does. I can't say I love it, but this is intriguing, clearly well made and goes down easy.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 21:17:21 | More by ONUMello

atr2605

New York

4.35/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-pours a cloudy orange with a slightly off white head with excellent retention
S-banana, orange, spice
T-orange and spice, leads into the banana flavor with more spice in the finish. Slight bready flavor throughout and finishes a bit dry
M-light-medium bodied
O-really well balanced, delicately flavored beer. Very impressed by the new goose island beers, and reasonably priced

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 02:31:24 | More by atr2605

cfrances33

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle dated 4/12 served on 7/29/12 in a Goose Island tulip.

Pour: Hazy deep orange with supports a towering three finger fluffy white head. Nice lacing and the head retains at around a finger through most of the glass.

Smell: Get banana, clove, and a ton of Brett yeast. Really takes the aspects of a saison and combines them with a Belgian strong pale. Some lemon zest in there as well.

Taste: Brett really takes charge, but lets the clove, spice, and biscuit flavors of a traditional Belgian still have their place. Some citrus fruit in the way of orange and maybe a little lemon also hold on at the finish.

Mouthfeel: Really drinkable, but with a decent sized body as well. Perfect prickling carbonation. Stays on the palate for a while even though it goes down easy.

Overall: Wow. I will single handedly name this beer a testament to how my palate has changed over the past 6 months - I could not stand this beer. It was ok at best. Now, I really enjoy it. Really cool stuff, and this was a satisfying to drink if for nothing else than to appreciate my growth as a beer advocate. I'll definitely get again, albeit probably on tap.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 19:32:32 | More by cfrances33

Kadonny

Pennsylvania

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

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle that can't be more than a month old. Poured into a snifter glass.

A: A medium golden color with some orange hints and some slight haziness to it. A one finger eggshell colored head sits atop a mild pour and glass lacing is spotty at best.

S: Loads of tart fruit and musty yeast, some barnyard and some slight malt sweetness. The brett is noticeable right away.

T: Tart fruits jump out lemon, orange, grape and apple that mixes with the brett barnyard flavors of hay, must and some herbal hop bites. Biscuit malt holds up the beer but does not turn it sweet as the tartness just stays throughout. The musty flavor stays and finishes super clean. Wow, nice bretted beer.

M: Medium but perfect with tartness and some slight hop bitterness. Alcohol? Uh, no. Super clean and crisp on the finish.

O: This is one of the best readily available, drinkable and affordable brett beers out there. One reviewer said it tasted like a wet sock...YEAH! If you don't like brett, stay away. If you do like brett, pick this one up.

Goose Island is fairly new here to PA, but each time I drink one of their beers I get more impressed, and this one was no different. My first go around with this beer was not nearly as fantastic as this time. Just a wonderful beer that is available all the time...nice!

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 12:32:31 | More by Kadonny