Juliet - Goose Island Beer Co.

nppeders

Minnesota

4.73/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bottled: 01/26/12. 1200

Appearance. Ruby red with hints of plum.
Aroma: Brett, underwhelming
Taste: whoa ...hits hard with tartness, fruity, red wine, and oak in the middle with Brett and lactic cheek Puckering sourness on the dry finish.
Mouthfeel: thin
Overall: amazing balance, brett mainly in the nose, don't get much blackberries, but the wine barrel really came through. One of the best American wild ales I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 02:08:38 | More by nppeders

DawnL

New York

4.72/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

One of my new favorite brews.

Beer poured and alluring (somewhat surprising) rose color. Minimal head dissipated to sticky lacing.

The aroma was of wine. Definitely a Pinot Noir bouquet. The berry infusion is lovely, subtle, delicious and reminds me of a Cantillon bottling I sampled at Brett Fest.

The flavors came together on the palate just like wine would. I actually opened a bottle of 2005 Marc Morey Bourgogne Rouge to have as a comparison. Pinot Noir in one glass - Juliet in the other - life was good.

Light carbonation tickled the tongue and made me want more. This is a bottle that is definitely going on my wants list. Just wish it was available in New York... That should speak volumes about its drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2009 19:45:09 | More by DawnL

coldmeat23

Oklahoma

4.7/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

GLASS: Tulip
TEMP: Chilled to approx 40 degrees, allowed to warm to room temp after opening
VINTAGE: 2009 BOTTLED: AUG 14
Super Huge thanks to weatherdog for this one!

Oh, my! This is beautiful. It's a nice, mild copper colored liquid with a serious ruby/pink tint to it. The three-finger head of foam is very pink tinted and somewhat dense. Retention is very good. There isn't much lacing to speak of.

This is full of big notes of dark fruits, like a bold cab sauv should be. Decent hints of blackberry sweetness along with a good healthy dose of brett funk. Mild traces of oak.

Wow, this has such a great wine characteristic to it. This is amazing! Loads of fruit presence. Blackberries stand out ahead of the pack. Great funk presence from the brett yeast. Good hints of oak. Very mild spice presence.
This is exceptionally well-balanced. Not overly sweet, nor overly tart. The finish is dry, but not dryING.

This has a nice, medium body and a very high level of carbonation. It's as active as most champagnes are and that suits this extremely well. Very crisp, sharp and refreshing.

I believe that there would be no problem drinking this everyday. It's that damn drinkable.
Very excellently done, Goose Island!

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2010 21:36:48 | More by coldmeat23

travMI13

Michigan

4.7/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to chadquest for this one. 2012 vintage. Bottled on 1/26/12. Bomber poured into a Goose Island stemmed goblet.

A: Pours a deep reddish amber. Very transparent body with a finger of fizzy head that dissipates very quickly.

S: Rich, funky berries. Some oak, some red grapes, and a touch of vanilla. Smells incredibly funky.

T: And it tastes that way too. Tart, sour, and funky. The berries are present, but I think the red wine is more dominant. The tannins and oak come out on the back end. I am loving how all the flavors are playing off each other with this sour.

M: Light and effervescent. Perfect amount of carbonation and feels great sliding across the tongue.

O: This is a great sour. I love blackberries, and while I expected a stronger blackberry presence, I am actual happy that this beer is what it is. The flavors are well-balanced without a single dominant note (other than the funk). I love this, and I want more.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 00:20:01 | More by travMI13

nlmartin

Ohio

4.7/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer was chilled ice cold to prevent gushers. The beer was allowed to warm up to a proper temperature. The beer was served in a snifter.

A- The body of the beer is a bright clear golden coloration with a tinge of red. The head was short lived and disappeared.

S- As mentioned I poured the beer way to cold and it smelled like an acetic mess. Allowing the beer to hit a proper temperature opened this bad girl up. Very satisfying lactic notes combine with berries, and tart cherry aromas plenty of oak in the backside.

T- Nice acitic and lactic notes combined with grapefruit, lemons, mixed berries and oak. The beer is very vinous and even a bit tannic at times. Nicely done!

M- The body of the beer is light and very refreshing carbonation is perfect.

O- This is a world class wild ale. The beers aromas and flavors are well done. I bought this beer for $13 and it was well worth it. I would snatch this off the shelf in favor of many other first rate wild ales.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 02:49:19 | More by nlmartin

ginemesis

North Carolina

4.68/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- very similar to Lolita, strong Amber color, very little lacing

S- Sour and oak combined with a hint of blackberry. Smell matches the taste, which is appreciated as it should be a precursor to the taste.

T- A cross between a wine and beer, fruit, and oak. Quite sour, but not overwhelmingly so. Sour taste vanishes well.

M- light bodied, slightly cleansing

O- A good sour beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 03:35:37 | More by ginemesis

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a brown color with a ruby twinge and a slightly off white one finger head which recedes to skim and leaves little lacing. There is sticky carbonation bubbles on the side of the glass and the inside appears very carbonated. The aroma is wine like with blackberry and cherry notes very present along with a hint of white grape. The taste follows suit with a sour cherry flavor up front before a white grape wine taste takes over. The back end is all blackberries, well blended and a very good taste. The flavor leaves you wanting more. The mouthfeel is well carbonated and a bit stingy, almost like a champagne. Overall a very good beer, great aroma and flavor, I will seek this out again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 16:43:46 | More by goblue3509

malcontent

Illinois

4.63/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Ack! Penalty! Yes, we have a gusher and around these parts we dock you points when you waste precious beer. As for the beer that DID make it into the glass, it's beautiful. Massive three fingers of pink-ish head is fed by a swarm of bubbles originating from a cloudy, rose-like body.

Almost overwhelming mustiness, but I like how it's softened by a sharp fruit tartness from underneath. Spicy, vinous phenols creep up from the backside. Layered and complex.

First off, the sour tartness is lovely and understated (perhaps too restrained?!). Soft yet bitter fruitiness deftly showcases the blackberries without bowling over the malt body. Funky, saison-like dryness lingers on for a nuanced, mature finish.

For such a monumental head, the carbonation is maintained masterfully. Never does the spritzy nature of the drink hurt the ability to taste the broad spectrum of flavors. The crisp acidity of this beer makes the a brilliant (if expensive) potential partner for an array of foods. This may be the finest thing to come out of Goose Island, which considering it's company (BCS, Matilda, Naughty Goose, et. al.) is quite an accomplishment.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2009 21:14:53 | More by malcontent

SPLITGRIN

Kentucky

4.63/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

An off white head jumps off to nearly two fingers and fades to a skim in nearly 3 minutes. Body is a hazy apple cider color in tone. Nose is distinctly tart with a real brett horse blanket feel up front. It has some raspberry and powdery sweet candy in the smell also. This beer immediately delivers on the super sour feel up front with a very brett induced tartness. This is very funky with a consistent mineral feel to the palate. Such a firm bold malt profile really balances the tartness to perfection. Mouthfeel is thick yeasty and really dough based and overall truely attractive. This is a perfectly drinkable sour that I wish I had a lot more of.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2010 18:34:13 | More by SPLITGRIN

botham

Illinois

4.6/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bomber bought at Paddy Long's in Chicago; possibly the last bottle from the first batch in Chicago...Thanks Matt!

bottle poured into a Goose Island reserve glass. pours amber with fiery garnet mixed in, with a minimal head that leaves no lacings and has poor retention. very appealing in the glass.

aroma is lightly vinous with a distinct acidity and very light fruit notes; a distinct lack of sweetness overall. very pleasant in the nose with a wine-like character and a lightly dry overall feel. nicely composed.

taste follows the nose with a vinous sourness and light fruit notes of grape and some distant cherry. somewhat soft on the palate with a lightly acidic finish of residual grape-like sourness and a bit of residual fruity yeast. alive on the palate with supurb proportioning. solid.

mouthfeel is medium bodied and lightly sharp at first with a vinous quality and a finish that is just sour enough to cleanse the palate.

drinkabliity is great. an easy going sour with a very palatable character. finishes lighly sharp with a soft aftertaste. very well put together and solid with a bit of aging. can't wait for the next batch to come out! cheers!

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2009 19:33:05 | More by botham

mynie

Indiana

4.6/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This little sack of motherfuck was just sitting in Binny's and, well, I'm only human, susceptible to the hype the same as the rest of god's creatures.

Pours pretty fab for a wild, like a really nice framboise lambic. Fruit Rollup red with the prettiest pink head I ever have seen.

Smells damn near perfect sweet sour. Big yeast, funky sour, light tart fruits like cherries and tears.

Tastes as it smells, sour and playful. Faint upfront followed by pure sour, so strong you can't pick one flavor out from another, and that mellows out into fruit nodes with the sour hanging over them like sunshine or the spectre of death. Fruits are cherries, strawberries, raspberries, and apples. Pretty much anything red, and then after that there's a light breadiness. Very nice.

Wonderful. Maybe not quite worth what you pay for it, but still effin wonderful.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2009 04:30:44 | More by mynie

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

4.58/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - Hazy rose color with pink hues and little head. A few dots of pinkish white lace are left behind.

S - Tart blackberry, slightly funky barnyard, red wine vinegar and traces of musty wet oak.

T - Sweet blackberry that turns to a rush of tartness as the carbonation hits the palette. Red wine notes, hints of vinegar and a smooth oakinees that lingers into a dry mixed berry that stays on the tongue for minutes after each sip.

M - Medium body with very crisp carbonation in the middle of each sip that works well with the tart funk. Nice dry lingering berry flavor.

D - The best version I have tried out of all the samples Goose has been giving out over the last year. Complex and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2009 01:26:19 | More by brewcrew76

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.58/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

650mL bomber, dated JAN 09 on the label, purchased from Binny's in Lake Zurich for about $16 after Dark Lord Day. The beer is faded pinkish lilac color, hazy to the point of opacity, with an off-white thin 1/4 finger of foam that laces with good adhesion to the glass. The aroma is everything you could want in a wild ale, musty leather and horse blanket with a hint of tart berry. The beer tastes just as good, not puckeringly sour, more of an accessible wild ale with just enough bite to keep an experienced palate happy. Undertones of berry flavors (apparently this was aged in wine barrels with blackberries) along with a mellow pucker and hints of lactose, delicious. The beer is well carbonated and light bodied, enhancing drinkability (and only 6.7%). This is definitely one of the better wild ales I've tried, Goose Island is showing strong brewing chops lately.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2009 19:22:31 | More by TurdFurgison

kels

Virginia

4.58/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

***disclaimer - if you're reading this review and want to trade me a Juliet, please send a BM***

I am not a wild ale drinker. That said, I loved this beer. Thanks so much for sharing at the Holiday Inn tasting unclejedi:)

Pours a nice light cranberry color with hazy shades of apricot throughout. Tons of quick little carbonation bubbles float throughout and feed a well-retained bubbly white skim.

Nice tart sweetness, even smells sticky, bit of yeast and a little light berry essence on the nose.

Feel is like drinking a soda or bubbly wine. Good sweet-tart berry taste, there's a little funk in the aftertaste that has a tinge of that "turned" flavor, definitely citrusy; lots of sugariness in the back that reminds me of rock candy. Feel is incredibly fizzy and light. Super refreshing and tasty.

Drinkability is undeniably high. It is almost not even like drinking beer or alcohol. More like deliciously fizzy juice. An altogether wonderful beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2010 23:58:19 | More by kels

hawks10

Illinois

4.58/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle poured into my Matilda wine glass...Batch 1 - Bottled January 2009...

Pours a slightly hazy ruby/orange...pinkish, slightly rosy...one finger of soft-white head with a pink hue, dissipates very quickly. This beer did not experience any gushing or other over-carb issues...

Tart, tangy and acidic in the nose. Sour ripe fruits, nice berry presence and some great wild yeast funkiness...complex and beautiful, one of the better smelling sours I have ever experienced...

Taste follows the nose...nicely tart and sweet, good ripe berry flavor. Slightly funky, nice and woody and dry...Complex like the nose, different tastes emerging as I drink. Finishes dry and kind of spicy...

I like a my sours to be spritzy, this one sure is, but not at all over-carbonated like many others have experienced. Nice and bubbly, light bodied and tingly...refreshing...

Incredible beer from Goose Island. One of my favorite new beers over the last 1.5 years or so...hope none of the other bottles I have are over-carbed like so many say...

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2010 23:41:06 | More by hawks10

ckeegan04

Texas

4.55/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Hazy reddish-pink color with a light pink foamy head. Head is very thick despite gentle pour but settles relatively quickly to a solid one finger of foam.

S - Sour fruit aroma with lots of strawberry and hints of cherry syrup. Light woodiness as the beer warms. Light funkiness as well.

T - Sweet and sour with lots of fruit flavors. Much like the nose, strawberry and cherry come through the strongest. Very tart with hints of lemon in the back of the throat. Hints of barnyard and mustiness as the beer warms.

M/D - Light and very well carbonated. Verging on too much carbonation. Very lively in the mouth. Just the right balance of sweetness and sour in the beer to keep this one very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2009 03:29:14 | More by ckeegan04

cjacobsen

Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Jan 2009 batch, 22 oz bottle poured into a snifter. Poured a light red, grapefruit color. Slightly hazy, almost brownish in the center. Some light sediment with small round seeds.

Smell is fruity with sour notes and grapes.

Really nice on the sourness. Citrus hints topped with wine and grapefruit. Blackberries are quite present and give it a dark sweetness to it.

Its tart, but its not overly sour and doesn't have that sour punch to the mouth.

This is really a nicely blended brew. Its a nicely done sour from GI and I'm glad I stumbled upon this one. It was a pleasant surprise to be able to try this one and I'm glad I didn't end up trading it away as I was originally intending to do.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2011 02:58:17 | More by cjacobsen

quinnsi

Illinois

4.53/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in Bottle at Paddy Long's in Chicago

A: Pinkish red in color with a nice finger of pinkish head. Tight carbonation beading up the side of the glass

S: Great smells! I'm getting so much here, with stone, chalky cheese rind, horse blanket, good 'ol funk and blackberry.

T: Great funky sourness w/ berry and wine fruit coming on in the mid palate and lingering on for ages. The aftertaste reminds me of a french burgundy.

M: Nice tart tingle pairs well with the high carbonation level.

D: very drinkable! If it didn't cost so much, I could drink this all night long, night after night.

Truly a special beer with complexity for miles.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2009 00:03:02 | More by quinnsi

olympuszymurgus

Minnesota

4.53/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Served with Course #8 of the 17th Annual Labor of Love Belgian Beer Dinner (beef and chanterelle pot pies).
Explodes all over me and the floor, a few other people, making a right mess. Of all the corks we popped and tops flying off, this was the only real squirter. Eventually settled to an absolutely stunning amber with pink head and highlights. simply glorious.
smells of blackberries, funk, spice, and sharp tartness/mild sour. a stunning combination of flavor as these scents mingle through the nose as the liquid strikes the tongue. the blackberries hit first, followed by the sour tartness, a subtle spiciness lingers, and the blackberries come back on to join in the tart. quite excellent.
It rolls around in my mouth, exploring me as I explore her. A very soulful endeavor.
A beautiful pairing with the beef and chanterelle pot pies as sort of a digestif.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2010 01:44:19 | More by olympuszymurgus

bonkers

New Jersey

4.53/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I got this in a trade from enelson, 2009. Because of its rep for being a gusher I popped the top when it was cold, no problems. It pours a pretty pink with a very big fizzy white head, that settles nicely. The aroma is a mix of sweet and sour cherries. The first sip is very vinous, lots of sweet and sour cherries, light funk. It has a sweet lingering finish that is balanced by some tartness. The beer is light and effervescent, highly carbonated. I really, really liked this. I definitely will be getting more of this.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 22:48:20 | More by bonkers

GbVDave

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a tulip at The Publican 10/14/08. Thanks to HeatherAnn and Tom & Heidi Morris for the assist!

A: Served a deep ruby red almost purple color with a tiny light pink head that retained for about ten seconds.

S: Amazing aromas of vinegar, tart berry, oak, pear, and cabernet.

T: A huge whack of tart fruit with vinegar, slightly sweet malt, semi-sweet berry, apple/pear, and a smooth undercurrent of soft buttery oak.

M: At first it's quite bracing, puckery, and dry. As it warms, sweet berry and orchard fruit flavors emerge to make this one finish with a slightly sweet lilt.

D: This was incredible! This needs to be available in more places...like now!

Serving type: on-tap

10-15-2008 23:36:04 | More by GbVDave

AgentZero

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Just a word of warning, open this over the sink, bottle exploded and sprayed all over the place.

A - Beautiful pale reddish pink with a nice foamy head. This almost looks like a pink champaign in some ways. Not what I think of when I think beer but very nice.

S - You definately get the wine and barrel influence here. Fruit has a nice presence, very sweet and tart smelling.

T - Love this stuff. This is very much like a slightly less tart and less dry Temptation by RR. Blackberry is good with a mild oaky taste that only adds to the good flavor.

M - Light bodied and carbonated.

D - Can happily get this down and drink it all day.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2009 01:18:50 | More by AgentZero

wedge421

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

As everyone else has said be careful with the carbonation on this one! My bottle didn't explode upon opening but it took about 20 mins to pour a glass because of all the head.

A - PINK! You wont believe it until you actually pour it but this beer is Red/Pink with a very light pink head. Aged on Blackberries so this is to be expected.

S - Berries and Funk. A very intersting combination. It reminded me a bit or a non sweet version of Lindemans Framboise with a bit more funk to it. This beer is hit with Brett so that is to be expected.

T - Berry notes mixed with a moderate amount of funkiness ending with a large mount of sour. A very good representation of an American Sour.

D - This beer comes in at a bit above 6% so it can be a very drinkable beer. My one concern would be the sourness becoming a bit overwhelming after 2-3 glasses of this. A very good american Wild/Sour ale indeed>!

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2010 03:43:28 | More by wedge421

burnheartsMKE

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Belgian Sour again aged in cabernet (oak) barrels but this time with blackberries. This was the best of the bunch (along with Lolita & Madame Rose) in my opinion. The full mouth feel and balanced sweet & sourness made the other two seem a bit one dimensional. Big jammy, wine-like, I picked up on hints of blueberries. I would love to pair this with a nice piece of grilled lamb and some feta-heavy rocket salad.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2011 04:36:12 | More by burnheartsMKE

Spider889

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This was the target of a long search on my second trip out to Chicago this year. It took a little work to find a bottle shop that carried these, especially as it was late February at the time.

Bottled on: 12/11/2010
Bottle # 1153

Pours with fairly good clarity. Maroon or violet in color. Short head of aged white linens with greyish/pink tints to it. Left no lace but had ok legs forming after each sip.

The aroma was full of great complexity and proved to be all of the sour that the beer promised to be. Sour right off the bat, actually, but there was also a pleasant sweetness. Bretty funk then pushes into the fold. Damp and oaky. Green fruit is also pretty big here - think granny smith apple.

As the beer warmed deeper aromatics show up. Bitter unripe cherry and sour blackberry start to show what this beer is really all about. The funk also grows in depth with a damp stone and wood basement aroma. Finally, there are some spicy notes here - this could be the strong sourness, or the rye, it is difficult to be sure. Also a bit of alcohol heat is detectable in the nose.

The taste was also very satisfying. Very sour - almost puckering. Cranberry was suggested in our tasting group, which isn't far off. The bitterness and tartness of fresh cranberries is an appropriate descriptor. As I tried to push past my watering glands, I was able to discover a nice tart berry flavor. I think we were all in agreement that blackberry was difficult to discern as a unique flavor - it could just have easily been raspberry. But we all did appreciate the use of an unusual ingredient in a wild ale. The finish was quite bitter - as if I were biting into the green leaves of the blackberries or a strawberry.

The beer did grow in sweetness over time though, and the rye began to show more oomph too. It was difficult to peg the barrels as being Cabernet sourced, yet the wine character was a nice compliment to this beer. Despite my original misgivings about a rye wild ale, everything does seem to work well together.

The mouthfeel is very dry and sticky. Oak lends a nice natural dryness. Lots of spice and heat.

Overall this was very well done, one of the most complex American sours I have ever tasted. I enjoyed this a lot, though it is a bit of a sipper. So far over anything I have tasted from Weyerbacher, Jackie O's, Russian River, Odell, etc, this is the American Wild I would be most happy to be able to buy a second time.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2011 17:58:38 | More by Spider889