Juliet - Goose Island Beer Co.

davey101

Connecticut

4.38/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2012 Vintage, bottled on 1/26/2012, #1212. 22 oz bomber into a tulip glass.

A - Clear body that changes from red, purple, or amber depending on how its held up to the light. Thin off white edging with low amount of lacing. The color of this beer is just gorgeous!

S - Starts off very acetic and funky. I'm getting more red grape than berry notes, but there is a bit of blackberry.The fruit is very light and really overpowered by the Brettanomyces. A bit of a rye spice on the finish as well as some oaky tannin's.

T - Very tart and sour. Red wine and blackberries, acidic vinegar, oak and rye spice. Some lightly caramelized malts and brett funk on the finish. Very complex and well balanced for a wild ale. Mouth feel has that sort of enamel ripping tartness that I get from some Cantillon fruit lambics. Very awesome!

O - This beer really reminds me of Cantillon Kriek. Just strong mouth puckering sour fruit. Only it has light notes of berries, oak, malt and rye in there making it much more interesting. Certainly one of the better executed American wild ales I have tried. Well played Goose Island, well played!

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 01:57:49 | More by davey101

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

mychalg9

Illinois

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

Poured 12/11/10 22oz bottle into DFH globe

Pours a reddish brown, almost plum color with a nice fizzy white cap on it that dissolves quickly like soda bubbles into the air. Smell is of sour berries, a bit of lacto, faint leather and horse blanket. Tart, puckering blast of sour berries (Cherries, blackberries) immediately following a sip, smoothing out into a brett middle with a nice wine-like finish. Mouthfeel is a bit thin with a good level of carbonation. Alcohol is hidden very well. Overall a very solid wild ale from Goose Island. Would buy again for certain.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 01:37:24 | More by mychalg9

pigc

Nebraska

4.23/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 Version

A - Pours a reddish copper color with one finger head that fades rather quickly.

S - Sour raspberries, apple cider, tart funkiness, oak, white wine.

T - Tart cherries and blackberries right up front followed by a acidic vinegary mid-palate. Brett funk is definitely there with a considerable amount of sourness. Chardonnay flavors come through in the finish.

M - Fairly thin with a decent amount of mouth puckering.

O - Nicely complex wild ale. Wine barrels are not my favorite for aging but they do a nice job with Juliet. Not my favorite sour but well worth trying out if you get a chance. Well crafted.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 01:13:33 | More by pigc

FanofHefe

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 version, bottled 1/26/12, bottle number 1223; poured into a Duvel tulip. Color is clear, wine-like, like a dark blush wine, red with tints of brown and orange. Seems very carbonated and produces a quick tan two-finger head, but it dissipates very quickly leaving no lacing.

Sour notes dominate the aroma: tart cherry, light sweet malt, oak. The blend comes through stronger as it warms.

The taste is superb. Tart cherry and a hint of raspberry followed by bitter vinegar in a very good combination. Only the lightest amount of sweetness from the malt and a bit of funkiness from the yeast.

Clean and a mostly light mouthfeel in the texture. Overall, an excellent beer that I would readily recommend.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 01:13:29 | More by FanofHefe

beesy

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 Vintage. Poured into a Stone Cali-Belgique flute style glass.
Chilled a little too much solet it come to temp before consuming.

A - pours a somewhat cloudy reddish orange with a 2 finger Off white head. Looks like a San Diego sunset when held up to light.

S - lots of typical sour notes; lactic, slightly vinegar, cherry, slightly horsey. Oakey and wine in the late nose.

T - tart, acidic and lactic all the way through. A touch of oak on the end. I have to search a little for the blackberry to differentate it from sour cherry. Sweet on the end. Horsey on the end from the brett, but its overshadowed by the lactic sourness. Wine in the late palate. Nice sourness and nice fruit mixed in.

M - just right. Slightly thin from the bugs, but spot on for the style. I was expecting it to be a little too thick for 8%, but it has dried nicely.

D - for 8% abv, it drinks like 4%. Complimented by firm, but not overpowering sour, it's quite easy to drink.

Overall, a fantastic beer. The $16 price tag is a little steep, but this beer really delivers for me. Nice, firm sourness with a touch of funk and fruit makes it a awesome beer to have on this 90 degree day.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 00:49:08 | More by beesy

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.4/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle, 1/26/12
Lost Abbey snifter

A: Pours a beautiful pinkish plum color. Definitely berry like. Lots of carbonation streaming off the bottom of the glass. Thin ring of bright head head forms around the edges of the glass. Leaves no lacing at all. Very effervescent and bubbly like champagne.

S: Smells of funk: wet hay, horse blanket, etc. There is some tart berry smells in there too. Also, that lactic acid smell. Red wine vinegar.

T: Right up front on the tongue you get blasted with tart berry. Lactic acid flavors. Not a Gueze like mouth pucker, but definitely some little dangers in the tongue. Middle of the mouth, the tart funky notes are still there but it mellows a touch and smoothes. Very vinous in nature. Nice dry wine finish. Leaves you wanting and needing another sip.

M: Light bodied. Very easy drinking. Alcohol amazing hidden. Don't taste it at all.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 14:14:25 | More by inlimbo77

hooliganlife

Missouri

4.4/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

vintage 2012

pours a copper with hints of plum, light fizzy white creamy head. light retention.

soft berries on the nose, subtle lemon and tartness.

nice sourness through out. soft blackberry and dark berry flavor. some light lemon and dry oak.

very moderate carbonation, great tingle which helps bring out the berry flavor.

overall, very delicious. never boring. 8% makes it a bit slower of a sipper but really easy to drink away on. great flavor, cannot see it improving.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 18:53:42 | More by hooliganlife

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

larryi86

Delaware

4.8/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

22 oz bottle dated 1/26/12 poured into a flute

A- A clear light ruby red with an orange tint and a small off white head.

S- Wine like, lots of fruit, blackberries abd cherries, both a little sweet and a little sour, some nice funk.

T- Sour blackberries, just enough funk in the finish, not getting much oak, but I am getting some wine.

M- Smooth, very crisp, medium body, dry.

O- Goose Island did a great job with this beer and it is extremely easy to drink, 8% ABV is not noticeable at all. I wish I had more, such a treat.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 02:47:44 | More by larryi86

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

3.73/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Lolita yesterday, Juliet today – it’s a Goose Island week. This one’s aged in Cabernet barrels, just like Lolita, but with blackberries instead of raspberries and with some rye in the grain bill.

Brewed about four months before the date of this tasting (“BOTTLED: 01/26/12”).

A: Another sparkling grape juice appearance: loads of bubbles in a thin, pinkish-plum body. The head appears for a brief second, popping wistfully away in a flash of fizz – a few spots of lacing and only a hint of cream along the outside for retention.

S: Lovely, popping fruitiness; enjoyable as ever. Comes off with a blackberry tartness and a bright aroma of raspberry and white grape juice; very reminiscent of Pinot Noir. The clovey funk of brett is evident, as well, but not dizzyingly so, showing up as just a mild herbal note of depth. Pumpernickel bread, white pepper, wet oak, and Belgian scents of estery yeast in the back end.

T: Very, very much like olive juice at first sip; almost enough lactic acid to turn me off. But sometimes that’s how sours go, so I stuck it out (though it still bugged me throughout the drink). Underneath is a bright flavor of blackberry, ripe blueberries, and lemonade, but with a tannic barrier preventing it from being too fruity – that is, it’s earthy and balanced in its fruit character. The biggest grain flavors are just that: light, indistinguishable grains, with just a moderate touch of rye flavor. Rhubarb, dried cherry, and sour apple come through with a mix of oak and vanilla yogurt (barrel notes). The yeast presence of banana and clove makes the aftertaste feel like I’ve just had a hefeweizen, those earthy flavors abounding.

M: Thicker and smoother than Lolita, which is odd because it’s actually 1% ABV less. It’s likely because of the more subdued carbonation in this one; it’s slightly fizzy, but only slightly.

O: Though it’s a good mix of solid flavors, this beer is not without its weaknesses (mainly the huge presence of lactic acid). Still, it would go wonderfully with a variety of entrees, or cheeses, for that matter. Makes me even more excited for Madame Rose…

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 01:43:53 | More by BarryMFBurton

Shumania

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bomber bottled on 12/11/10. Poured into a Goose Island chalice.

A: Ruby red color with a dark hue. Dark in that you cannot see through it. minimal head on the top.

S: Tart and sour comes through right away with berries in there. Some lactic sourness...

T: Expected it to be extremely sour by the smell, but the focus is on the blackberries. On the back end, is the lactic sourness.

M: Thicker than I through it would be, but not over the top sugary. The tartness breaks through at the end.

O: A really nice wild ale that has nice balance between the berries and sourness. A great treat and wish my second bottle had not spontaneously exploded so I could enjoy it again without searching.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2012 23:35:00 | More by Shumania

Holland

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Opened the 2010 version accidentally instead of the 2012....

A: orange/pink/purple mix with a huge head. This was a bit of a gusher, but not bad. HEad dies but leaves some nice lacing for a while.

S: sourness, funk, grass, and berries. Smells vinous.

T: tart berries are still present very much. Delicious tasting with more tart and less funk tahn the smell.

M: well carbonated, great feeling of etching my teeth, and medium body is lightened by the carbonation and acidity.

O: excellent, wish I hadn't drank my 2010 now, but I'll know that my 2012s are good for a while.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 23:49:44 | More by Holland

tut2528

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pour is a very reddish hue with slight touches of orange. About ½ inch worth of head, dissipates quickly. minor lacing. Carbonation is rather high

S: Best smelling sour I’ve had up to this point, by far. Very high sweet and sour notes with a slight touch of oak. The fruits resemble blackberries, tart cherries and very nicely balanced of grapes and red wine and vinegar.

T: extremely tartness with nice sourness (more tart than sour). Cherries, blackberries and raspberries are all intermingled in a very nice balance. Alcohol is completely unnoticeable due to the high acidity/vinegar. Touches of red wine are also evident

M: very light and the drinkability is very high. The taste buds freak out with each sip and I cannot stop salivating. This forces me to drink more and I’m cruising through this bottle at a very fast rate.

O: Pretty new to the sours, and this one is by far the best tasting sour I’ve had to date. Definitely would like to see how some of the more renown sours such as those brewed by RR stand-up to this because I thoroughly enjoy this brew. Price is very steep, but I have no regrets trying this one out, very pleased.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 11:55:07 | More by tut2528

yamar68

Minnesota

4.23/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Very lucky to have snagged a bottle of this. It seems like it's even more evasive than Lolita in the Twin Cities area. Bottled 1/26/12 - bottle # 1247. Poured from 22oz bottle to snifter:

Pours a glowing, beautiful pinkish golden pear. A short-lived, fizzy off white cap fades off to a thin dollop of a head. Slow, pinpoint beading. What a nice looking beer.

The nose is just as bright - sour berries, aggressive tart character, yeast, a bit of rhubarb, white grapes, a touch of booze far and away.

Exceedingly complex on the tongue. Tart, drying fruits... some bright grape notes, faded hop character, a touch of sour peaks before a very dry finish.

I think I prefer this one to the Lolita. A bit more balance and drinkability. Really a delicious beer I think.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 23:43:27 | More by yamar68

webmanspidey

Michigan

4.38/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A bottle from the 2012 release, poured into a small chalice. This is very well carbonated and a faded ruby color, close to a dark orange or pink. Smell is very sour with lots of funky acidic berries and grapes. Taste is very sour, with a citric flavor similar to a lemonhead. Lots of barnyard funkiness and berry lemonade flavors. Alcohol isn't noticeable at all, keeping this very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 00:22:46 | More by webmanspidey

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

Borrowing inspiration from traditional sour ale brewers and blenders of Belgium, America has planted itself as formidable as any when it comes to these sharply acidic ales.

Goose Island hits home with a rouge hued creation with soft peach highlights- looks something akin to red grapefruit juice. The beer builds a creamy white cap that is somewhat fluid and liquified with remarkable lacing power.

A lot of musty fruit and wine character fill the nose with the more tart and acidic attributes of fermented fruit. Tart cherries, green apples, green grapes, white wine vinegar, cider, raspberries, and blackberries- all seem dusted with the must of sandalwood and hard candies.

Flavors are even drier in taste and more acidic than even the nose suggests as the flavor of cherries, berries, apples, and grapes deliver a juicy taste but without the associated sweetness of fruit. Instead, the mild and rounded flavor of dried wood, almond, vanilla, and oak with the vinous character of dry red wines with mild hop bitterness.

Dry, dry, and more dry as the mouth puckering sourness offers a clean and crisp lactic refreshment with only subtle support of dry malt carbonation and almond-like starch. Once the carbonation recedes even before the middle palate, the palate stripping cleansing of acidity shuts the door on the finish. Only an aftertaste of tart fruit exists in a short lived aftertaste.

All that's lacking is the intensity of complementary flavors to accompany the fruit in the same way that Belgian lambics do. In the end, the beer has a more simplified palate as does some like Cantillon and 3 Fontienen.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 19:38:17 | More by BEERchitect

Humulus85

Minnesota

4.45/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Ah, the my second of the Three Sisters (first being Lolita). Was not expecting to get this one this year, but there she was, staring at me from my favorite bottle shops cooler. Bottled 01/26/12 From a 22oz bottle into my Darkness snifter.

Pours a slightly hazed rose. A touch darker then Lolita, with the same one finger bubbly head that dissipates instantly. The sisters are very good looking beers!

Funk, then a deep hit of blackberries, some sour cherry/green apple, then some of that wonderful wet-hay brett. Yum.

Bam! Like the nose: tart, funky berries, some sour apple, a touch earthy/woody in the finish, sour throughout, lingering funk. The aging on berries in wine barrels really makes this.

So far my favorite part of the sisters has been the mouthfeel, and this holds that standard. Super effervescent, super playful on the tongue. Dry as a bone, the wine barrels to what they should.

Overall this is a very good good wild ale, and (imho) a touch better then her sister Lolita. The blackberries lend a deeper, less tart, flavor that lets the brett and wine barrels come through a bit more. Super drinkable for 8%. I'm intrigued to how these brews do with a year or two on them. Highly recommended if you can get it. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 01:19:10 | More by Humulus85

Etan

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a Maine Beer Company wine glass. 2012 bottle.

A: Pours a beautiful ruby with small white head.

S: Big lactic sourness in the aroma. Mild sweet berry underneath.

T: Brief wave of earthy milled rye washed over by a slightly puckering red-fruit sourness. Restrained lactic notes, brett, solid oak and dry vinous notes from the barrel. Subtle tart blackberry skin mixes well with the lactic sourness.

M: Soft body, very low carbonation.

O: This is really tasty. I wish the rye and blackberries came through a little more though.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 01:16:31 | More by Etan

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a Local Option cervoise.

Figured I'd celebrate my birthday with some bottle, might as well be a shelf sour (check my local's shelf...it's definitely there...). It pours a mostly clear sunrise auburn topped by a half-finger at best of dirty off-white foam. The nose comprises sweet berries, light tart cherry, very light and very mild Brett funk, and a kiss of vanilla. The taste eschews the eminent sweetness of the smell in favor of a few waves of varying degrees of sour: tart berries, sour cherries, tart red wine, a small bit of straight Brett funk, and a bit of white vinegar for the sake of it. Nothing is exceedingly powerful, though, allowing everything to meld together without o'erwhelming the taste buds or peeling the enamel off of the teeth. This is what sour beer brewers should be aiming for, dammit! The body is a light medium, with a moderate carbonation and a sticky finish. Overall, a very nice bit o' sour goodness, one of the premier beers I've yet had from Goose as a whole. Happy birthday to me!

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 03:51:15 | More by TMoney2591

jmarsh123

Indiana

4.33/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours clear ruby red with lots of effervescent bubbles and a thin pink tinged head.

Aroma is of fresh blackberries with a hint of pedio/lacto and some oak.

Lush unripe blackberry flavor along with a little pedio and some mild brett. Has very vinous qualities as well with some oak. Lots of wine like flavors with the body of a beer. More tart than sour as the blackberry creates a pucker on the back end.

Fairly light mouthfeel with good prickly carbonation.

By far my favorite Goose Island sour and one of the better ones out there overall. The brett is well done and complements the main flavors instead of overwhelming them as some do. Again more tart than sour, but a winner in my book.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 22:09:21 | More by jmarsh123

smakawhat

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle, vintage 2012, into a tulip glass.

Real gorgeous body color, a clear to mild opaque red raspberry and orange peach hued body. Head doesn't form much but leaves barely a collar, settles like a nice wine. Looks like an amazing lambic, love this color.

Nose is red fruits of cherry and raspberry. Jammy. Mild tartness, off the pour it seemed strong from a distance, but closer it's subdued. No sense of heat, or real punching yeast, just like a good solid lambic.

Bent first hints with a tomato V8 quality. As it warms up, more of the fruit action comes in with a nice tartness. Mouthfeel is very crisp, prickly, but not detracting. No sense of heat alcohol, or sharp yeast. Good acidity without any craziness.

Seriously, while the tomato action really reminds me of Zwanze 2011, this brew could easily pass for a solid Cantillon. Very impressed

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 23:17:37 | More by smakawhat

rodkin

Missouri

4.05/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a translucent pinkish red. Not really much head to speak of, but there's visible champagne-like carbonation. Very pretty color, looks tasty!

Smell of tart grapes and blackberry. The cabernet barrels leave a really nice oaky wine smell as well.

Taste is blackberry, oak, grape, some acidity and a hint of spice on the way down that lingers a bit. Nice balance of sweetness and tartness. It's actually quite a bit less tart than I expected. Definitely not mouth-puckering. It's quite refreshing, very easy to down.

Mouthfeel is quite nice. Well carbonated, with a medium body. Perfect for the hot weather.

I quite liked this. Not incredible, but very pleasant and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2012 00:49:40 | More by rodkin

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

thanks to egrace84 for this share! Thanks Elliot!

vintage 2012 poured into snifter.

reviewed from notes taken on 5/4/12.

Appearance: translucent copperish red bodied beer with a thin white cap that goes quickly to a ring around the glass.

Smell: sour fruit berries and a hint of oak!

Taste: this beer is really a strong sour! The tartness of this beer is on the high end of moderate. Nice fruity berries break up the tartness of the beer and a hint of oak and red wine.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied beer with moderate carbonation. Lively carbonation and finish is dry and almost like at a vinous wine like mouthfeel.

Overall: This is the last of the three sisters from GI that I had yet to try and this is my favorite of the three hands down. Its the most sour and has a nice taste of fruit and wine! Awesome sour beer!

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 03:25:36 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

Vonerichs

Illinois

4/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear reddish hue with a short white head.

Smells of tart cherries, funky, and a little bit of blackberry.

Funky, tart, cherries, blackberry, vinegar, and brown sugar taste.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, mouth puckering, and sharp carbonation.

A solid sour, for sure, but the price point makes it something I won't buy again.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 00:20:01 | More by Vonerichs