Sofie - Goose Island Beer Co.

superspak

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled 10/23/2009. Violent gusher upon opening, lost a fair amount of beer. Pours a very hazy and cloudy golden amber color with a nice 3 finger fluffy white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Nice foamy lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of tart lemon, apple, pear, pepper, orange peel, pineapple, wheat, hay, grass, earth, clove, funk, and earthy yeast spiciness. Fantastic aromas with great complexity and balance of fruity esters and yeast spiciness. Taste of tart lemon, apple, pear, clove, pepper, orange zest, wheat, hay, grass, funk, and earthy yeast spiciness. Nice earthy lemon tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of tart light fruits, citrus peel, pepper, clove, hay, grass, wheat, light funk, and earthy yeast spiciness on the finish for a good bit. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a lightly slick and very crisp mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming present after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent saison! Great complexity and balance of flavors; and very smooth and crisp to sip on. A highly enjoyable offering; and one of my favorite easily available wild saisons.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 05:24:43 | More by superspak

Tones24

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-21-2013 14:06:56 | More by Tones24

Norseman

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-21-2013 11:42:50 | More by Norseman

CanisMajor

Indiana

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-20-2013 22:28:02 | More by CanisMajor

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-20-2013 16:20:37 | More by InspectorBob

MattSweatshirt

Texas

3.98/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2013 bottle

Sofie is looking good with a white head that falls down quickly and a bright golden yellow body. Somewhat hazy.

Big fruity refreshing smelling beer. There is a light musty funk, some coriander like spice, and white wine character.

Heavily citrus flavored on the taste with lemon and orange. Gets nice and musty with the yeast. There is a definite tartness to it which I wasn’t expecting.

Zesty and refreshing light-medium bodied that is a little dry.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 05:07:27 | More by MattSweatshirt

Humulus85

Minnesota

3.74/5  rDev -9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

2013 vintage, bottled on 01/11/13. From the new 765 ml bottle into my tasting glass.

Pours a hazy straw yellow with a disappointing two finger head that dissipated pretty quickly without much lacing.

Belgian style spices like clove and white pepper. Bit of Brett funk in the middle with some pale malt graininess. Maybe a hint of citrus zest, but not much.

Follows the nose. Spices, some funk, pale malts, more citrus zest in the finish with hints of white wine.

Light and refreshing. Tight champagne carbonation. Dry in the finish, with a bit of that classic Brett aftertaste.

Overall this is a decent and servicable American farmohouse ale. Nothing super noteworthy. Would pair well with almost any food, like Matilda. I would appreciate more Brett and or barrel character. This is a pretty fresh bottle so a year might help that out. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 02:07:52 | More by Humulus85

Glibber

Idaho

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

05-19-2013 22:10:48 | More by Glibber

valianes

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -8.8%

05-19-2013 19:35:01 | More by valianes

clayrock81

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Had a 2012 bottle. Clearish, seethrough pale gold with fluffy head that borders on annoying but it died just quick enough. A clovelike yeasty aroma first hits me, then some more peppery spice and citric notes, mostly orangepeel, along with something akin to sour apple or pear (a touch of funk one might say). This beer is light, easy to drink although at times there is this puckering tartness that doesn't detract from the beer but makes it a very slow sipper. For some reason the not-real-word "wineish" comes up as I seem to get this sour apple/pear and white grape taste, then the Belgian charteristics come out with a spicy orange citric taste and touches of sweet fruit. The yeast keeps it smooth and the carbonation keeps it lively and it's an all around relaxing ale to sip on, but one of those rare beers that I simply would not want a second bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 12:56:54 | More by clayrock81

mudbug

Oregon

4.41/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

From the bomber bottled on 7/24/12 into a tulip results in a very pretty straw colored body topped by a two fingered bone white rocky head that slowly recedes to a thin cap of foam with moderate lacing. A bit hazy but small bubbles continue to rise keeping things lively
Aroma is lemon zest and new mown hay, clean soapiness, slightly subdued but pleasant.
Taste follows the aroma with a lemon tang, wet hay and very juicy.Just a hint of funk
Quite a satisfying thirst quencher. Easy to take large draughts. very satisfying
A very nice not over complicated saison/farmhouse and quite a bargain to boot at about 5 ducats per bottle!
Will buy again!

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 01:55:23 | More by mudbug

NJB145

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -8.8%

05-19-2013 01:48:23 | More by NJB145

Andrew041180

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A - On tap in some kind of wide-mouthed Chimay chalice. Nice job with the pour, about a half finger of white head on top of a light golden, fairly highly carbonated beer.

S - I don't know if it was the presentation or if it was just the end of the night, but I barely smelled anything. This was a common theme for the night. I do better on this element at home.

T - Much better than I expected! Light and mildly fruity. I don't drink a lot of Belgians, but mostly because I've been loving IPA's so much. This one may change that trend. I don't really have the vocab to describe the flavors yet.

M - Light and bubbly. BA description listed something about champagne, which this actually reminds me of somewhat.

O - Very pleasant, easy-to-drink Belgian style. Would absolutely have again.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2013 01:35:43 | More by Andrew041180

MLKincer

Ohio

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-19-2013 01:29:44 | More by MLKincer

outoffocus

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-19-2013 00:11:48 | More by outoffocus

jakeox

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -8.8%

05-18-2013 23:33:39 | More by jakeox

timothef

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-18-2013 23:14:13 | More by timothef

schopenhauerale

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-18-2013 20:19:27 | More by schopenhauerale

jono0101

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%

05-18-2013 16:32:13 | More by jono0101

tobelerone

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

05-18-2013 03:30:00 | More by tobelerone

iHeartMNBeer

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

05-18-2013 03:23:51 | More by iHeartMNBeer

HollyHops

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%

05-17-2013 01:46:51 | More by HollyHops

Dcunicelli

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-16-2013 21:48:08 | More by Dcunicelli

stxSS07

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

05-16-2013 15:48:36 | More by stxSS07

BrownNut

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -8.8%

05-15-2013 23:02:21 | More by BrownNut