Sofie - Goose Island Beer Co.

andyosterman

Illinois

5/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I love this beer. Especially on tap.

Occasion :: Night out w/ friends. Drank in a signature Goose Island Vintage Ales glass.

Appearance :: Light and bright. Beautiful creamy collar of foam. Left a good amount of lacing.

Color :: Straw.

Smell :: Delightful. Hints of vanilla. Slight orange. Definitely can pull out the fresh oak aged barrels.

Taste :: Tart. The oak and vanilla play subtly. The citrus from the orange zest is apparent but not overbearing.

Mouthfeel :: Dry. Effervescent. Clean.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2010 21:15:20 | More by andyosterman

JRorie

Illinois

5/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2010 Sofie - 12 oz. bottle

Apperance: Yellow and cloudy with almost champagne like carbonation. Really a beautiful pour. One of my favorite things about Saisons and this one is spot on.

Smell: Tons of orange zest, Belgian yeast, and pepper. Very fruity as well.

Taste: Right up front you get the orange zest, the Belgian yeast, pepper, and a bit of sourness. Finishes off dry with a hint of vanilla and oak.

Mouthfeel: Very smooth and creamy, with a touch of dryness. The carbonation is perfect.

Overall: This is my favorite beer made. I can drink it anytime of the year, month, or day and be perfectly content. I love everything it has to offer, and will revisit often. This is what a Saison should be.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2011 17:12:31 | More by JRorie

Thickfreakness

New York

4.95/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This one's dated 2/19/10... It's been cellar aging for close to a year now. I bought 4 bottles at the time, and have enjoyed them all throughout the last year!

A- Poured into a Maudite Tulip glass... the head floats three fingers deep and stays for quite some time. Hazy, golden yellow hue with champagne like carbonation.

S- Orange blossoms, lemon zest, and honey at first sniff. Smells of a grassy meadow on a warm spring day. Close your eyes and you can feel the sun shining down on you.

T- Bubbles float on your tongue... Oranges, fresh cut grass, and bitter pith aftertaste. Gets a little bready and yeasty as you keep tasting. picks up more alcohol... especially as you keep sniffing and drinking.

M- Love the bubbles... This would be a great beer to ring in the New Year, or make a toast with! Even Champagne snobs would apprieciate this fine brew. Leaves your mouth tasting zesty and clean.

D- This could easily be an everyday drinker for me... so refreshing, yet... sophisticated.

This is one of my all time favorite beers... I've enjoyed it many times... and hope to enjoy it for many more years to come.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2011 02:11:15 | More by Thickfreakness

hustlesworth

Ohio

4.9/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A- enourmous cotton white head, dense but light. this could be the most expansive explosion of foam i've ever seen. with these kinds of suds, it goes without saying that head retention and lace are amazing. as it settles, the foam forms a rolling hilly snowscape and the lace is thick and soft. hazy golden amber champagne colored body with a lime greenish tint to it when backlit with white light, and honey colored by incandescent. an absolutely beautiful looking beer in any light. diggin the simple and elegant label and cap design as well.

S- very funky yeast character and rubbery earthy band-aid bitterness. some citrus could be from the orange peel or from the yeast. lemon zest, basil, green grass, clove, banana, vanilla, melon, and a hint of pear and bubblegum. some peppery spice as well.

T- immediately noticable are the additions of orange peel and amarillo hops and they are a perfect combination. ridiculously perfect. while not overly bitter, the orange/grapefruit flavors of amarillo blend exquisitely with the yeast and orange peel. banana, clove, bubblegum, band aid, farmhouse funk! old barn, basement, cement, basil, vanilla, oak, green peppercorn, cardamom, coriander, lemon, apple, pear, melon, white grape, a spatlese sweet/dry balance, and a sweet fruity finish. perfect amount of light hop flavor without being bitter, and a nice mild bitterness coming out in the finish with lingering yeast and citrus flavors.

MF- tight prickly carbonation gives way to a juicy body, soft and slick, with a crisp edge. grassy and herbal feeling with some dryness. a bit sticky on the lips. feels very natural and rustic.

D- i've been on the lookout for sofie for some time now, and i'm glad i finally found her. i've spent plenty of time with matilda, but juliet is nowhere to be found. at least pere jacques is locked up in my basement. i expected good things from sofie, and i'm more than impressed. refreshing, easy drinking, thrist quenching. a little high in alcohol for how drinkable it is. something arounf 5% would be nice, but i'm not complaining. a masterpiece of american brewing emulation, a very wise maneuver with the amarillo and orange peel, and a damn near perfect saison.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2010 06:53:20 | More by hustlesworth

Jparker37

Wisconsin

4.9/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A - The lightest shade of yellow pours into my pint glass. A fizzy white head of large bubbles arises. Very little streaking.

S - A great deal of lemon zest smells. You can get some spiciness in the nose also. Somewhat herbal and grassy.

T - You get some banana flavors with a clove spiciness. Not soured at all compared to other bottles of this I have had in the past. Great malt body from probably a lot of pilsner malt. Mild but noticeable brett character. Has the refreshing tartness of a good green apple.

M - Light on your palate with a great fizzy carbonation quality that is very pleasant.

O - My favorite summer beer. I find this beer extremely complex in flavor yet delightfully refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 04:01:44 | More by Jparker37

KarlHungus

Minnesota

4.88/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This beer pours a cloudy yellow color. The head is one inch of rocky foam that recedes slowly into sticky lacing. The aroma is of barnyard, leather, horse blanket, lemon peel, and herbs. This is a very complex smelling beer. The taste is similar to the aroma with tons of barnyard funk, and enough lemon and citrus to add some balance. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with appropriately high carbonation, and a velvety texture. Overall, this is one of the best saisions I have ever had. I will be drinking this beer regularly.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2010 14:40:25 | More by KarlHungus

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.85/5  rDev +18%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

(Served in a tulip glass)
bottled on Jun 01 09
A- This beer pours a crystal clear bright yellow body with tiny bubbles gliding in slow motion to the surface. There is a tick snow white head that last for the full beer and coats the glass with each sip.

S- The light cream and herbal green notes have a fruity dry white wine quality with a very soft bubble gum note to them. As the beer warms the aroma becomes more complex with a floral yeast perfume quality and a pine quality coming though the green herbal notes.

T- The smooth blended flavors have a slight white sugar flavor that is not really sweet. There is a nice flavor of wheat and malt that is not really distinct. The finish has a tad more dry fruity wine finish that works well with the light but complex flavors at the beginning of the beer. The finish has a very light tartness to the wine notes that is a soft Brett quality.
M- The medium-full mouthfeel has a nice creamy texture from the head and no real alcohol heat until the beer warms a good bit and even then it is smooth and compliments the flavors wonderfully.

D- This is a delicious beer with a slight sweetness that works well with the drier fruit flavors and the wine notes with the Orval yeast qualities. This beer is light but has a great mysterious complexity that beg to take another sip. I am excited to try this one aged but I don't know if I can keep from drinking it now.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2009 15:05:03 | More by rhoadsrage

latackbeer

Illinois

4.85/5  rDev +18%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

First time I had Sofie I was working a beer tasting and Goose Island was there with a 1/6 of Sofie. I think I drank most of it :). The head was very impressive and the smell was unbelievable, so many smells of fruity and spicy notes. The taste well, as I stated earlier I drank most of it myself.

I buy a few pints a week from my local beer store!!

A two thumbs up for Goose Island Sofie!

Serving type: on-tap

10-04-2010 19:24:19 | More by latackbeer

ChanChan

California

4.85/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from bottle into a tulip glass
Appearance: Yellow! Like natural apple juice or the defunct wheat beer they sell at brew-co in Westwood california. The head is one inch and fluffy. It only sticks around for a little while.

Aroma: As soon as this beer is cracked open the aroma of breattanomices clove, wood and orange peel hit your nose.

Mouthfeel: This is the most bubbly drink I can remember having, its like when you take a first sip of club soda but with tons of flavor. Very nice.

Taste: This beer is very similar to other wild ales it tastes fantastic. Not as complex as the wine barrel aged but for 7.00$ for a 22OZ bomber, I would much rather buy this bargain.

Overall: This beer makes me feel so grateful for the good things in life! Much like the Rodenbach grand-cru this beer leaves your mouth with a taste of bubble gum candy. Very refreshing. It has a long bitter cloying finish which, I think, gives this beer character! Definitely a beer to have on a picnic or as an alternative to champagne! Also a great beer to have with a medium to full bodied habano leaf cigar!

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2011 06:07:25 | More by ChanChan

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.83/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

whoa. rockin good beer here. serious. world class. Hit the sweet spot wiht this. Sophisticated yet so easy and drinkable. no cloying just quaffing. Poured with a fine off white head and a litle lace. Color is a clear amber. Aroma is fresh yeast malt spice grass crotch funk an plasure. Flav's bout the same, but with a tart edge. Killer body and carbonation. Not just drinkable, but suckable. mmm mm mmmm

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2010 04:08:38 | More by drpimento

cosmicevan

New York

4.83/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had this the other night after another fine recommendation from my local bevy. I was so overly impressed by this beer that I immediately went on a hunt to find more (scored 2 today in downtown nyc on my lunch).

A - A golden, yellow, honey with great and lively carbonation. It was extremely reminiscent of Ommegang to me, except the head was a bit thinner, but it was nice and bubbly. Beautiful for the style.

S - Citric notes lead the way. Bubblegum and candied sugar follow. All the usual suspects in the flavor dept for a Saison, but certainly on the sweeter side. I really loved it, so did my wife.

M - Quenching. Even. Alive.

D - Really fantastic offering. For fans of Hennepin should DEFINITELY make an effort to find this. After sharing this beer with my wife over dinner, we were so into it, we popped a bottle of Hennepin immediately following and we both agreed that Sofie had it easily beat. Gotta give it a 5 in the drinkability dept since I immediately ran out to find more. I've heard this one is somewhat limited which is a bummer, so get em while you can.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2010 00:34:53 | More by cosmicevan

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Thanks to autumnaldave for this 650 mL bomber from the 2009 release.

A: The saison is effervescent, pouring with lots and LOTS of bubbles. The first pour alone yielded 4 fingers of dense head in my tulip. The billowy head receded quickly though, leaving little lace behind. Underneath the head, the saison is sparkling, a golden yellow that is more clear than hazy.

S: I'm really digging the nose. It's citrusy, lemony like Sorachi Ace, with a dash of funk lingering near the end. Freshly cracked pepper is a sharp contrast to the sweetness. Orange peel adds another citrusy dimension. If I had to, I'd call it award-winning.

T: Oh sweet mercy! I am in love, flat out love. Orange peel starts things off, sweet fleshy fruit. The orange zest is a meme oft repeated throughout the ale. Initially is matches with cracked peppercorns, spicy with some heat. There isn't as much funk as the nose indicated, instead a yeasty anise bite stands in. The ale is champagne-like, the effervescence lightening up the ale substantially. As a sip is swallowed, the Belgian yeast is most evident with dry fruits and more anise. Orange peel, and the peel is most noticeable here, pops up again as the lingering flavor.

M: The bubbly champenoise style does the ale justice, smoothing over any weak spots while prolonging the orange peel sweetness. The saison is contrasting, wild with sweet and sour, spciy and dry flavors. Stunning.

D: The saison is moderate strength-wise, but complex enough that I don't mind. Orange peel is a key addition, lifting the beer above most all other saisons that I've had. A beautiful ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2010 19:35:47 | More by akorsak

cbarrett4

Oregon

4.83/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is one of the best beers I have ever had from the US. These guys regularly blow my mind.

A - doesn't get much prettier than this, gorgeous straw-golden-yellow hue with a subtle head but persistent carbonation.

S - Saison! Lots of funky yeast (love it!) with citrus, spice, and a hint of malt.

T - beautiful on the palate, lots of spice and tropical fruit notes framed by funky yeast and citrus

M - wonderful texture, medium bodied (as a Saison should be) with the alcohol in check, light tannins, good acidity.

D - I could not stop drinking this beauty, seriously great beer here.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2010 19:28:13 | More by cbarrett4

drinkankuss

Pennsylvania

4.78/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This was one amazingly good beer. Something that if I could replicate I would brew consistantly.

bottle 2010 into a wine glass

A - spot on, no cloudiness in the first pour. Bright yellow small bubbles good retention

S - Not a ton going on, but my nose is busted.

T- Big Saison Flavors - Farm houseness is balance by a pretty big hop flavor. Taste very fresh and crisp.

M - Go down Easy. Want more.

D - If it wasn't expensive I would be hooked.

Have been trying a lot of saision stylea : Bam Biere, Devotion, Helios, Stillwater. This rises to the top. For an american made Saison.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2010 18:55:22 | More by drinkankuss

BeerNemesis

New York

4.72/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Sofie | 650 ml. | 6.5% ABV | 2010 vintage

Brewer: Goose Island
Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale
Glass: White wine glass

Presentation:
Very elegant white label. I approve.

Appearance:
Elegant, crisp straw gold. Glowing, warm -- it fills the gap between translucent Chardonnay and viscous, opaque honey. The head fizzes angrily, champagne-like.

Aroma:
Goose absolutely nails the style. Moderate barnyard character, wonderfully fresh orange-peal neroli oils,

Taste:
Authentically Belgian taste is far from given for American breweries, but Goose more than exceeded expectations. The brettanomyces was a nice touch, giving it a moderate barnyard funk. Neroli oil was a key component giving it a gushing juicy zest. Warming alcohol towards the end is elegantly done. Oh and it was aged in wine barrels.

Mouthfeel:
Over-bubbled, but not as much of an issue as I thought at first sip. Only a minor hiccup.

Harmony:
Wow, not since Hennepin have I tasted such a good American saison.

Would I get it again?:
Absof*ckinglutely, yes.

Bottled on: ?
Served on: July 14, 2010

Price = ?

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2010 03:29:15 | More by BeerNemesis

rwf08

Texas

4.72/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bomber poured into a NB tulip.

A: Clear pale straw with a shit-ton of carbonation. I know I have a glass with a large nucleation spot but damn it looks like a bubble tornado. Head starts at two fingers and grow to Shaq hands out side of the glass.

S: Fruity, some light funk, horse blanket, and a clean floral aroma. Wine and citrus zest.

T: This reminds me of a chardonnay with a little more oak. I get a good amount of citrus zest too. This is pretty awesome.

M: High end on carbonation, with a thin mouth feel. Kind of soda like but in a good way.

D: This is a really good beer. I wish I had this on a hot Summer's day instead of drinking it now at night. I would seek this out again. Good job GI.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2010 04:42:01 | More by rwf08

Chronofied

North Dakota

4.72/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

About 50°F, served in a laser-etched snifter.

Appearance - A slightly cloudy golden color, with visible sediment and a simply epic carbonation stream (in part thanks to the laser etch). Wonderful head retention with a nice lacing left behind on the sides of the glass.

Smell - Nose is marked with a resin and yeast smell that hides a hint of orange, with just a suggestion of esters. Not as strong of an aroma as I might hope; the bubbliness would imply more effervescence.

Taste - Medium bodied and very smooth, there is a very shy acidity that gives it a definitive crispness. The taste of this brew is light on the malt, with a solid but not overpowering yeast flavor very true to the saison style. The taste is mostly sweet with a hint of hoppy bitterness
and a lightly fruity finish of citrus. Alcohol is almost indiscernible throughout, just enough to remind you it is there.

Mouthfeel - This beer manages to be both creamy and crisp, with a jubilant carbonation that delights the tongue. The carbonation, along with the light fruitiness of the taste, is almost reminiscent of a cider. Not much heat on it, just a little flare on the finish.

Drinkability - Not even fair. I find myself pulling on my glass again and again. I could honestly drink this all night. Just over the course of this review I've drained a full pint-six, and could go for another.

Overall - Sofie is my paramour, and I'll care for her all the long days of my life.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2010 03:47:31 | More by Chronofied

beveritt

Ohio

4.72/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: Poured from a 22 oz brown bomber into a Rockmill chalice. Label is simple; white background with some gold and green showing a goose. Bottled in 2010.

Appearance: Pours with just over 1 finger of white head. This settles slowly to a still substantial coating of foam, leaving behind incredible lacing. The beer itself is a crystal clear bright yellow with a lot of activity. Some compacted sediment remains in the bottle.

Smell: Rich and creamy aroma with strong notes of honey, pineapple, and pears.

Taste: Decent carbonation bite upfront followed by a nice lemon-citrus zest. This sharpness is counterbalanced by smooth and creamy fruit flavors; vanilla, pear, and slight banana. Lingering lemongrass flavor with mild sweetness.

Mouthfeel: High carbonation, as is appropriate for the style. Body is great.

Drinkability: Another great one from Goose Island's foray into Belgian styles. Very enjoyable and certainly once to revisit frequently.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2010 00:32:49 | More by beveritt

MinorThreat

Colorado

4.7/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Purchased from south east Denver's best boutique beer store's; Libation's, they do a damn fine job of supplying the exceptional and hard to find.

A-One of the best looking saison's I have ever seen. Rich golden color with a nice murky look. The head sets this one apart; super dense thick white head with nice lacing

S-Green pepper and horse blanket with a sweet under tone. Spot on for the style.

T-Yup, this is the best saison I have had outside of Belgians. Phenomenal yeast esters of green pepper, banana, clove, brown sugar pair with a subtle maltiness and an animal-saison-funk. Exceptional

M-Dense enough to feel full and effervescent enough to remain light, really nice.

D-Yes please. This is one to savor... in quantity

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2010 04:43:41 | More by MinorThreat

ausonius

New York

4.7/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2009 Sofie (12/11/09 bottling date)

From 22 oz. Bomber

Bought tonight; Chilled; Popped & poured.

Appearance - Head settles quickly leaving a thin head, barely covering the brew w/little lacing
Light blond yellow with a almost imperceptible touch of green.

Aroma - fresh, grainy, metallic, Belgian yeasty, farmhouse ale type of nose, but with more freshness. Hint of piquancy & pungency. Earth, sour limes, sourdough. Complex, big & rich, but not sweet (not much banana) & has freshness with a hint of fruity citrus. Very nice.

Palate - Big, grainy, creamy, but not fat. Long, full, slightly linear (not in a thin way, just not round), with an earthy dry, slightly spicy key lime, grainy, clean finish. Hints of licorice, orange, spice, oak & clean earth in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Interesting & changing from beginning to finish. A Saison with a twist - a twang of citrus. Loverly!

Drinkability - Hard to keep the glass out of my hand. Little trace of alcohol (none negative). Frankly, this can be a Great sesh brew, but probably only with another beer Lover - it's so complex, ever-changing, & just damn interesting, that only another beer lover will forgive the smiling introspection this may inspire.

95+/100 Points

This is Great Beer & I Love it!

Really nice now, but definitely will age.

From the label: 80% Belgian styled ale blended with
20% Belgian styled ale aged in wine barrels with orange peel.

I'm beginning to think these guys may be turning out more great beer than any other brewery in the US. Hmmm . . .

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2010 08:23:05 | More by ausonius

joshk

New York

4.7/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Did someone say horse-blanket? Because it wasn't me. What is a horse-blanket?

Had on tap in Penn Station.

Appearance: hazy golden yellow with a light white head.

Smell: sweet, fruity. Sour, mild pineapple and sour apple notes, some apricot . Smells like a sour candy.

Taste: light hoppy flavor, sour apple, champagne, "light fruits" (as opposed to dark fruits). Light malty flavor, "chalky yeast," light spice, floral, mild sweetness. After a while, I could taste a faint grain or wheat flavor. Very complex brew.

Mouthfeel: medium to light, certainly not super light.

Drinkability: high for Belgian style. However, I usually can't drink more than one or two belgian ales a night. Either it's the strong yeasty flavor, the occasional spice, or the complexity.

Notes: an exceptional Belgian style from the US. Reminds me of Duvel, but I like it better. Very easy drinking, my first farmhouse ale. A relatively expensive pint, but was well worth it (like six bucks and some change). Would go well with some aged gouda and crackers, or garlic pork loin, coq au vin, or other fancy shit.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2011 02:42:40 | More by joshk

JustinMatthew

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

2011 Sofie bottled 9/15/11 (1557) and poured from the bottle into a tulip glass. Cloudy golden color with a fingers width of quickly dissipating white head. Smell is a little funky and musky, a bit yeasty and kind of oaky in the nose. Taste is similar to the nose a little drying on the end with hints of citrus fruits, (orange peel) sweet yeast presence a touch of white grapes (chardonnay barrel aging) musky oak presence is evident but all together well balanced. Can't wait for another bottle of this in future trades.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 03:36:12 | More by JustinMatthew

professorninja

Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I got this at a concert with my wife (Crooked Still). After a couple of bourbon and sprites, I split a 22 oz. of Sofie with the lady.

A - I was tipsy, and it was dark, so I can only assume it looked good.

S - It smelled pretty good. Clean, maybe citrusy?

T - The taste was incredible. Sweet, almost bready. It had the tang of a belgian style ale, but it wasn't sour.

M - I'm not a huge fan of this style, I don't like a lot of big bubbles. The feel was good for what it was.

D - Low ABV, so I could see drinking a few of these (I knew I wanted more after the first, but this is a pricey beer).

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2010 20:27:59 | More by professorninja

larryi86

Delaware

4.68/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

12 oz bottle dated 4/23/10 poured into a snifter

A- A hazy bright yellow with a very fluffy 3 finger white head.

S- Earthy spices, oranges, lemons, hints of sour apples and a slightly funky Belgian yeast. Just great and screams drink me!

T- The taste is not as big as the smell. Fruit flavors are noticeable along with the earthy spices, but not dominate. The finish has a hint of a wine flavor and a hint of funk. A nice malt backbone that bring everything together.

M- Nice medium body, crisp, smooth, and very refreshing.

D- Very easy to drink and enjoy. This beer has nice complexity but I could see myself drink as many as 5 or 6 on a hot summer day if I had enough. This is a new favorite that I will be stocking up on!

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2011 01:35:08 | More by larryi86

FernMaster

Missouri

4.68/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sofie - Goose Island

Poured from the bottle into a tulip.

I haven't reviewed this beer yet? What the hell is wrong with me? I was just sitting, texting, listening to Junip while being in a really pleasant mood as I was drinking this beer and I was wondering what did I rate it at? Apparently nothing, which needs to be remedied.

If the Holy Grail is ever discovered, this should be the first thing ever poured into it. Sorry Angel, not Mountain Dew and sorry Indian Jones for whatever the hell it was, water? Yuck. There's easily a hand's worth of head. Maybe not for people who have man sized hands, for my dainty hands it's easily five fingers. Gorgeous. I meant my hands. Jk. Sofie is a very murky golden dirty blonde color with constant carbonation and decent lacing as well. She's a looker.

The smell, ahahaha. There's this funky rotted floor board smell, like an abandoned farmhouse. Over this rotted funk is a scent of incredible lemon zest, citrusy punch, sort of a pineapple scent. If you were to have sex with a pineapple in the situation that Alison Brie's character in the most recent "Community" episode described (the Dungeons and Dragons one), Sofie would smell like that.

The taste is magnifecent and what really got me pondering on what my previous review was. I'm drinking this a little warm, you should too, maybe a little past 55 degrees and it's perfect there. The lemon comes right up in the front of the taste. Sofie is also very sour, while not being distractingly so, which for me is a quality I love. Shock Tarts are cool, but a whole roll is a challenge. When I was a kid, I don't know if those are still made. They should be. I want some. I said "zest" earlier and that comes through, it's very tangy and delectable.

The mouthfeel of this is nicely carbonated that gives a smidgen of resistance as you drink. I like it. It's a good, firm body to uphold the flavor and it's an all around amazing drink at a very affordable price. I would highly recommend drinking this beer. It's by Goose Island, a brewery I love for their consistent quality. They are part of what makes living in the Midwest great. Find this beer and drink it if you haven't already, or if you're like me, revisit an old friend.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2011 02:55:00 | More by FernMaster