Lolita - Goose Island Beer Co.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

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

Lots of raspberry in this one, thanks Americo. Pink coloured body, fruity aroma. Fuller mouthfeel, also with assertive carbonation. A good tartness, a nice bottle to share because of the acidity. Some other berries there, lending balance, strawberry and some wild blueberry. Could even be some cherry.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 00:19:04 | More by northyorksammy

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nice light red with touches of golden color gave it a nice bright appearence. tart grape skins, cherries and loads of funk, some light spiciness and a decent touch of oak. lots of dark fruit, tart funkiness and a nice earthy, woodsy like smell blending together very nicely on this one. Silk like smoothness, and the finest carbonation bubbles, really well done in that regard. ;ots of sour in here right up front with frapes and light lemon like citrus taking over. Rolling through some nice notes of cherry then came over me. Decent funkiness in through the middle and the finish

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2011 02:58:11 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.8/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle courtesy of Jeff. Thanks!

A: This beer pours an a reddish-pink color with a finger or so of pink head.

S: Big time raspberry smell on this one, not surprisingly. A bit of strawberry and cranberry also present. A really sweet, almost candy or sugar, aroma to it, too. A light grassiness is really the only funk.

T: Moderately vinegary, but still fairly sweet. Big time raspberry flavor, too. Some other berry notes also on the tongue, mostly strawberry. Lightly grassy with a little bit of straw.

M: Medium in body with a medium carbonation.

O: If this didn't have the big sweetness to it, I would have really enjoyed it a lot more. As it stands, just a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 07:06:12 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to mdfb79 for providing this brew to Saturday's tasting. Served in a SAVOR wine glass.

Pours a nice light orange color with some pinkish hues. There's a bit of a white head and some spotty lacing on the way down. The nose carries a good dosing of raspberries plus a bit of oak. There's a good bit of earth and moderate funk behind that as well. The flavor isn't quite as strong and integrated, but is nice nonetheless. Light-medium body with a good bit of acidity through the finish along with some dryness. No detectable alcohol. Really nice.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 02:06:02 | More by Thorpe429

brentk56

North Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled 11/12/11 (nice palindrome, that)

Appearance: Pours a ruby-infused copper color; not much of a head appears and what does quickly fades to a ringlet, leaving just a few vague dots before disappearing completely

Smell: Tart raspberry purée and oak with hints of yeast phenols, including Brett; rather floral and seductive (hence the name, no doubt)

Taste: The sweeter side of the raspberry appears first, but it doesn't take long for the enticing tart elements to beckon; by mid-palate, the oak, the Brett and the wine barrel all parade their attributes; very dry, after the swallow, thanks to the Brett, with a lingering floral quality

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body, with gentle carbonation; makes you want to pucker

Overall: Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 18:31:30 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

3.93/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Pellinore1 for sending me this one!

Bottled on 12/4/10.

Pours a slightly hazy watery cranberry color with a 1/2 inch fizzy white-red head that fades to nothing. No lacing on this one. Smell is of tart raspberries, red wine vinegar, funk, and some wood aromas from the wine barrels. Taste is of tart raspberries, wood, and some minor funky flavors. A nice sour flavor lingers on the tongue and in the back of the throat after each sip. This beer has a higher level of carbonation with a crisp and bubbly mouthfeel, There is also a slightly acidic quality to this one. Overall, this is a good wild ale with all the nice sour and funky aromas and flavors. I am glad I got to try one of these.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2011 02:46:55 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

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

Bottle: Poured a clear reddish color ale with a light pink bubbly head with medium retention and no lacing. Aroma of tart notes of raspberries with light Brett notes with some vinous notes also perceptible. Taste is a good mix between tart raspberries notes with well balanced vinous notes with some subtle notes of Brett at the end. Body is about average with great carbonation which feels right for the style and no apparent alcohol. Very good level of drinkability with well balanced complexity. I would love to have a lower ABV version of this that could be drank in the summertime.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 15:05:29 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

Belgian influence of the most artful kind plays out in the wooden vats of Good Island. A raspberry ale introduced to a slew of wild yeast and micro flora produces extreme complexity and dynamic flavor.

Mildly hazed with hues of plumb red and peach sculpt the impressions of fruit even with its appearance. Fizzy head character rises quickly, fueled by high carbonation, but then quickly falls as well. With no real lacing action, I would have preferred better foam character, but the sharp acidity to come would have nothing to do with that.

Tart aromas of fresh and lightly under ripened raspberries fill the nose with slight dominance above complementary notes of wine must, lime-like acidity, vinous white Zinfandel, green apple cider, white grapes, mild sulfur, white wine vinegar, musty sea air, and weathered sawdust. Low in sweetness, there persists a nutty, pithy, and vanilla like scent that reminds me of almond paste.

Stronger raspberry character comes to life in the flavor profile, but not without further complementary flavors of dried cherries, tart (shy of sour) vinous white zin wines, mineral salts and briny yeast that come together like sea water and sea shells. Again, the light sweetness of vanilla and almond seem like a rhythmic dance throughout the must and tartness that power ahead. Low in bitterness, only a mild taste of wood and cheddar create sharpness to complement the low spicy phenols, wood tannin and cinnamon nuances. Old sun dried wood, mild sherry and balsamic notes provide a succulent taste that keeps me coming back with rather rapid succession.

Light bodied due to it's spritzy carbonation, strong acidic, and highly attenuated malt character, but not without a calm velvety powder texture from wood tanning and soft dextrin and seemingly light nutty oils. Sharp in finish, the dryness of wood and alcohol play out in a very refreshing but highly acidic aftertaste.

With so much tart fruitiness and dry sweetness, this beer is ideally suited to win over lovers of all sorts of wines and I find notes of minerally Greek whites, robust Chilean merlots, and simplified white zinfindales sprinkled all over this beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 05:31:25 | More by BEERchitect

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a shaker pint glass at Durty Nellie's.

Whilst out to bear witness to an '80s extravaganza, what better beer to order than a wild that made it only to precious few stores in the area? It pours a clear garnet-amber topped by a minor bit of dirty white foam. The nose comprises light raspberry, cranberry, cobwebs, Brett, peaches, red apple, and sour cherry. The taste holds notes of tart orange, cobwebs, Brett, light caramel, light cream cheese, lime, and grapefruit zest. The body is a light medium, with a moderate carbonation and a decidedly dry finish. Overall, a pretty good wild, but nothing really outstanding here by any means. To me, it's too much like an odd, tart wine to allow thorough enjoyment.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2011 20:13:08 | More by TMoney2591

drabmuh

Maryland

4.2/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared by Dan, thanks man. Beer is sort of brownish and hazy with a thin wispy head of small bubbles, some lacing low retention moderate carbonation.

Aroma is sour, cherry, mild oak, some lactic for sure.

Beer drinks a little like an oude bruin but more fruity and less sour, mildly tannic at the back an interesting beer. Decent sour for the collection. I feel like with a name like Lolita this beer shouldn't be aged.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 20:54:26 | More by drabmuh

metter98

New York

4.05/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is slightly cloudy, light reddish in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation.
S: There are moderate to strong aromas of tart berries in the nose along with notes of sourness from the yeast. Hints of the cabernet sauvignon are also detectable.
T: The overall taste has strong flavors of tart and sour berries as well as oak from the barrel aging.
M: It feels medium-bodied and somewhat smooth on the palate with a very light amount of carbonation.
O: The beer isn’t that difficult to drink for the style because the sourness and tartness are not overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2011 04:13:42 | More by metter98

zeff80

Missouri

4.08/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a clear copper color with reddish highlights. It had very little head to speak of but did leave some sudsy trails of lace.

S - It smelled of of raspberry. Strong raspberry notes with some floral and malty notes.

T - Good tart raspberry flavor with a sour kick. It is still slightly sweet with a touch of caramel maltiness.

M - It was crisp and sharp with a slight pucker-factor. A medium bodied ale with a clean finish.

O - This is very good I just wish it was more sour.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 01:56:05 | More by zeff80

emerge077

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

More trouble than it was worth to track down, imho. First release was intended as on-premise only, then was leaked to a few highly random retail locations. Odd sporadic distribution = not worth the effort... don't pay much over $15 if you can.

High clarity amber gold, receding ring of foam, initial white cap on the surface. Ascending streams of carbonation visible. Sparse spotty lacing.

Sweet raspberry in the nose, mild wet hay and stables, some vanilla from the oak presence.

Tart and puckering, seedy raspberry, minor authentic fruit-derived sweetness. Very distinct raspberry notes, mildly acetic. Wet oak. Clean and crisp feel, very quenching. A bit simple, could use more Brett complexity and barrel character. As it is, it seems young. The fruit forward character is nice, and the body is light and crisp, though it ultimately seems to be lacking a bit in depth.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2011 02:31:57 | More by emerge077

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

(Served in a chalice)
bottled 12/04/2010 bottle number 727
A- This beer pours a very slight hazy to the cranberry body with a gentle carbonation of tiny bubbles gliding to the surface. There is a think head of snow white that last a good bit. The last pour of the bottle turns the glass into a snow globe.

S- The tartness blends with some dark raspberry flavors and a soft bretty wood note in the finish. The aroma is simple but full.

T- The raspberry tartness is light and gives way to a wet wood and some brett notes in the background. There is a light white wine tannin in there aswell. The raspberry note lingers a bit in the dry finish.

M- This beer has a medium-light mouthfeel with a tight fizz that scrubs a bit too much of the finish away. No real alcohol noticed.

O- The well blended soft tartness supports the full dark fruit flavor with a nice bit of acidity. It would be nice to taste a little more of the funk and wood but it is delicious non the less.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2011 16:45:55 | More by rhoadsrage

Billolick

New York

4.15/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

$16.99 (!) for the bomber @ DeCicco's in Ardsley, NY. "Bottled 12/4/10" on the label.
So this is young and fresh and the label is telling me it "Develops in the bottle for up to 5 years" Wish I could wait, but that aint gonna happen...

Pours red/ruby hued, clear, the head is exceedingly quick to vanish, no lacing left on the glass.

Fruity nose, berries come to mind.

Moderatly tart, plenty of raspberry, minimal funk, perhaps that will develop with age, I'll likely never know. Some subtle woody flourishes.

Brightly flavorful, fresh and fruity. Refreshing and cleansing of the palate. I like beer like this. This one is a bit sedate, a bit underwhelming, especially for the price. But still interesting and enjoyable, went great with some creamy cheese and toasted nuts.

A nice splurge, especially for those who enjoy the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2011 01:29:11 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

4.33/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 04/29/11 notes. Bought a bottle of this at Hopleaf in Chicago the night before Dark Lord Day. Bottle #0745, bottles on 12/04/10.

a - Pours a clear dark amber color with a reddish tint, low carbonation evident, and one inch of white head.

s - Smells of oak, cherries, raspberries, light tart, some funk, and fruity malts. A nice combination of light tart dark fruits, light funk, and light oak, where nothing was overpowering and everything about it was enjoyable. Outstanding nose.

t - Tastes of tart cherries, tart raspberries, oak, some funk, and fruity malts. Again, everything is balanced and light, yet refreshing.

m - Medium body and low to moderate carbonation. Pretty easy to drink.

o - Was between buying a bottle of this and Madame Rose and while I have still not had Madame Rose, I was very happy with my choice. Overall I thought this was a great, very drinkable sour. It isn't the most funky or sourest wild ale out there, but was refreshing and a beer I felt like I could have drank the whole bottle of. Light sour raspberries and cherries complimented by light funk and oak. Would love to get more of this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2011 22:47:52 | More by mdfb79

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to lurchingbeast for hooking me up with this bottle.

Pours a dark ruby red color with a one finger pinkish foam head that quickly settles into a thin ring. Sporadic spots of lacig left behind.

Sweet vinous aroma that bursting with fresh organic raspberry, toasted oak, funky bugs and other vinous dark fruits. The raspberry presence is so strong that it almost smells artificial. This is countered by the earthy funk and toasted oak notes. Subtle acetic vinegar quality but not solvent smelling. Wine barrels are prominent with grape and other dark berries complimenting the raspberries.

Medium bodied with a strong raspberry presence that never becomes overly sweet or dominating. Funky, earthy bugs and wine barrel character provide nice balance. Dry toasted oak along with grape, currant and other dark berries. Nice tartness with a puckering feel and just a touch of acetic acid. Not harsh at all however with the sweetness keeping things in check. Pretty good and much better than the Madame Rose.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 03:16:24 | More by corby112

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.14/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Mix of orange and red color, obvious cherry influence on the color of the beer. Thin head, off white.

Aroma is plenty tart, tart sour cherries, raspberries, oak barrel, wine influence and slight bretty funk.

Taste, somewhere crossing the line between flanders red and american wild, this one has more sourness, more acidic, more oomph going for it flavor wise. Very similar to Oude Tart. Like a flanders, but with more sour kick and body substance. Pretty dry with the red wine tannins hitting on all cylinders.

Coolest thing about this beer, it isn't overly complex, but the beer has the right proportion of funk, oak, fruit and sourness to where no one thing dominates. Never noticed the alcohol was so high (9%) on this one, wow, this really covers that up quite well. Good carbonation probably makes it seem a little lighter and easier to drink without getting bogged down in the alcohol.

Drinks well with the song "Lolita" from the band Red Meat.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 21:18:50 | More by Beerandraiderfan

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.2/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Vintage 2011. The label indicates the beer was bottled in November 2011.

The beer pours a fairly dark, rosey amber color with fairly good head retention and minimal lacing. The nose is attractive and fairly complex, as I pick up wine, light vinegar, cherry, raspberry and vanilla. The beer smells as if it will be on the tart side, and of course it is. The flavor profile otherwise replicates the nose, and there's no doubt this beer delivers a considerable amount of flavor. Also, while the beer is fairly tart with some light funk, I still pick up some noticeable cherry, apple and wine. Also, there is hint of tannic bitterness in the finish that is intriguing, and seemed to help dry out the finish. Mouthfeel is fairly full, though the beer is not at all heavy or tiring on the palate. Alcohol is well integrated into the flavor profile, though you get a sense that it's up there a bit.

Pretty nice beer and one that grew on me as it warmed and seemed to open up in the glass. The flavor profile is pretty complex, and as noted above, there really is a considerable amount of flavor in this beer. Not sure I'd want to drink this again any time soon, but am still glad I had the opportunity to try it. Bottle price in my part of the world was $20, so obviously that's a consideration as well.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 15:45:14 | More by johnmichaelsen

HopHead84

California

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

4/17/2011

Bottle shared by someone at Oakquinox, thanks!

A: Hazed red with a small white head.

S: Fresh and rich raspberry character that's vibrant, very aromatic, and the standout quality of the beer for me. Light musty notes with a little barnyard. Lots of fruit and a little funk.

T: Piquant raspberries with a little sweetness and pie crust melds with oak, barnyard notes, a little wet leather, and mustiness. Lightly tart with a little lactic sourness. Somewhat vinous with a restrained acetic acidity. Finishes dry.

M: Medium in body with upper low carbonation. Mouthfeel is dry and sticky.

Overall: Tasty and refreshing on a day like this. Nice fruit profile.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2011 05:46:23 | More by HopHead84

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Lolita

Pours a light beige head. Color is a peach hued amber.

Aroma: Tart raspberries, sour, oaky with a light spice. Nicely fruited.

Taste: Has a little too much spice here in a way that it takes away from the raspberries. Still slightly tart, but more sour. A bit medicinal.

Mouthfeel: Sour and tart. Medium bodied with a light to medium amount of carbonation. Ends fairly clean. Fruity.

Overall, a pretty solid sour. Easy drinking. I still wish the taste was more like the nose, however. Another solid offering.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2011 20:57:35 | More by mothman

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks goes out to aasher for sending this one my way! 2011 Vintage! Served from bottle into a Goose Island wine glass. Poured a deep red-orange with a minimal white head. Maintained decent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, raspberries, tart, cherry, tart cherries, wood, and acetic acid. The flavor was of sweet malt, tart, tart cherry, fruit, vinegar, wood, earth, sour, and subtle funk. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a pretty good brew. The fruit profile going on here was really nice with a nice sour and tart aspect carrying through. This made for a really nice brew that was quite easy to drink and very enjoyable. I honestly wish I had a lot more of this as it was quite nice. A definite must try if you like sours.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 10:52:13 | More by thagr81us

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.43/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared by mdfb79. Thanks Dan.

The beer is copper to amber in color with a small white head that leaves sparse lacing on the glass. The aroma brings raspberries, berries, malt, wild yeast. Smells like a tasty American wild ale. The flavor is pleasant. Not remarkably funky or sour, but rather easy to drink. Light in body, but not thin. Raspberries and oak are the dominant flavors. I thought this was a really enjoyable brew, and would happily have it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 04:10:21 | More by Huhzubendah

largadeer

California

3.98/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks, Tick.

Hazy reddish-amber. The head dissipates quickly, settling to a thin collar. Tons of brettanomyces on the nose, leaving a damp barnyard aroma. There's a juicy raspberry character beneath the funk along with mild acetic notes. The palate is juicy and lightly acetic, heavy on funky brett with a mild but pleasant raspberry note. Finishes with light tannins, lactic sourness. Very dry, but only mildly sour.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2011 04:56:41 | More by largadeer

jrallen34

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle shared with friends at Bristol, poured into a GI glass...According to the bottle this beer has raspberries added then aged in wine barrels....Looks like a cherry 7-up, a light tan head, not much carbonation on this unless you really swirl the glass...Light aroma that displays raspberries in a very true state. Fresh squeezed raspberry juice, a little sweet and tart, but not overly sweet or any sugar added to give it a candyish character or make it a "true" fruit beer. The sweet component is done right but not tart enough for my liking. Slight oak finish gives some more diversity...The taste starts off pretty nice, the raspberries present more like blackberries to me though, I believe that is the wine barrel influence. For being in wine barrels its not very vinous, and the finish sucks; three quarters of the way through it loses all flavor and finishes with basically nothing. Besides the bad finish the feel is pretty good and displays the wine barrels as its very tannic with grape skins.

I liked this better than Juliet, maybe tied with Madame Rose. Nothing special by any means. Being only in expensive restaurants at $29 a bottle I just can't recommend this despite the above average rating.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2011 02:22:46 | More by jrallen34