Gossamer Golden Ale - Half Acre Beer Company

larsenju

Wisconsin

3.33/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-Clear golden body with a dense white head, close to two fingers, but it dropped very quickly.

S-Grassy with just a little lemon and a touch of mango, some generic malt, but it is light.

T-Very light and approachable, even a little watery. Grassy hops cover the palate with some light fruit, lemon is forward with some biscuit and very very light fruits behind it.

M-Very light and somewhat dry body, medium carb.

D-Daisy Cutter could be both a success and curse for Half Acre, I think that this beer will always be compared, and it just isn't as good. It is very light and drinkable, I think I would really appreciate having this on a hot summer day, but given other options there are plenty of beers I would pick first.

Serving type: can

05-02-2011 03:32:10 | More by larsenju

betsona

Indiana

3.73/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

16oz can poured into an imperial pint glass. No freshness info.

A- Clear golden color that had a finger worth of white head that dissipated rather quickly. There is a thin cirrocumulus cloud like head that remains. Light lacing on the glass.

S- Has a very subtle nose. Very mild scents of wheat with a barely noticeable traces of apricot and lemon. Reminds me of certain bread doughs. Almost smells like a pilsner.

T- Hmm. I had to double check the can to make sure this was in fact a golden ale. It has a sweetness at the front in a orangish lemon flavor. Some biscuity malt in the middle followed by a lemongrass bitter finish. Bitterness that lingers for sometime after drinking. Complex tastes that I don't normally associate with the style.

M- Light body with a crispness due to the carbonation. Sits well on the palate and is an easy ale to drink. There is an ever so small puckering on the cheeks.

O- I found a nice easy camping beer with this one. The can is an added bonus. The taste is somewhat disappointing because the smell is so pleasant. Overall, it is an easy drinking session beer that I would have no qualms about having quite a few in a row.

Serving type: can

04-16-2011 21:29:03 | More by betsona

ChadQuest

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear, i can see my oil fingerprints on the otherside of the glass, and there is sticky lacing. solid.
Aroma is grassy, like a "Baby Cutter", and faint oranges taking up the 2nd position.
Tastes clean and dry with grassy hops, citrus, some biscuity malts, and a slightly apricot note, maybe a play off the citrus hop note.
The mouthfeel is maybe a tick ore viscous then Daisy Cutter, or maybe just a bit less carb, still a clean finishing beer all around.

Good stuff, when the temps get rocking, grab a gossamer...if there is no Daisy Cutter. Maybe the best Golden ale i've had, i normally don't buy them, but i will buy this each chicago trip.

Serving type: can

04-15-2011 05:05:25 | More by ChadQuest

PGHeppJr

New York

3.65/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From notes: 30OCT2010
Can purchased from West Lakeview and poured into mug.

Tasty orangecicle in a glass. Hoppy as a american pale and easier to drink than a pilsner. This tasty little diddy did me just right as a warmer than expected Chicago afternoon session brew. I may or may not have crushed one on of these on a bench whilst the "Rally to Restore Sanity" was going on in the distance.

Great session brew.

Serving type: can

04-15-2011 02:04:11 | More by PGHeppJr

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Pawola22 for sending me this canned beer.

The beer pours a yellow-orange color with a white head. The aroma is fairly simple but is very inviting. I get a lot of biscuit malt and some orange citrus notes from the hops.

The flavor is heavy on the oranges and biscuit malt, with a little bit of light toffee and grassy notes. Low bitterness.

Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A very nice, light to medium hopped blonde ale.

Serving type: can

04-13-2011 02:34:44 | More by Mora2000

JamnesCameron

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Received from fear025 (Jay) in my Birthday BIF box. Thanks, Jay. My first Half Acre. Poured into a New Belgium globe.

Pours a slightly hazy deep gold with a fluffy white head that drops after a few minutes, leaving a wisp of thin rocky foam and lots of lacing.

Aromas of resinous, piny and citrusy hops. Light malt sweetness in the background.

Flavors of faint malt sweetness, a yeasty quality, and lite citrusy hop bitterness. Finish is quick with a light bitterness in the fade.

Mouthfeel is medium/light. Nice level of carbonation.

Overall, an easy drinking, light golden ale. Nothing aggressive or offensive. Good all around session beer. As light as a gossamer wing.

Serving type: can

04-13-2011 02:00:13 | More by JamnesCameron

dali27

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured on-tap into a pint glass.

A: Light to medium gold in color. Very thin head. Active carbonation.

S: Citrus and floral hop aroma. Grainy malts.

T: Orange, lemon, and grapefruit. The citrus hop flavor gives this beer charactor that regular light beer never have allows this to be an easy drinker with some flavor.

M: Light and watery. Probably how it is intended to be.

O: It's a nice little beer to start off with, but by the end I kinda forgot what I was drinking... was it lite?

Good light beer drinkibility, with light flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

04-10-2011 04:04:57 | More by dali27

grover37

District of Columbia

3.03/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

16oz can from the brewery poured into an imperial pint glass. A 4-pack of cans was $8.99.

Appearance (4): A very clear light gold that pours with two fingers of white, thin head. It dissipates immediately to small patches and a ring. Tons of streamers around the edges.

Aroma (3): Very bready and light citrus hops. A sharp orange smell almost resembles ethanol, but I must be wrong at only 4.2%. It reminds me a lot of a very toned down Daisy Cutter.

Taste (3.5): Orange and some grapefruit up front but pretty mild. A bit of sweetness and a touch of pine in the middle. The bready, grainy malts - maybe some wheat in there - come through in the end. A lingering sweetness with some more spruce. Again, a lot like a mild version of the pale with a very similar flavor profile.

Mouthfeel (2.5): Thin and watery. Medium to high carbonation and light bodied. The sweet pine lingers a bit which is pleasant but otherwise not much here. I'll chalk it up to the style so it gets a bit of a pass, especially at a (nearly) session strength.

Overall (2): While very drinkable, it's not anything special. A good, light beer with some flavor but not something I'll come back to frequently if ever.

Serving type: can

04-08-2011 01:59:34 | More by grover37

Chriscrundwell12

Minnesota

3.68/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a can into a snifter

A- Very carbonated, almost Champaign like. Very light gold color, two finger, off white head, very clear.
S- Nice smooth aroma, hints of lemon and citrus, hints of orange/grapefruit.
T- Slightly sweet, citrus as well, very light.
M- Small mouth feel, very refreshing.
O- This beer surprised me, very easy drinkability. I could throw down a bunch of these on a hot summer day.

Serving type: can

04-05-2011 06:55:24 | More by Chriscrundwell12

birchstick

Missouri

3.58/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to yeahnatenelson for another solid extra

A - pours a clear yellow with a nice looking head

S - smells of grainy malts, bright citrusy hops. Pretty good for the style

T - starts off with the grainy malts that fads to a lemony citrus malt. There is also quite a bit of bready malt characteristic to it. This is the hoppiest golden ale I have ever tried...pretty good.

M - nice full and smooth body and it goes down

D - Golden ales aren't the most complex beers out there, but this one did a pretty good job of keeping itself interesting. I really enjoyed the Daisy Cutter and enjoyed this one too. Half Acre keeps impressing me...

Serving type: can

04-03-2011 01:37:07 | More by birchstick

Genghis22

California

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Thanks to Oreo, for the Disc Golf hook up!

A - Pours a clear, golden yellow. A mellow head formed but didn't stick around very long. Large visible carbonation bubbles.

S - Suprisingly clean and hoppy. Lots of malty goodness, but there is a distinct touch of hops, a pleasant surprise. Slightly citrusy, like lemongrass.

T - Clean, smooth and buttery. First taste is the lemony hop characteristics. The malt immediately washes over the tongue. There is a certain biscuit quality, but it's not overbearing. The finish is very smooth and buttery. The aftertaste is crisp and dry, with a touch of lemon.

M - Thin to medium body, but not watery. The carbonation is at a moderate level. The mouthfeel overall is at the appropriate levels, but nothing jumps out as distinct or mind blowing.

O - A solid blonde ale. I'll admit, this usually isn't the type of beer I would normally buy if I were searching the beer cooler at my local shop. This beer is a fine example, and very refreshing. I can only imagine how nice this beer would be if I were outside shooting a round of disc golf. This would be a perfect beer to take to the course. I would buy this if it were available. It would be a great summer ale, or party beer. I would absolutely use this beer to convert BMC drinkers.

Serving type: can

03-23-2011 00:41:34 | More by Genghis22

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to woodychandler for this can.

A: The ale is golden color, cloudy fresh out of the can. A thick head, you sure there's no widget in there?, threatened to slip over the sides. As it settled down, the white foam left lace around the mouth of my glass.

S: The nose is grassy with hops, surprisingly so. Leafy hops are evident, adding a 'green' aroma. The light body seems to hold some spices but I don't think that's the case - just the mind looking for things.

T: Very bready, the ale leads off with a malt push. Light toast, biscuity, segues into hops mid-sip. Black pepper joins the grassy flavors, as do orange notes but only after the ale reaches room temperature. The hoppiness is a nice aspect, much stronger than many blonde ales.

M: The mouthfeel is hop-driven. Orange and grasses are nice. The vegetal leafiness, I don't like so much.

O: A low-weight blonde ale, just a hair above 4%. More please, especially the orange citrus and grassy hops.

Serving type: can

03-19-2011 02:18:33 | More by akorsak

henryd30

Iowa

4.05/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Bright golden yellow with frothy bright white head. Screams crisp and fresh by initial appearance.

S: Grassy, citrusy, bright scent.

T: Surprisingly hoppy, great clean crisp flavor. Mirrors it's appearance. Really enjoyable. I would say it even though it's listed as a golden ale, it is very IPA-ish in it's qualities.

D: Mmmm - session beer for sure.

Serving type: can

03-11-2011 03:15:37 | More by henryd30

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: bright, clear yellow, big 2 finger head, some nice lacing

S: earthy grass, sweet citrus, hint of spices.

T: grain, citrus, pine, mild bitter

M: light body, big carbonation, semi-dry finish.

D: Great session brew! I still prefer Daisy Cutter over this, but quite flavorful for such a low ABV brew. Check out Half Acre brews, you will be impressed. Excellent Summer and newbie brew.

Serving type: can

03-09-2011 15:53:47 | More by BeerLover99

dciBA

Maine

3.2/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an amber tinged straw color from the tallboy can. A small head forms but quickly fades to nothing. A spotty amount of lacing as it goes down. Smell is mostly bready malt with a light vegetable odor underneath. No hint of any hops. Flavor is pretty boring. There is some toasted, bready malt, that's about it. Thankfully the veggies don't come through in the flavor. Carbonation is fairly high, but that works for the style. Quite drinkable, albeit boring.

Judging by other reviews I'd say I got an old can, but with no dating I can't be sure.

Serving type: can

03-08-2011 23:38:53 | More by dciBA

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.93/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Very fruity and assertively hopped, this golden ale rivals some small or extra pale ales.

Gossamer pours a strong straw or medium golden color with a mild haze. Ample carbonation fuels a froathy/creamy white head that laces modestly. A good look for a golden ale, especially with the haze reminding me of well-hopped ales.

Bright citrus aromas dominate the rim of the glass with a bold follow up of fruity appricots above a part malt, part grain scent. Fairly simplistic but sharply appealing scent. Mouthwatering!

Flavors of orange zest and appricots give a fresh and zesty taste to the hoppy/estery foreground. Crisp cracker-like malt flavors blend with a balanced grain taste that is expected from light and crisp ales. Apricot esters grow and largely dominate the mid portions of taste. Lighty metalic or salty at mid palate for a somewhat more savory taste, but remains a distraction. Lightly grassy late from dry-hopping but again attributes to a fresh and bright taste.

Light and crisp throughout, with a mild malty/creamy texture that breaks loose quickly for a quick transition to dryness and lightness. Grassy bite late adds to dryness for an herbal and citrusy aftertaste.

Very crisp and flavorful for a golden ale, done an American way with the crisp attenuation and citrus hop notes. An all-purpose beer with a near sessionable quality- this is an absolute joy to drink.

Serving type: can

02-24-2011 04:16:14 | More by BEERchitect

Monkeyknife

Missouri

3.6/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the can a clear yellow gold with a huge white head.

The aroma was on the lighter side with with a bit of citrus, grass and wheaty grain.

Much like the aroma, the taste was a touch thin with orange peel, grass and bread notes. Finishes clean.

Lighter bodied and wet with a sharp carbonation.

A very easy drinking ale from the folks at Half Acre.

Serving type: can

02-22-2011 17:06:10 | More by Monkeyknife

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Can poured into a pint glass. Pours a crystal clear pale gold. A small white head coats the top. Fair spotty lace clings to the glass. The nose is fresh with scents of cut-grass, lemons, floral hops, and citrus. Very potent for the style. The mouth is much more full than expected as well. Good carbonation. Plenty of hops at the forefront of this one. Mild bitterness, but juicy citrus flavors abound. Grass-like qualities noted, some mild hay. This beer breaks away from the norm on the style by packing plenty of flavor. Good beer. Thanks for the opportunity, Baron.

Serving type: can

02-08-2011 16:56:48 | More by Onenote81

sulldaddy

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Sampling a room temp pounder can of this brew poured into a snifter. The beer pours a bright clear gold color with some suspended haze in the glass. A bright white tightly packed edge layer leaves one thick island in the center of my glass. Aroma is grassy and floral hops with just a hint of grainy malt.
First sip reveals an average to light body with gentle roling carb. Flavor is caramel and white grapes with a hint of grassy hops. Overall the flavor is mild, with a decent mixture of tastes. The beer is not overly complex but is decent session beer that could be consumed while watching a game at the pub with friends and not get bloated full or bored. Its good for what it is.

Serving type: can

01-22-2011 16:08:33 | More by sulldaddy

kzoobrew

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to cadaugherty for the can. Cheers man!
Review input from notes

Poured into Pilsner glass. Golden straw body, remarkably clear. Three finger foamy white head develops atop, The head works its way back rather quickly leaving a decent amount of lacing.

Very pleasant aroma. Sweet pale malt is balanced by a combination of citrus and grassy hops. The aroma is not going to floor any one but it very good for the given style.

The flavor is rather similar to the aroma. The malt is sweet but at an adequate level. An actual grainy flavor is left instead of a generic sweetness commonly found in the poor examples of the style. Refreshing hop bit counters the malt. Lightly citrus with just a bit of grass.

Light bodied beer with lively carbonation. Very smooth across the tongue finishing rather dry.

Color me impressed. Not a beer I anticipated liking based on the style, I was pleasantly surprised. Flavorful enough to keep me interested and light enough to drank several in a sitting. I would pick this up on somewhat of a regular basis if it were available here.

Serving type: can

01-20-2011 17:29:34 | More by kzoobrew

maximum12

Minnesota

3.65/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to stormking47 for a can of this brew - a phrase I really should have ready for a copy-and-paste somewhere after the beer bombing he smacked me with. Happy to see more cans of good brew.

Pours a mucky pale golden, as advertised, but heavy on the muck & light on the gold. Hops burst forth upon the pour, but then slink into hiding, leaving behind a sullen maltiness & hop poke. Sehr bready.

Gossamer is one of those rare beasts, a low ABV beer that's tasty in it's own right. Crusty bread is ascendant, backed up by gritty grains, wheat, a fading citrus hop bill, & light pale malts. 'Crisp' I normally reserve for Honeycrisp apples & cool fall days with fishing pole in hand, but this beer almost qualifies. Very easy to put down.

All of which makes it sound more complex than it is - it isn't. Quick, simple hitter that slips away quickly, but without making much of an impression. Good, solid session brew. Small brewers, are you paying attention? Make more of these!

Serving type: can

01-13-2011 02:45:40 | More by maximum12

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

16oz can poured into pint glass - thanks to jconrick1 for this during the scotch, bourbon, beer BIF

Pours a clear golden yellow with a thin, yet frothy white head. Fades fairly quickly into light film with some streaks of lacing on the glass.

Light scents of wheat, citrus fruit, and a touch of doughy bread. Also a hint of sweetness in the nose.

A citrusy beginning with tones of lemongrass and wheat coupled with some airy floral hop profile. Touches of pineapple and fruit with light sweetness. A bit of bready backbone with a some lighter hop bitterness. Finishes with some lingering hop flavor.

Lighter body, higher carbonation, a little sticky and dry. Quick drinking, alcohol is invisible, and the flavors are decent enough for the style. The nose was oddly subdued, although I'd enjoy this during the warmer weather.

Serving type: can

01-07-2011 06:20:37 | More by xnicknj

SFLpunk

Vermont

3.85/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to wedgie 9 for this extra! 16oz tall-boy can. No freshness date.

Pours a bright amber gold with thick sudsy white head 2 fingers tall. Nose is light and husk-like, leafy and dry with some light floral notes. Palate is crisp and lightly bitter, floral hops, some orange juice. Finish is pleasantly dry and crisp with lots of earthy hops.

Notes: Insanely drinkable and super tasty. Don't think I could get bored with this one.

Serving type: can

12-11-2010 04:18:22 | More by SFLpunk

lstokes

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This poured a nice orange-gold with a big head and substantial lacing, and smelled grassy with a bit of apricot and some grain.

I thought it was a very sessionable drinker--grainy malts, sweet grassy hops, smooth, with a pop of bitter orange rind. Maybe a little bit over-carbonated--it felt gassy?--but also pretty creamy and smooth. Goes great with pizza.

Serving type: can

12-06-2010 14:42:35 | More by lstokes

drabmuh

Maryland

3.83/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Russian River wine glass. Beer is yellow and mostly clear with a nice head with no staying power, no lacing, moderate to low carbonation.

Whoa, not what I expected, heavy handed hopitude in this beer. Its so fruity and bright, interesting. Smells great.

Beer is pretty thin and a little watery. There is a lot of fruit hop flavors in the midpalate and the finish is so wet that there is no chance for an aftertaste....almost....there is a really late aftertaste of grains that comes much after you've finish. Overall its a decent blonde, I'd have it again, i love the artwork on the can and the flavors and aroma were interesting.

Serving type: can

12-05-2010 16:57:16 | More by drabmuh