Goose Island Honkers Ale

Goose Island Honkers Ale

Style: Bitter

Alcohol Content: 4.3%

From: Chicago, USA

Purchased from: Ray Wines
http://www.gooseisland.com/

OK first thing I should tell you before you read is that I love Chicago. I went there way back in 2005 and I have always wanted to go back since. Personally, I think that Chicago is much better destination to visit than New York. It has the hustle and bustle of the East coast but has the laid back charms of the West coast. When I started reading more about beer, I was excited to learn that in Chicago, the craft beer movement is flourishing. I just wish I had been 21 at the time so I could actually enjoy all they had to offer. Must go back for a taste at some point!

The brewer Goose Island was first opened by John Hall in 1988. John had be travelling around Europe for a number of years and found that there was an amazing range of beers on offer. He found difficultly finding some of these beers in the United States, so he took matters into his own hands and created Goose Island. The company now has an amazingly diverse range of ales on offer including some seasonal beers. On March 28, 2011, Goose Island announced that it will sell its 58% stake in Fulton Street Brewery LLC (the legal name of Goose Island Brewing) to distribution partner Anheuser-Busch. The remaining 42% stake, owned by Craft Brewers Alliance LLC, is also to be purchased by Anheuser-Busch.

Honkers not Yonkers!

Colour: Once poured you are presented with a rich copper ale with a very minimal head. After the head dies down there is a small amount of foam left in the glass which clings to the side of the glass like a baby clings to their mother. This drink is also bottled conditioned so due to slight hint of yeast being present the ale is slightly cloudy.  

Aroma: As a rule of thumb, for me i find bitters often lack in smell. So i am pleasantly surprised to find aromas of sweet Elderflowers and lime or lemon notes. These aromas come from the blend of super Stryian and Styrian Goldings hops used in the making of this brew. If you get your nose right in there you will also be able to pick up notes of sweet, slightly burnt caramel.

Body: Traditionally, bitters tend to on the more heavier side of the beer spectrum. However to my amazement, this beer is a hell of a lot lighter than a standard bitter. For me the mouth feel reminds me more of an English  IPA. Traditionally English IPA's are know to be more fruity than there heavily hopped counter parts so this beer sips down a treat. There is no clingy after taste and it will continue to refresh you with every drop.



Taste: Now for the important bit; the tasting.On your first sip you will notice how fruity this beer is. There are no hints of bitterness at all. The predominate flavors are those of Elderflower and big hints of lime and lemon. There are also very suttee notes of bread and earth.To be honest, why this is labeled as a bitter i do not know. However, if this is Goose Islands take on a quintessential British classic then give me more.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/brakspear-bitter.html
Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/adnams-southwold-spindrift.html

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Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale

Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale

Style: Wheat Ale

Alcohol content: 4.4%

From: Chicago, USA

Purchased from: Tesco

OK first thing i should tell you before you read is that i love Chicago. I went there way back in 2005 and i have always wanted to go back since. Personally, i think that Chicago is much better destination to visit than New York. It has the hustle and bustle of the East coast but has the laid back charms of the West coast. When i started reading more about beer, I was excited to learn that in Chicago, the craft beer movement is flourishing. I just wish i had been 21 at the time so i could actually enjoy all they had to offer. Must go back for a taste at some point!

The brewer Goose Island was first opened by John Hall in 1988. John had be travelling around Europe for a number of years and found that there was an amazing range of beers on offer. He found difficultly finding some of these beers in the United States, so he took matters into his own hands and created Goose Island. The company now has an amazingly diverse range of ales on offer including some seasonal beers. The 312 gets its name from the telephone area code for downtown Chicago and is part of Goose Islands Urban Ale line. Now i will admit, that i have tried the 312 several times before down at the Pigs Ear in Richmond. But recently Tesco's have began stocking the 312 along with the Goose Island India Pale Ale.    

Colour: Pale yellow, straw like hue. When i think of wheat beers; i often think of German Weiss beers which due to there unfiltered nature they are extremely cloudy. The interesting thing about the 312 is that it is also unfiltered however the colour is extremely pale.

Smell: As soon as you pour a 312 you are hit with floral and citrus notes. As this is a wheat beer a large head is created when you pour. I accidentally got a bit to close to the head and ended up with a nose full of froth. However, this allowed me to pick up a very sour undertone to the flavor; which is certainly stronger than any thing that i had smelt before. I felt as if i had just been hit in the face with a lemon meringue or key lime pie.

Body: Very fine bubbles on the pour that stay with you thought out the drink. It also has a creamy texture to it which can be rather odd at first but as you get use to it the drink goes down a treat.

Taste: On the pallet you are smacked with a taste of Elder flower with a bitter lemon finish. It does taste a bit sour but it is not over whelming. These taste dances around your mouth while you enjoy every sip. It's a bit like Mel and Kim in the Video for Respectable. Good song (don't judge me) but interesting dance moves. There is no bitter finish to this beer due to the Liberty and Cascade Hops they use. It would go down very nicely whist having a picnic in Hyde Park. Your perfect summer time ale.

Summer in a Glass

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