Beer Review: Goose Island Matilda 2006

People giving me or sending me beer is always a good thing but when you receive a beer from someone that has been "aged" there is always that hesitancy to drink it because there is so much involved in aging a beer properly. Was it away from the light? Was it under the proper temperatures? Can it be aged?

So when my former boss from Southern Eagle, Trey Reinhardt, came into the store the other day and brought me a 4 pack of Goose Island Matilda from 2006 I was both excited and a bit hesitant. I guess hesitant isn't really all that true since I'm willing to try just about anything and even once drank a vintage 1998 Natty Light last year just because it was the only beer my parents had in their fridge. Not bad actually. Anyways, it was incredibly generous of Trey and I was really excited to get home to drink it. Here is the review:

Brewery: Goose Island Beer Company

Beer: Matilda 2006 Vintage

Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale

ABV: 7%

Recommended Glassware: Snifter, Tulip or Over sized Wine Glass

Serving Type: Tulip

Appearance- This beer was a gusher! I lost 1/4 of the beer upon opening. I was warned ahead of time so thankfully I was prepared. The beer poured a nice hazy orange with a huge, cloud like fluffy off white head. Lacing was present throughout the short life of the beer.

Smell- Wow. Nice hints of cherries, apples, citrus and a nice barnyard mustiness.

Taste- The smell and taste are almost identical. It has a nice malty sweetness with again hints of cherry, apples and citrus. The beer also has a nice sour quality to it as well. The hops add a nice spicy pepper quality and give it some bitterness.

Mouthfeel- Nice medium body with lots of carbonation.

Overall- An incredible beer that I wish we could get ahold of down here in Louisiana. My former boss at Southern Eagle who gave me this beer can help with that! (Hint, hint Trey!) Goose Island did a great job recreating a Belgian beer.

Score: 4.5 out of 5 Buddhas

Beer Review: Goose Island Honker's Ale

So, the wife really truly loves me. On a recent trip to the middle of nowhere Arkansas to visit her grandmother she made the trek over to a local wine shop which also just so happened to carry a descent beer supply. With my detailed list in hand she went about searching for the beers I had asked her to inquire about but in the end felt a phone call would be more efficient. After learning that cell phone reception in this little Arkansas town is a bit spotty she called me on the wine shops phone and all was well. Anyway, she was able to pick up some nice brews and this one from Goose Island Beer Company was one of them. I was really wanting the Bourbon County Stout but alas that was not to be so I settled for this one and was happy I did. Here is my review!

Brewery: Goose Island Beer Company

Beer: Honker's Ale

Style: English Bitter

ABV: 4.3%

Recommended Glassware: Pint Glass or Mug

Food Pairings: Cheese: Brick, Edam or Feta

Serving Type: My Sam Adams glass

Appearance- This beer poured a nice copper color with a huge white head. Lacing was present throughout.

Smell- Wonderful malt aroma with nice hints of hops and sweet caramel.

Taste- Nice toasted malty flavors with a caramel sweetness similar to the nose. There is also a nice hoppiness which provides a nice citrus taste to it.

Mouthfeel- A medium body with a medium carbonation.

Overall- This beer is great!! It could function as a prefect session beer with the great taste and the fairly low ABV. I could drink a lot of these!! Only problem. We can't get this down here in Louisiana. Guess it's time to start bugging the local distributor!