Goose Island Fleur

Brewed by Goose Island Beer Company (AB-InBev)
Style: Belgian Ale
Chicago, Illinois USA

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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2011 Bottling; Sampled August 2011
A steady pour into my Tripel Karmeliet tulip produces a two-finger thick, lightly tan colored head. The beer has a full amber-red color that shows a lightly hazed, light amber with gold tinged hue when held up to the light. The beer smells strongly of hibiscus; this smells lightly tart, with a floral berry character, touches of sweet cranberry. The finish does remind me a bit of kombucha, but this may just be the suggestion of the description; there is some earthiness towards the finish, as well as some lactic like tartness, a musty, slightly phenolic character and a sort of lightly woody mushroom like character. There is a spicy floral character to this beer, that, along with the funky and musty notes provides a balancing note to the more dominant floral and fruit character found in the nose.

A prickly carbonation causes the beer to fizz up as it first hits my tongue, the beer tastes most prominently of a tart / berry hibiscus. The finish has some sharpness from the carbonic acid, a touch of tartness from the hibiscus and a sort of spicy, floral sort of astringency that almost serves as bitter hops would. The tartness is a bit sharper, and a bit bigger than could be solely attributed to the hibiscus; this is by no means a sour beer though, but there is just enough to add some interest. This beer is really quite fruity tasting, with lots of berry notes, a sort of pomegranate flavor, and maybe even a hint of strawberry at times. This is nice and light bodied without being watery. There is a soft, subtle malt / grain that provides a touch of hay like character as well as a touch of cracker like pale malt.

This is definitely a tasty beer, it is perhaps a touch simplistic in its Hibiscus flavors, but this is well supported by the other notes, and the overall character of this beer more than makes up for that.

22oz bottle thanks to Dallas
Appearance: Slightly hazy golden with a medium sized off-white head and some lacing
Aroma: Apple and floral
Taste: Malty, apples, tart and floral
This was OK, different

Bottle thanks to Dallas. Pours a orange/yellow color with a small white head. The aroma is sweet Belgian malts and floral elements. A dry lemony flavor with floral notes and some lemon. Interesting for sure.

Hazy orange, off white head. Aroma: grainy lightly sweet malt. some spice. Flavor: sweet grainy malt, moderately spicy yeast character, some tartness from the hibiscus. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Orange to copper in color. Moderate and stable off-white head. Decent lace. Pale malt, yeast, light fruit and floral hops aromas. Pale malt sweetness in the start. Bits of barnyard, grass, herbs and earthy fruit. Finish is a bit herbal and earthy. Sweeter malt and floral finish

2010 vintage at 7% abv. Bottled on 17 Sept 2010. At this point shouldn’t the ratings be spilt now that the ABV’s are much different plus the fact these guys are now InBev?? Anyhow, served into a trappist glass. Shows a hazy amber color with steady carbonation. White head looks like soap bubbles floating on top. Traces of lace all over the glass. Nose is a fantastic blend of strawberry and Belgian yeast. Flavor is nice and complex. Tart berries, Brett notes with mild sourness. Belgian sugar and fruit esters in the finish. Finely crafted and If I can get my hands on another 2010 bottle, I would consider myself lucky.

I really enjoyed this beer. It’s a wonderful beer that just tastes like something you need to be enjoying on a porch with a nice breeze. I’ve been trying as many Goose Island beers as I can and this is one of my favorites

65cl, Vintage 2010, at 7%Vol, recently retired American brew, with Hibiscus, from The Bottle Shop Canterbury, complex sour brew, malty/fruity and slightly sour/sweet, balanced, clear, small head, good brew, yet expensive!

Hazy pale blonde with floral aroma, sweet berries and petals flavour with good level of carbonation and a tart finish.

From notes. First reviewed 11/23/2010. Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a pint glass. Fleur pours an amber ruby color with tons of resplendent carbonation feeding a huge 6 cm fizzy, foamy white head. The head sticks around well and leaves moderate lacing clinging to the glass. Tons of Belgian spices, tart cherries, and light pale malt in the nose. Floral hops and a little Belgian funk. The taste starts out with a mouthwatering, dry tart cherry flavor, slightly overpowering the pale malt. Belgian spice and a little funk present, finishing with a pleasant floral hoppiness. Quite a dry mouthfeel, highly carbonated, with a medium body. This is very easy to drink, mostly due to the light crispness. Is the flavor good enough that I would buy it regularly? No, it is just not complex enough.

À la pompe au pub: Rond, légèrement sûr avec l’hibiscus qui procure une légèreté qui accompagne bien mon ’’fancy mac n’ cheese’’.