Goose Island Juliet

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

Serve in Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler

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Jan 2009 Bottle; Sampled November 2009
This pours into my large Tripel Karmeliet tulip with a two-finger thick, pale beige colored head. It is a murky amber hue that shows a honey-like, somewhat clear hue when held up to the light. The aroma is funky, musty and reminds me of an overly ripe, funky farmhouse cheese, perhaps even some moldy toe-jam character as well as a musky, goat-like, huge Brettanomyces funkification; this last being the most dominant aromatic note. Hints of fruit are just noticeable underneath the Brettanomyces onslaught; berry seed like aromatics, musk berry (almost elderberry like), tannic berry skin aromatics; this doesn’t have a dominant, clean or bright berry character to it, which is usually what I like to find in a fruit beer. The fruit character evokes thoughts of cherries, some rose and perhaps a touch of Brandy more than it makes me think of raspberries. There are some pepper-like aromatics here, some spicy wood character as well as a touch of toasted oak that is noticeable at times.

My first impression of the flavor is that this has a fizzy carbonation that is mixed with a lightly bracing tartness. This is quite sour and has a carbonic bite to it in the finish as well. This is quite dry feeling, with the finish leaving an oak-flavored, slightly astringent, palate drying character that lingers on the tongue. This couples with a slightly phenolic, musty cotton ball note. The fruitiness is quite dry with a slightly tannic fruit-skin character, some grass-like berry-seed flavors and the tartness evokes hints of sour berry flavors. There is a firm oak character that provides structure to this beer; it is perhaps the most noticeable character here, especially after the palate adjusts to the lactic acidity. The oak boosts the body / palate presence and provides flavors of fresh cut wood –planks as well as a sometimes Bourbon like spiciness. The oak and acid combination make me think of a white wine at times, though there is a touch of berry-fruit flavors here too. Overall this has a medium’ish body to it that is not heavy and even somewhat light, but it has a palate presence that can even be creamy in texture at times.

As the beer warms up the berry notes come out more in the nose; even some jam-like notes become noticeable (a sort of cranberry, cherry and blackberry mixed jam of sorts). My second pour is a bit more murky and the aroma even gets more funkified in its wild farmhouse cheesiness. The funk is here in the flavor, though it is not nearly as noticeable as it is in the aroma; musty, somewhat musky flavors and a butyric bite all contribute to the flavor profile.

This is an interesting, funky beer that is quite enjoyable. The oak can be a bit much at times and despite the complexity, it isn’t as well balanced as I would like. This is a very solid offering though, but I definitely prefer Sofie to this beer. The funkiness of the nose is much appreciated by this lover of funky beers though.

Bottle. Dark tan/reddish pour a little carbonation and a very sour aroma of fruity blackberries and wine. Flavor is also very tart berries, woody with a dry sour finish. Definitely good, but not $20/bottle good.

22 ounce from Shenanigans. Pink red color. Nice carbonated pour. Cherry. Red wine. Just the right spritzy sour wine flavors coming off. Some berry. Really nice.

What a fantastic beer. I love the full flavor from the blackberry. This is such an easy beer to drink and I find myself fighting not to take this bomber down so fast.

2012 Bottle pours dark golden/amber with a small white head that does not stay long. Aromas are sour, lactic, funky and fruity. Tastes are woody, vinous, tart, funky, fruity notes. Lots going on, and all of it is delicious. Wish this was not so limited, as it is an amazing sour beer.

Bottled at Flossmoor during pre-DLD festivities. Nice kick of tartness and a touch of sour from the berries. I really didn’t get any wine notes from the barrel but that was fine with me; I liked the wild fruitiness.

Super beautiful blend of wood tart berry and red wine on the aroma. Pours with small quick to disappear. Lightly pink tinged white head on a rose colored beer that sit murky without bubbles. Tart bordering on lightly sour, with a bright berry tartness interspersed amongst driving sour coupled with some red wine dryness and wood that grips your palate more as you get deeper into the bottle. 2012 bottle bottled 1 26.

Pours a deep purple color. Has a low level of carb and smells awesome. Grapes and funk. Definitely some oak notes as well. Taste is outstanding, sour and funky. The barrel comes out as it warms an compliments the crisp sourness well. This is my favorite of the sisters, but Madame Rose is a close second.

Bottle @ Monk’s Sveavägen. Light amber colour with a small head. Light fruity aroma. Flavour is fruity with a bit of malt.

From notes. First reviewed 8/26/2011. Batch 3. Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a tasting glass. Juliet pours a raspberry brown color with a small off-white head. The cap is relaxed, with tightly wound small bubbles intermixed with larger ones. Some resplendent carbonation rises from the bottom for support, which translates to fairly good retention. A little bit of lace sticks to the glass. Tart cherry and blackberries dominate the aroma. A little bit of oak, nearly no malt, and a lot of Brett are noticeable. A lightly sweet malt presence up front sets the stage for the sour flavor later on. Tart cherry and blackberry provide the bulk of the flavor. There might be some cabernet in there, but I think I just imagining it because I know it was used. The tartness lingers through the finish. This is tart and moderately acidic. The carbonation appears strong but ends up fading after a few minutes, giving it more of a flat soda pop feel. Light to medium body. This is my favorite of the three sisters, but I was not entirely blown away by this fresh bottle. With the amount of Brett that was noticeable, I think this could really mature over time.

2010 vintage shared with my girlfriend on Valentine’s Day. Cranberry in color with a fingers worth of light pink head. The beer is hazy in clarity. Nose opens up all vinegar and finishes with some light berry. In particular, blackberry and cranberry. The taste is all berry, with tart cranberry being the most prominent. There is also blackberry and blueberry. Mouthfeel is light with light carbonation and a medium finish. Juliet is a decent sour, but nothing that will blow your mind. It didn’t seem to improve any with some age. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone