Goose Island Matilda

So I’m reading the label for this beer while browsing in John’s Grocery, and I get interested: this is clearly a beer inspired by Orval! The fish-recovers-ring legend, the princess starts a monastery, and so, we decided to buy this beer. Right. I’m excited. But at home, right from the pour I’m suspicious. "Inspired" by the ultra-pale Orval, we brewed an amber beer? Hmm. Well, amber it is, with modest off-white head. The first prominent aroma is...butter. Butter so thick that’s all I smell for the first three or four sniffs. (No butter in Orval!) Further in, with effort, there is some grape jelly, cloves, cinnamon, and a hint of earthy hops. Flavor is pleasantly sweet caramel spice, green apples, soft lingering grapeskin finish. What I have here is far more dubbel than anything remotely related to Orval, but even more English strong ale than dubbel. (That would at least make sense of the butter and the distinctively sweet flavor.) Perhaps I read the label wrong, and wishful thinking got me into this state of confusion? I go back and check. Nope, it’s definitely inspired by Orval. Well. I kind of like this, and I suppose I will rate it based on that, rather than my disappointment on the false billing. But really people, if this is "inspired" by Orval, then Wall-E could just as well claim to be "inspired" by The Godfather. None of the things that make Orval such a joy are present in this beer.

Bottle. Fruity, yeasty, doughy, and (overall) quite pleasant. Dangerous at 7%. Not outstanding but highly drinkable and flawless.

Nice slightly dry Belgian ale. Pours copper. The aroma and nose are clove. Finishes on a dry note.

It is hazy orange and the head is small and creamy. The aroma has notes of coriander, yeast, fruit and malt. The flavour has a light sweetness and notes of yeast, spice – especially coriander – malt and fruit. IMO the coriander/yeast is a bit too dominating.

Aroma: wet birch. earthy. Appearence: Golden, generous head, medium to high carbonation. Flavor: yeast! dried apricot. yeast yeast. Palate: bitey front that mellows; carbonation too present. Overall Impression: unique, earthy aroma. Not their best beer.

Delicious beer. Starts with very strong pronounced fruit estery aroma. Light head that dies off relatively quickly. Flavor starts malty and lends toward the belgian yeast complexity with lots of spiciness. light easy finish slightly warmer afterward.

Served on tap, it is a very lightly cloudy golden color w/ very little head. Medium sweet and fruity, w/ perhaps a not quite enough carbonation. Some funky yeast notes and a healthy dose of hops keep it interesting. Stylistically, I’d say this most closely matches a saison.

Flaske: Årgang 2008. Flot rødlig gennemsigtig øl med et lille skumhoved. Duft af gær og en smule krydderi. Smagen er krydret tæt op af en blonde. Godt alkoholbid der garanteret også kommer af en smule mere humle end en origial belgier. God øl.