Goose Island Matilda

Brewed by Goose Island Beer Company
Style: Belgian Ale
Chicago, Illinois USA

Bottle & Draft. Copper color with white head. Aroma: Fruity with notes banana and yeast. Medium bodied with fruit and hop flavors.

Pours a nice medium amber. The nose is some spicing, orange citrus, sweet malts, herbal hops, and some yeast. Comes across the palate Initially it tasted slightly sour like many Belgian ales but changed to a complex floral taste and finished like a traditional Belgian, with a lingering finish.

I swear I’d had this before having a glass at Roman’s this week, but apparently I am confusing Matilda with memories of Pere Jacques. And I’m glad I corrected this situation, because where I found Pere Jacques to be pretty mediocre and boring, I found this beer to be considerably more enjoyable and interesting. This beer pours a light golden color with a pretty minimal head. At Roman’s, it was served in a long-stemmed glass reminiscent of a martini glass (what I don’t know about glassware could fill a library). Aroma was a touch fruity and spicy. Flavor offered a rich sweetness paired nicely with a touch of very-Belgian-y maltiness. There was also considerable fruitiness, full mouthfeel, and yeastiness that was also reminiscent to Belgian beers I’ve had (like fresh Tripel Karmelet). Mouthfeel was pretty rich. This is really a very good beer and I would recommend it. I had it on tap at Roman’s in Milwaukee.

Very fruity and spicy indeed. A yeasty citrus on the nose, with flavors of lemon, pineapple, cotton candy, and some other various green flavors, also subtle caramel. Flavors are similar, very good Belgian.

08 bottle. Amber hue, with an off-white, thin head. Full bodied with a rich aftertaste. Great attempt at creating a Belgian style ale, Citrus-y, orange peel flavour and aroma, with just a hint of creaminess.

Bottle from god knows where, York perhaps? I really liked this one. A good stab at a Belgian from our US brothers, well done lads. Amber with a thin white head. Sweet smell, candy floss perhaps, icing, Belgian yeast and citrus perhaps? I don’t know, I’m a drinker not a rater. And taste is similar blah blah blah. I liked it. I will drink again if I can get it.

2007 bottle. Giant head with some rockiness, pours golden brown with sediment. Aroma is the standard belgian yeast with some slight fruity sweetness that I can’t put my finger on. Citrus maybe? Also some slight spice character deep in the aroma. Flavor is more fruit than in the aroma, definite citrus and tropical fruits. Yeast and is in there typical of a belgian. Some spice I can’t put my finger on. Finish is a little dry and pretty refreshing making it very drinkable (I’m almost halfway done with this bottle) All in all another quality brew from GI.

After having the Bourbon County Stout I had a piss hardon to try this brew. Pours a hazy amber orange with a quickly diminishing, off-white head. Citrusy smell full of hops. Initially it tasted slightly sour like many belgian ales but changed to a complex grassy, hoppy taste and finished again with the belgian ale taste. Long lasting finish. Very complex beer. I liked it but not near as much as the Bourbon County Stout.