Goose Island Matilda

Very nice beer, crisp and clear. I like the sweet flavor present in many Belgian beera but this one doesn’ leave an unpleasent aftertaste that some stronger ales can do. It’s a little like duvel except it has a cleaner flavor. The hops aren’t too biiter.

Note: This is a rating for a tap glass of “Matilda Reserve” I was served at the brewpub (Clybourn location). I’m re-writing my Matilda rating and not adding a new entry although there is a different entry for “Goose Island Tripel” and “Goose Island Reserve Tripel”. However this tap glass was significantly different from the bottles I’ve had in the past. Even better that the already excellent bottle version. It may just be because it was on tap or maybe this should be a different entry. I’ll move the rating if I see one day a local creates a new entry for a Matilda Reserve

In short: A Saison-like crisp Belgian ale.
How: Tap at brewpub
The look: Clear golden blonde body with a small white head.
In long: Lots of crisp malts. Although not funky per say the beer as a strong farmhouse character. Fruity notes are on the lighter juicy citric side of things with grapefruits, granny smith apples and so on. Wonderful complex hops finish blending Saaz-ish dry grassiness and citrusy American hops. Citric tartness just make you wanna go for more and more. This tap glass was much crisper and less candy than all the bottles I’ve had before. Best thing with a woman name I’ve had since... well... a woman.

This beer has a healthy aroma that is an infusion of wheat, yeast, brown sugar, and banana. It is a golden orange colored solution with a good thick cream colored head. This rich moderately heavy beer flows through the mouth smoothly. This beer introduces itself to the palate with the taste of yeast. It finishes with a orange and wheat ensemble that fades leaving a nice healthy wheat taste lingering.

Bottle from Wigan Beer Festival. Brown to amber colour with thin white head. Strong malt and yeast aroma, slightly sour, with a hint of fruit and some clove lurking in the background. Malt and yeast taste with hints of citrus. Incredibly long, dry finish. Creamy palate with lively carbonation. Superb.

Gorgeous Amber pour with a lacy white head. Sweet flavor with almost no bitterness. Alcohol Flavoring is hidden quite well, Very fruity flavor with a clean crisp finish.

I really like this. It’s effervescent and spicy and has a pleasant flavor throughout. The hops really give it an extra bite. Great.

Slightly hazy orangish gold. Extremely fine, bright white head starts at an inch or so and settles to an incomplete cap. Simply stunning nose! Bright crackery malt, lemony citric hops, and a hearty whack of bretty barnyardy goodness fill the nose. Mouthwatering stuff. Medium light in the mouth Waves of dry lemony malt arrive, and are amply supported by wicked acidity and complex earthy barnyard flavors. Outstanding length. Great, great beer here. Extremely fine carbonation keeps this light and lively, though it does have a slight drying effect on the palate. Perilously drinkable, wonderful with food, and a wholly captivating beverage. Bravo! 2006 Release.

From a 12 oz bottle (2008) Nice rosy copper color with a solid head and good lace, this has an inviting grapevine aroma. It drinks richly -- like a sexy Rubenesque woman in a glass, this seduces me with its ample curves and character, drawing me to the details within the complexity. This is a nicely put together Belgian-style ale, but it’s also quietly drinkable with a predominately grapey character, esthery, yeasty. (#3560, 6/20/2009)