Honker's Ale
Goose Island Beer Co.

Deep copper orange in color. Head fades quickly leaving a bit of lacing. There is not much to be found in the nose, very subdued. Taste approximates what you would expect of the style, but there was a very slight hint of smokiness in the aftertaste. Mouthfeel is smooth, with understated carbonation. This is a fairly inoffensive take on a style that is overlooked by many brewers. Not bad, but not really anything to go out of your way for.

 

The first beer of my trip to Chicago for Riot Fest! Honkers is one of those beers always spoken fondly of by old school BAs, and I figure there’s no better way to start off the trip than with this beer I don’t see in Massachusetts. Let’s dive in

Pours a cloudy deep orange amber with 2 fingers of light tan head that slowly fades to a cap and leaves decent lacing

It doesn’t have all that much presence in the nose, but what’s there is pretty good. I’m picking up on aromas of biscuity malt, floral hops, lemon zest, honey, and light pepper

It’s a bit more expressive in taste, but still not a punch in the face or anything. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting herbal hops, crackery malt, honey, orange zest, and green tea. The swallow brings notes of black tea, floral hops, biscuity malt, honey, toasted grain, and light orange

A light medium body pairs with moderate carbonation, resulting in a crisp beer. Finishes mostly dry but a bit watery

This is nothing amazing, but I wasn’t expecting anything amazing. This is a mediocre example of an old school style from a bygone era. That being said, it’s still a really enjoyable beer to drink despite its flaws

Liked it wouldn't b my go to
But I can drink

Smooth drink

The first ESB I ever tried, and I thought I hated the style until I tried Fuller’s ESB, which is really great. Turns out the problem isn’t the style, it is that this is a mediocre tasting ale at best.

 

 

 

On draft at Goose Island Clybourn 1/15/21

Reddish amber hues with thin white head. Dark malt and and some dark fruits on the nose. Sweet malt, breadiness, hint of fruits, and mildy bitter taste. It's fairly light and easy on the palate. This was my first Goose Island beer and I will always come back to it. It's a great sessionable ESB.

 

 

 

 

Was once one of my "go-to" options in the days of independent Goose Island; this was my standard bearer for ESBs for some time. The post AB-InBev offering isn't as appealing; the most recent offerings seem to lack the maltiness and body I enjoyed previously. The scores above reflect an average of pre/post acquisition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a red copper color with a khaki head , Smell and taste was dark fruits,toffee and caramel,baked bread malts . Had medium carbonation with a thickness coating and bitterness..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours amber with a half inch white head that left nice lacing. Smells of roasted malts, caramel, yeast and hops. Tastes of bready malts, caramel, burnt sugar, yeast and a nice balancing hop presence. Light bodied, well carbonated, watery mouth feel.

L- Seems to be a slightly reddish amber, clear. Pours with 3mm white head, clears quite swiftly.
S- Light roast smell, and there could be a hint of fruit in it too.
T- Somewhat dry on the front, though more of that comes over as rather dryly carbonic, ie from high carbonation, instead of notable hopping. Otherwise the flavour is say like a lager + a bit more sweetness + a touch more body.
F- There's something rather synthetic about it, and I can't put my finger on it...
O- ... I can finish it but I shan't put this on my list to buy again.
p.s. The lable states that the brew is styled on English Bitter, really!
330ml bottle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From notes 3/31/13: Pours clear medium amber producing 2+ fingers of frothy, off-white, somewhat lasting head that leaves abundant webs of lace. Aroma is toasted malt, sugary caramel, yeast and a burnt hint with a thin hop character. Taste is malty toast with a hint of char, caramel, toffee, some chocolate, cream and yeast backed by a hoppy bitterness. Average at best, To tell the truth I'm a little disappointed based on what I have come to expect from this brewery. Taste more like a bitter Amber Ale than an English Bitter.