Brasserie Blanc
Goose Island Beer Co.

2017 vintage

I picked up this beer and Brasserie Noir a few months back on a whim since a seller on MBC had both. It’s always cool to try vintage Goose Island beers, especially since I rarely see them in stores. Let’s crack this one open and see what it has to offer

Pours a cloudy orange gold with 2 fingers of white head that quickly fades to a thin ring and leaves minimal lacing

The nose is surprisingly quite gentle here. I’m picking up on aromas of tannic white wine, orange zest, earthy wheat, lemon zest, white pepper, honey, and light lemon zest

Things are a bit more amplified in taste thankfully, it’s bright and funky. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting lemon juice, tart white wine, sharp oak, orange zest, earthy wheat, wet hey, light pineapple, and wildflower honey. The swallow brings notes of tannic white wine, earthy wheat, sharp oak, lemon juice, orange zest, wet hay, white pepper, white wine vinegar, and apricot

A medium body pairs with moderate carbonation, resulting in a crisp yet slick beer. Finishes a bit sticky but dries out over time

This is pretty good, but definitely would’ve been better fresh. Still great tho

 

Unexpectedly on tap at a neighborhood church fall festival
Straw golden with a slight white head
Spotty lacing and small islands of carbonation.
White wine and funk aromas
Heavy bretty and grape flavors, barrel, intoxicating.
Little alcohol heat, dry finish
Delicious sour.

 

 

 

11/9/18 (Chicago): $12 12 ounce pour at Goose Island Brewhouse into GI wide chalice glass, 8.6% ABV. Light clear blond pour, mild carbonation, thin white lacing. White wine / grape aroma, light citrus noted. Feather light mouth feel, carbonation holds well, very easy drinking. Light white wine taste, crisp clean. Overall very good pour.

absolutely epic beer, maybe the best i have ever had from goose island, and criminally underrated here, its bright like a biere de champagne, full of oak and funk, but brilliant and effervescent and lively and fresh too, with a really neat white wine grape profile, its special beer, perhaps improved by its time in the cellar, but its absolute gold right now, cant believe this doesnt have higher scores. its mostly clear deep brassy gold to the lightest amber in color, holds a one inch white head in my wine glass, and it so bubbly that it spritzes my nostrils when i go to smell it each time. the grape profile is amazing in aroma and flavor, but i also get interesting things from oak and hops, like nelson hops maybe, pineapple and lemon curd and white tea, vanilla, peach, elderflower blossom, and of course plenty of white wine. its sweet for a second and even with some grain along with the wood in the middle, but its dry in the finish and fantastically funky, bretty and mature and fruity there too, very little acidity here, the brett seems to well worked into the beer, the grape aspect, and the woodiness, its united in this delicate but distinctive way, i really have never tasted anything quite like this. carbonation explodes, the mouth waters for more after each sip, and this feels regal and fancy all the way, aided by the upscale packaging. i love this, every drop, and have a new respect for goose island again after this one. i have to find another couple of bottles, this is a beer of the year candidate for me so far this year, no joke! for all the rare and hyped up beers ive had lately, its goose island who beats them all, go figure...

Big fluffy white head with decent retention on a golden body.

Nose is champagne-like, with apples and pears, white wine, grapes, oak, and funk.

Flavor follows. It's a fairly straight forward, mildly funky ale reminiscent of a gueuze. Very tasty. Crisp and clean on the palate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A- A hazy yellow golden hue with a no head and lacing.

S- A slight hint of oak and grapes.

T- The taste has some grape hints and very slight little oak hint.

M- A very light bodied, crispy, smooth with a decent carbonation beer.

O- Dry with a lots of carbonation and a decent kick.