Lolita | Goose Island Beer Co.




Brewed by:
Goose Island Beer Co.
Illinois, United States
gooseisland.com
Style: American Wild Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.00%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Belgian-style ale aged in French oak Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. Each barrel receives 50+ pounds of fresh raspberries. Spontaneous secondary fermentation in the barrels. Aged 8 months or more.
Added by robbyc1 on 10-29-2009
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 2,173 | Reviews: 363
3.84/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
4.1/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.25/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.2/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 355ml bottle into glass. Bottled on date is '04NOV16 1257'.
Cloudy, reddish pale amber colored body. Some white sediment bodies (as mentioned on the label). Fizzy head quickly disappears. No lacing.
Aroma of raspberry, oak, red grape, and funk.
Taste has raspberry jam (but not too sweet), tart red grape and oak tannins, funk (horse blanket, earthy, leather), apple vinegar, and some bitter hops at the end. The natural fruit taste continues as the flavor profile fades away.
Medium mouth feel, with low carbonation.
Beer is tasty, with semi-sweet, tart, and sour aspects all mixing together.
608 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 355ml bottle into glass. Bottled on date is '04NOV16 1257'.
Cloudy, reddish pale amber colored body. Some white sediment bodies (as mentioned on the label). Fizzy head quickly disappears. No lacing.
Aroma of raspberry, oak, red grape, and funk.
Taste has raspberry jam (but not too sweet), tart red grape and oak tannins, funk (horse blanket, earthy, leather), apple vinegar, and some bitter hops at the end. The natural fruit taste continues as the flavor profile fades away.
Medium mouth feel, with low carbonation.
Beer is tasty, with semi-sweet, tart, and sour aspects all mixing together.
608 characters
4.25/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Hazy dark orange color with light beige head. Aroma is really fruity with raspberry jam and concentrated syrup. Taste is also fruity, not very tart, you can also get the wine barrel notes. Medium body with medium to low carbonation. Quite nice fruit notes, not too acidic, easy drinking.
287 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Hazy dark orange color with light beige head. Aroma is really fruity with raspberry jam and concentrated syrup. Taste is also fruity, not very tart, you can also get the wine barrel notes. Medium body with medium to low carbonation. Quite nice fruit notes, not too acidic, easy drinking.
287 characters
4.5/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.2/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Goose Island Beer Co. "Lolita - 2016 Release"
765 ML brown glass bottle, capped and covered with a capsule, "BOTTLED ON: 10DEC15 1415 8.1% ALC/VOL"
$18.99 @ Total Wine & More, Cherry Hill, NJ
Notes via stream of consciousness: The label reads "Belgian Style Wild Ale" so I wonder what I'm getting into here. It also notes wine barrels and raspberries so it's got to be good. It's poured a clear dark orange that looks kind of reddish in the full glass beneath a finger-thick head of big bubbled then creamy off-white foam. The nose is floral and fruity but mostly funky funky with a metallic sharpness, or acidity, raspy oak, a bit of "horse blanket", wet straw, and mineralish muddy soil. I could probably go on but I'm sure you get the idea. It truly is like a Belgian wild ale. The flavor follows but with more fruitiness, and this time it's clearly raspberry although you might suspect there's some cherry in there as well. It's not as smooth as I'd suspected, there's a kind of roughness to it, most likely from the oak, but neither is it as acidic as I thought it would be so it's smoother in that regard. Hmm, I take that back, it might be the oak, but I think there's also an odd phenolic there. Hmmm. I certainly appreciate the depth of character from the yeast and bacteria though, even if it is a little bit off; it would have been easier to just do a lactic ferment - this is the real deal. Looking back, the head hasn't held well, and there's just a thin floating island in the center of the glass and an average collar. Lacing is minimal with just a few spots and streaks here and there. I guess that's not bad for a sour beer though. Back to the beer itself, it's medium bodied with a gently biting effervescent carbonation. Overall it's a little bit rough, the Belgians are much better at blending, and the fresh oak from the wine barrels is a bit bold, but it remains a special beer nonetheless.
1,915 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Goose Island Beer Co. "Lolita - 2016 Release"
765 ML brown glass bottle, capped and covered with a capsule, "BOTTLED ON: 10DEC15 1415 8.1% ALC/VOL"
$18.99 @ Total Wine & More, Cherry Hill, NJ
Notes via stream of consciousness: The label reads "Belgian Style Wild Ale" so I wonder what I'm getting into here. It also notes wine barrels and raspberries so it's got to be good. It's poured a clear dark orange that looks kind of reddish in the full glass beneath a finger-thick head of big bubbled then creamy off-white foam. The nose is floral and fruity but mostly funky funky with a metallic sharpness, or acidity, raspy oak, a bit of "horse blanket", wet straw, and mineralish muddy soil. I could probably go on but I'm sure you get the idea. It truly is like a Belgian wild ale. The flavor follows but with more fruitiness, and this time it's clearly raspberry although you might suspect there's some cherry in there as well. It's not as smooth as I'd suspected, there's a kind of roughness to it, most likely from the oak, but neither is it as acidic as I thought it would be so it's smoother in that regard. Hmm, I take that back, it might be the oak, but I think there's also an odd phenolic there. Hmmm. I certainly appreciate the depth of character from the yeast and bacteria though, even if it is a little bit off; it would have been easier to just do a lactic ferment - this is the real deal. Looking back, the head hasn't held well, and there's just a thin floating island in the center of the glass and an average collar. Lacing is minimal with just a few spots and streaks here and there. I guess that's not bad for a sour beer though. Back to the beer itself, it's medium bodied with a gently biting effervescent carbonation. Overall it's a little bit rough, the Belgians are much better at blending, and the fresh oak from the wine barrels is a bit bold, but it remains a special beer nonetheless.
1,915 characters
4.48/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
3.75/5 rDev -9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.92/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A: A ruby colored amber, hazy with a small white head that rapidly sinks into the beer.
S: Tart and acidic with hints of berries, red wine, and funk.
T: Raspberry jam, with a nice tartness, and some earthy funk.
M: Light in body, crisp, with moderate carbonation, and a dry finish.
O: Overall a hell of a tasty brew, but falls a little short for the price point, and compared against other brewers doing similar styles.
427 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A: A ruby colored amber, hazy with a small white head that rapidly sinks into the beer.
S: Tart and acidic with hints of berries, red wine, and funk.
T: Raspberry jam, with a nice tartness, and some earthy funk.
M: Light in body, crisp, with moderate carbonation, and a dry finish.
O: Overall a hell of a tasty brew, but falls a little short for the price point, and compared against other brewers doing similar styles.
427 characters
4.3/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
2015 bottle in 2017
The body is beautiful; it starts as a deep pink and goes to cherry red to amber. A pretty off white serves as a crown, which leaves us too soon.
Flavors are pretty amazing; tart raspberries which combines with hops for some very juicy goodness. It's somewhat acidic and it's stronger when it warms. Carbonation is very mellow which allows the flavors to really come through.
Very very good.
417 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
2015 bottle in 2017
The body is beautiful; it starts as a deep pink and goes to cherry red to amber. A pretty off white serves as a crown, which leaves us too soon.
Flavors are pretty amazing; tart raspberries which combines with hops for some very juicy goodness. It's somewhat acidic and it's stronger when it warms. Carbonation is very mellow which allows the flavors to really come through.
Very very good.
417 characters
4.25/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.61/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottled on 11-4-16. DFH Tulip.
A: pours a pretty clear pinkish copper with a finger of off white head that quickly recedes. Loads of bubbling carbonation. Cloudy on the second pour, disturbing the sediment. I liked it better without.
S: sour, fruity, and - dare I say it - funky. I think that is the smell of brett. Kind of cheesy, nutty, or foot-like. Distinctly raspberry as it warms.
T: drier and way less sweet than I expected. Also less tart and more funk. Immediately dry arrival, slightly sour, then transitions to that funk; kind of like blue cheese? With berries, and then something almost glue like. Not in a bad way, in the way that some bourbons are (but not the cheap acetone fingernail polish remover type). Perhaps that is oak? The fruit and funk go back and forth taking turns dancing on your palate as the music turns bitter. Some mild medicinal note on the end. Hops, maybe? With this beer there is so much going on it is hard to tell. Complex but cohesive. Loses some complexity if you pour the sediment in, in my opinion.
M: light, crisp, highly carbonated, highly refreshing, slightly slick, but the sourness masks the slickness.
O: this is a beer that leaves me grasping for words. There is less sweetness here and less sourness than I was expecting. Had I known it tasted like this I would have drunk it sooner; had I drunk it sooner it might not have tasted like this. This is only the second sour I've had that has really blown me away, but it is spectacular. A must try for any craft beer enthusiast, and one I plan on buying again.
1,565 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottled on 11-4-16. DFH Tulip.
A: pours a pretty clear pinkish copper with a finger of off white head that quickly recedes. Loads of bubbling carbonation. Cloudy on the second pour, disturbing the sediment. I liked it better without.
S: sour, fruity, and - dare I say it - funky. I think that is the smell of brett. Kind of cheesy, nutty, or foot-like. Distinctly raspberry as it warms.
T: drier and way less sweet than I expected. Also less tart and more funk. Immediately dry arrival, slightly sour, then transitions to that funk; kind of like blue cheese? With berries, and then something almost glue like. Not in a bad way, in the way that some bourbons are (but not the cheap acetone fingernail polish remover type). Perhaps that is oak? The fruit and funk go back and forth taking turns dancing on your palate as the music turns bitter. Some mild medicinal note on the end. Hops, maybe? With this beer there is so much going on it is hard to tell. Complex but cohesive. Loses some complexity if you pour the sediment in, in my opinion.
M: light, crisp, highly carbonated, highly refreshing, slightly slick, but the sourness masks the slickness.
O: this is a beer that leaves me grasping for words. There is less sweetness here and less sourness than I was expecting. Had I known it tasted like this I would have drunk it sooner; had I drunk it sooner it might not have tasted like this. This is only the second sour I've had that has really blown me away, but it is spectacular. A must try for any craft beer enthusiast, and one I plan on buying again.
1,565 characters
3.91/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.75/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
3.25/5 rDev -21.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3/4/2017 - Beer, Bourbon & BBQ - Atlanta
40 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3/4/2017 - Beer, Bourbon & BBQ - Atlanta
40 characters
Lolita from Goose Island Beer Co.
Beer rating:
4.12 out of
5 with
2,173 ratings
0 characters. We love reviews! Turn your rating into one with ≥ 150 characters.
In English, explain why you're giving this rating. Your review must discuss the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) and your overall impression in order to indicate that you have legitimately tried the beer. Nonconstructive reviews may be removed without notice and action may be taken on your account.