Halia | Goose Island Beer Co.
Brewed by:
Goose Island Beer Co.
Illinois, United States
gooseisland.com
Style: Belgian Saison
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.50%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Brewed with the Saison and farmhouse ales of Belgium in mind, we added fresh Georgia peaches and Brettanomyces claussenii to a fresh white wine barrel and aged the Saison base for 9 months. Stretching the boundaries of the traditional style, we decided to put our own little spin on it.
Formerly known as Mae.
Added by sidetracked on 04-24-2011
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 986 | Reviews: 159
4.23/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.9/5 rDev +18.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A very good sour. Almost reminds me to Hansen’s experimental ale which is a fantastic lambic.... would recommend to anyone with taste. It’s a fine wine in a beer bottle.
173 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A very good sour. Almost reminds me to Hansen’s experimental ale which is a fantastic lambic.... would recommend to anyone with taste. It’s a fine wine in a beer bottle.
173 characters
4.01/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Ridiculously expensive. Interestingly good.
I put off Halia forever. My plan was to return to GI's taproom and have Halia on the cheap. Worried that I might not be able to ride my bike out of there, I deferred on Halia. Procrastination only raises the price. I paid $25 for her in a weak moment.
Worth it? Well, not enough to do it twice. But, my first time was almost worth the price. First of all, Halia is a masterful (and probably groundbreaking) use of the techniques we, today, commonly taste in the saison style. The flat carbonation, the winey aromas, the tart fruit.... they are all here put together as one offering.
Now... that doesn't mean that I like this trend (me being a fuddy-duddy.) But more than most styles, the saison lends itself to the experimentation of the individual farmhouse. Sometimes we get close to a masterpiece like Halia... more times, we get a failed experiment. I personally would have liked to have Halia for the price of the failed experiment.
984 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Ridiculously expensive. Interestingly good.
I put off Halia forever. My plan was to return to GI's taproom and have Halia on the cheap. Worried that I might not be able to ride my bike out of there, I deferred on Halia. Procrastination only raises the price. I paid $25 for her in a weak moment.
Worth it? Well, not enough to do it twice. But, my first time was almost worth the price. First of all, Halia is a masterful (and probably groundbreaking) use of the techniques we, today, commonly taste in the saison style. The flat carbonation, the winey aromas, the tart fruit.... they are all here put together as one offering.
Now... that doesn't mean that I like this trend (me being a fuddy-duddy.) But more than most styles, the saison lends itself to the experimentation of the individual farmhouse. Sometimes we get close to a masterpiece like Halia... more times, we get a failed experiment. I personally would have liked to have Halia for the price of the failed experiment.
984 characters
4.31/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.24/5 rDev +2.2%
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
3.52/5 rDev -15.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.31/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
3.96/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Clear straw yellow color with a small white head that quickly faded.
Smell: Moderate barnyard funk with some moderate grassy/hay notes. I also get some mild fruity notes.
Taste: Moderate barnyard funk, sweetish peach notes, faint tart citrus notes along with some grassy hay notes. The nose and taste profile scream Wild Ale rather than a Saison but regardless the taste profile is tasty and has a light dry finish that works well for the beer.
Mouth-feel: Fairly light-bodied with a modest level of carbonation. Thicker than most Saison's I've had but not bad.
Overall: Not sure if i'd classify this as a Saison but that doesn't matter. It's a tasty easy drinking beer that would be perfect on a hot day.
722 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Clear straw yellow color with a small white head that quickly faded.
Smell: Moderate barnyard funk with some moderate grassy/hay notes. I also get some mild fruity notes.
Taste: Moderate barnyard funk, sweetish peach notes, faint tart citrus notes along with some grassy hay notes. The nose and taste profile scream Wild Ale rather than a Saison but regardless the taste profile is tasty and has a light dry finish that works well for the beer.
Mouth-feel: Fairly light-bodied with a modest level of carbonation. Thicker than most Saison's I've had but not bad.
Overall: Not sure if i'd classify this as a Saison but that doesn't matter. It's a tasty easy drinking beer that would be perfect on a hot day.
722 characters
4.33/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.99/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a pint glass from a 750 ml bottle. Beautiful clear, dark golden color with a small bubbly white head that fades fast. No lacing on the glass. Aroma is Brett/wild yeast and peaches. No hoppy aspect to speak of. Malty by default. Strong, pleasant aroma. Taste is more of an Amer. Wild Ale than a Saison. None of the funk, lemon zest, barnyard/horseblanket aspects of a Saison. Tartness and fruit are the main aromas and tastes. Still an outstanding drink though. Mouthfeel is tart, fruity and fairly light but still crisp. Very enjoyable beer but nowhere near a classic saison.
600 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a pint glass from a 750 ml bottle. Beautiful clear, dark golden color with a small bubbly white head that fades fast. No lacing on the glass. Aroma is Brett/wild yeast and peaches. No hoppy aspect to speak of. Malty by default. Strong, pleasant aroma. Taste is more of an Amer. Wild Ale than a Saison. None of the funk, lemon zest, barnyard/horseblanket aspects of a Saison. Tartness and fruit are the main aromas and tastes. Still an outstanding drink though. Mouthfeel is tart, fruity and fairly light but still crisp. Very enjoyable beer but nowhere near a classic saison.
600 characters
4.12/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
On draught at Gaslight Social Club.
Pours a brilliantly clear light gold, small and quickly disappearing head of foam, no lacing.
Strong peachy smell but it gives it up for the intense aromas of Brett. Can't say that it smells sour.
The taste continues with the Brett where the smell left off. Light sour notes of umm peaches, tough to positively identify the fruit as such, whatever, it's pitted but not dark fruit.
Fairly light bodied with adequate carbonation.
Very good for 1 glass. ;)
495 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
On draught at Gaslight Social Club.
Pours a brilliantly clear light gold, small and quickly disappearing head of foam, no lacing.
Strong peachy smell but it gives it up for the intense aromas of Brett. Can't say that it smells sour.
The taste continues with the Brett where the smell left off. Light sour notes of umm peaches, tough to positively identify the fruit as such, whatever, it's pitted but not dark fruit.
Fairly light bodied with adequate carbonation.
Very good for 1 glass. ;)
495 characters
4.25/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Almost clear yellow color with just a bit of white head. Aroma has floral notes like elderflower and linden with some light citrus tartness. Taste has mellow fruit notes like peach, mirabelle plum, melon, apricot, ripe pear with a light acidity. Medium body with medium minus carbonation. Really well integrated fruit flavors with some nice floral notes.
354 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Almost clear yellow color with just a bit of white head. Aroma has floral notes like elderflower and linden with some light citrus tartness. Taste has mellow fruit notes like peach, mirabelle plum, melon, apricot, ripe pear with a light acidity. Medium body with medium minus carbonation. Really well integrated fruit flavors with some nice floral notes.
354 characters
4.25/5 rDev +2.4%
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
4.21/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Bottle. Poured out a hazy, straw yellow color with a small, white head of foam. It smelled of peach, funky brett and some white grapes. Very funky with a sweet peach taste.
172 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Bottle. Poured out a hazy, straw yellow color with a small, white head of foam. It smelled of peach, funky brett and some white grapes. Very funky with a sweet peach taste.
172 characters
4.24/5 rDev +2.2%
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
3.89/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
4/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2013 Vintage Pours a light yellow/golden hue with a fluffy white head. Smell and taste were white fruit and peach mixed with white wine and slight sour fruity esters. Mouth sweet and fruity with mild funk peach not as prominent as i would like. A wine and champagne saison to me very easy to drink.
298 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2013 Vintage Pours a light yellow/golden hue with a fluffy white head. Smell and taste were white fruit and peach mixed with white wine and slight sour fruity esters. Mouth sweet and fruity with mild funk peach not as prominent as i would like. A wine and champagne saison to me very easy to drink.
298 characters
Halia from Goose Island Beer Co.
Beer rating:
4.15 out of
5 with
986 ratings
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