Halia | Goose Island Beer Co.
Brewed by:
Goose Island Beer Co.
Illinois, United States
gooseisland.com
Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale
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
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 950 | Reviews: 150
4.25/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle from 2013
A: Poured into a Duvel tulip to a light gold topped by a dense two finger white head that fades quickly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of light sourness, fruity esters with some orchard fruit notes and some nice peach aroma.
T: Taste is some light acidity with some nice horseblanket and barnyard notes with a hint of baind aids. Still some nice peach flavor as well. Swallow is more light sourness with some lingering peach flavor.
M: The beer has a moderate amount of heft on the palate. The level of carbonation is a little prickly and the beer is very effervescent. The beer also finishes on the dry side due to the acidity.
O: Overall this is a really nice beer with some good flavors and complexity. It has held up well over time and could probably have gone a little bit longer. Very enjoyable and worth a try if you can stomach the price.
915 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle from 2013
A: Poured into a Duvel tulip to a light gold topped by a dense two finger white head that fades quickly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of light sourness, fruity esters with some orchard fruit notes and some nice peach aroma.
T: Taste is some light acidity with some nice horseblanket and barnyard notes with a hint of baind aids. Still some nice peach flavor as well. Swallow is more light sourness with some lingering peach flavor.
M: The beer has a moderate amount of heft on the palate. The level of carbonation is a little prickly and the beer is very effervescent. The beer also finishes on the dry side due to the acidity.
O: Overall this is a really nice beer with some good flavors and complexity. It has held up well over time and could probably have gone a little bit longer. Very enjoyable and worth a try if you can stomach the price.
915 characters
3.9/5 rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.31/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.55/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.15/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.39/5 rDev -18.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
4.02/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours a light golden color, almost akin to a chardonnay in color. Fine, soda-like carbonation with no head retention.
Aroma is incredibly funk-forward. The beer doesn’t exude sourness, but some lactic notes are present. Lots of wine-barrel character, some melon, citrus peel, and some baking soda.
Taste is incredibly meaty; an umami bomb. Very funky beer that is dominated by beef jerky, hoarse blanket, and general barnyard characters. A more tame lactic character comes forth near mid-sip, which does break up the funk nicely. Out of all the sister beers tasted, this is the least sour and most funky. White wine barrel and perhaps a bit of green grape character are introduced near the conclusion of the sip. A buttery note finishes the sip. While there is not an overabundance of peach, actually it is quite lost, I do get more of a fermented peach skin.
Overall, this is a unique beer. I have tried all of the sister beers in the past, but I didn’t formally review them. I am re-trying them now that they are in the smaller format and more easily accessible on tap. From my memory a few years ago, this was my favorite variant. Years ago, I hated sours, now I love them. Perhaps, I enjoyed the beer most, as it is the least sour. Regardless, I am glad I re-reviewed this beer. I am not impressed, especially at the price point. Strange combination of flavors that don’t meld all that well. The beer needs more tartness and more peach character. I see it pairing well with a pan seared trout with grapefruit salad and roasted green beans. It gets a 81/100.
1,574 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours a light golden color, almost akin to a chardonnay in color. Fine, soda-like carbonation with no head retention.
Aroma is incredibly funk-forward. The beer doesn’t exude sourness, but some lactic notes are present. Lots of wine-barrel character, some melon, citrus peel, and some baking soda.
Taste is incredibly meaty; an umami bomb. Very funky beer that is dominated by beef jerky, hoarse blanket, and general barnyard characters. A more tame lactic character comes forth near mid-sip, which does break up the funk nicely. Out of all the sister beers tasted, this is the least sour and most funky. White wine barrel and perhaps a bit of green grape character are introduced near the conclusion of the sip. A buttery note finishes the sip. While there is not an overabundance of peach, actually it is quite lost, I do get more of a fermented peach skin.
Overall, this is a unique beer. I have tried all of the sister beers in the past, but I didn’t formally review them. I am re-trying them now that they are in the smaller format and more easily accessible on tap. From my memory a few years ago, this was my favorite variant. Years ago, I hated sours, now I love them. Perhaps, I enjoyed the beer most, as it is the least sour. Regardless, I am glad I re-reviewed this beer. I am not impressed, especially at the price point. Strange combination of flavors that don’t meld all that well. The beer needs more tartness and more peach character. I see it pairing well with a pan seared trout with grapefruit salad and roasted green beans. It gets a 81/100.
1,574 characters
4.16/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.6/5 rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Look: light golden color, minimal head, light sediment
Smell: Very fruity and sour—green apple, peach. Oak and boozy notes.
Taste: Follows nose. Dominated by tart fruits, slight sweetness and earthy hop notes.
Feel: medium body, heavy carbonation
Overall pretty good. Very well done. If you like sours or champagne-like beers go for it.
339 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Look: light golden color, minimal head, light sediment
Smell: Very fruity and sour—green apple, peach. Oak and boozy notes.
Taste: Follows nose. Dominated by tart fruits, slight sweetness and earthy hop notes.
Feel: medium body, heavy carbonation
Overall pretty good. Very well done. If you like sours or champagne-like beers go for it.
339 characters
4.58/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
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
4.44/5 rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Lovely. A nice pale orange body, white head. Nose hits with acidity along with the expected peach notes, and some grape and woody hints. The taste emphasizes the wine element, and the peach is largely in the background, but I have no reservations about that, because the result is a delicious, tart, deeply satisfying experience.
332 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Lovely. A nice pale orange body, white head. Nose hits with acidity along with the expected peach notes, and some grape and woody hints. The taste emphasizes the wine element, and the peach is largely in the background, but I have no reservations about that, because the result is a delicious, tart, deeply satisfying experience.
332 characters
4.15/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours golden hazy mimosa orange with a small head. Noticeable carbonation. Smells of citrus and brett, sour. Taste is sharply sour and bitter, moving into a funky brett with a good deal sour/sweet peaches. Creamy mouthfeel, little bit of acid burn. Really nice and approachable.
283 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours golden hazy mimosa orange with a small head. Noticeable carbonation. Smells of citrus and brett, sour. Taste is sharply sour and bitter, moving into a funky brett with a good deal sour/sweet peaches. Creamy mouthfeel, little bit of acid burn. Really nice and approachable.
283 characters
Halia from Goose Island Beer Co.
Beer rating:
93.3% out of
100 with
950 ratings
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25