Gillian
Goose Island Beer Co.

Hazy, golden color. Big, champagne-like head. Aroma of strawberries, wood, yeasts . Pleasant sourness in taste, with a resemblance to wine. Delicious sour.

 

Bottled in 2013 opened in 2025.
Still has all the bells and whistles.
Color is slightly flat orangish and clear.
Lots of carbonation still
Nose was pungent and earthy. Taste was same.

2017 bottle.

A - Poured out a dark orange body, with red highlights, minimal white head in the pour quickly fades to nothing, and no lacing at all.

S - Slightly funky fruit, the strawberry definitely present, with a spicy note, and a pungent acidic bite on the nose.

T - Fruit open, a hint of earthiness, followed quickly by moderate acidity over the middle, and a grassy, farm funkiness along with a resurgent strawberry element in the finish.

M - Prickly carbonation, fairly light body, and a quick fade on the close.

O - This is a wild child, certainly, but with farm and earth that couples nicely with the fruitiness and drinkability you might hope for from the description. For as big as it is, this is complex, subtle, and satisfying.

 

12 oz bottle, 2017 vintage, into a chalice. Slightly hazy orange-amber color with no head but lots of bubbles streaming up from the bottom of the glass. Floral and fruity aroma (lime, lemon, strawberry, cranberry, apple). Taste mostly follows, strawberry, some honey sweetness, just a bit of wild funk to give it some depth but keep it very drinkable. Medium-light bodied, very crisp and carbonated.

Found a four pack of this beer recently at grocery store in New Mexico. Poured into a tulip glass. Fairly clear golden yellow color with brief effervescent head and little lacing. Honey sweet smell and taste with lime, lemon, grass and some funk. Sneaky beer with high ABV but very easy to drink. Slightly tart finish. Really enjoying the four pack.

 

 

 

 

 

12 oz. Bottle dated Feb. 21, 2017.

Quick pour resulted in 5 mm fine white head which quickly dissipated. No lacing. Hazy orange amber. Light sediment.
Wonderful strawberry, light floral, and brett scents.
Prominent strawberry, along with Brett, honey, light pepper zing.
Light, bright feel, dry finish. No heat from the ABV.
Refreshing saison, great for warm weather sipping.

 

Goose Island Beer Co. "2017 Gillian"
$6 / 5 oz. @ Goose Island Brewhouse Philadelphia on 06/02/18

Notes: Slightly hazy. Deep golden beneath a bright white head. Sweetish, fruity, floral aroma. Some strawberry actually comes through. Sweetish to sweet in the taste. Golden malt. Not that funky. Moderate to median bitterness balances it. Mild oaky dryness in the finish with some sweetish malt and strawberry lingering. Medium to medium-light in body. Gently crisp.