Schmetterling Gose
Local Option

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From:
Local Option
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
Gose
ABV:
4.5%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.77 | pDev: 15.92%
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
41
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 20, 2014
Added:
Jul 28, 2012
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  0
Schmetterling Gose is a modern interpretation of an ancient top fermented saline sour ale native to Saxony. Local Option Bierwerker took the task of reviving this unique style that disappeared during the early part of the 20th century. True to its antecedent, Schmetterling Gose is brewed with equal parts malted wheat and barley; seasoned with black lava salt, coriander, and hops; and fermented with yeast and lactobacillus. Light bodied, highly carbonated, pale in color, with a subtle aroma of spice and citrus and a dry, crisp, refreshing finish, Schmetterling Gose is ideal in summer months but appreciable year round.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ortie:
Photo of ortie
Rated by ortie from Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%

Jul 04, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3 by larbush from Illinois

Mar 20, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by detrockcitey from Illinois

Mar 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by wyatt13 from Illinois

Feb 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by birdsellam from Indiana

Feb 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by sgttibbs from Minnesota

Jan 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by TheBeerAlmanac from Kentucky

Dec 18, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by magnusdave from New York

Oct 27, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by emerge077 from Illinois

Oct 25, 2013
Photo of falloutsnow
Reviewed by falloutsnow from Illinois

2.7/5  rDev -28.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
From: Crane Alley, Urbana, IL
Date: On-tap
Glass: Local option pokal glass

Local Option's Schmetterling Gose is a disappointing attempt at the style, not really light or refreshing as others are, while the tartness and salinity are overwhelmed by other, less desirable flavors. The aroma is particularly strange, a mix of stomach acid and lime margarita that goes as well together as you might think. This is a fairly average version of the style at best, perhaps enjoyed by those who have never had fresh versions of gose in Leipzig. At $6 per 10oz glass, certainly not a bargain, and not one I'd ever return to.

Arrives with a 1cm head of white foam, fading within one minute to a thin ring around the glass and a small island of foam atop the body of the beer. Lacing is minimal to nonexistent. Body is a hazy-looking golden orange color, with light bringing out hazy yellow hues. Beer is mostly opaque (80% opacity), and carbonation is not visible.

Aroma is acidic with tinges of coriander, lime zest, and salt. Not unappealing, but not exactly amazing, either. Much less appetizing than the on-tap goses in Leipzig, this one being like stomach acid and a lime margarita together in a slightly unappealing-the-more-you-inhale way.

Overall flavor is like an overly sweet lime margarita mixed with a somewhat cloying coriander bomb, even with the detectable tartness and wheat malt influences. Still, this is fairly good relative to the aroma. Front of palate picks up lime zest, coriander, notable salt, and a modest amount of wheat malt. Mid-palate of heavy wheat malt, salt, coriander, mild tartness, and lime zest: balance going towards coriander and lime zest with a mild tartness. Back of palate finds tart wheat malt with salt and lime zest, with fairly heavy coriander. Aftertaste is of lightly grainy wheat malt with traces of salt, faint tartness, and residual coriander.

Beer is medium light in body with low carbonation, resolving to a smooth, somewhat heavy, lightly foamy body that is generally too heavy for the style and the flavors the beer represents. Closes dry, as expected from the saltiness, with light stickiness on the palate. Disappointing: too heavy for the style, not refreshing, would not be something I'd look towards on a hot day.
Oct 22, 2013
Photo of dbrauneis
Reviewed by dbrauneis from North Carolina

3.79/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Served on-tap at The Jeffrey Craft Beer and Bites in New York, NY

A: Pours a cloudy light golden yellow in color with very light amounts of gentle visible carbonation along the edges of the glass and just a hint of straw yellow highlights. The beer has a quarter finger tall foamy white head that reduces to a very thin film covering the entire surface of the beer and a thing ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: The overall aroma to this beer is slightly briny/salty with some light notes of tart lemons and hints of wheat.

T: Upfront there is a light flavor of wheat with some light flavors of tart lemons. Overall there is a moderate amount of brininess/saltiness and the beer is light to moderately tart.

M: Medium bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation. Light to moderate amounts of acidic prickliness.

O: Another interesting Gose on this visit to NYC (that is three in four days). Refreshing and thirst quenching though this might be the one with the most body to it. Enjoyable and one I would definitely get again.
Oct 22, 2013
Photo of metter98
Reviewed by metter98 from New York

3.88/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On-tap at The Jeffrey, New York, NY

A: The beer is hazy dark yellow in color. It poured with a thin white head that died down, leaving a thin collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light aromas of sour and salty lemons are present in the nose.
T: The beer is somewhat sour and has notes of salt, hints of lemon citrus and slight bits of coriander.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and a bit creamy on the palate with a low to moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is easy to drink and seems rather complex for the style.
Oct 21, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by ncelauro from New York

Sep 21, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by Cresant from Kentucky

Sep 21, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by bschinelli from Illinois

Jul 22, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by mendvicdog from Maryland

Jun 24, 2013
Photo of BEERchitect
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky

3/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
In the revival of old-world styles, the guys at Local Option pull the traditional German salt beer from the grave in a seldom seen introduction to present beer enthusiasts. Its a rare treat and unique return to centuries old techniques of early-day Germanic brewing.

And like many of those German wheat-forward ales, the beer pours a light yellow color and is distinguishable because of its quintessential yeasty and protein-laden haze. Medium-light in its head formulation and retention, its long-lasting, lacy rings of foam sing praises of a well made German ale.

Sharp lactic tartness reaches the nose first and delivers impressions of lemon, lime, and apple cider. But the follow of soured milk and unsettled stomach acid gives a pungent and putrid scent- unfortunately, these rise as the glass tilts and I'm going into that first taste.

Well, those aromas are fresh on the memory as the first sip is taken so there's a carryover that's unmistakable. Fortunately, that impression is short-lived as the beer quickly reveals a clean, crisp and dry cracker taste at middle palate. Only the fuller and more vivid taste of bread and dough are evident through its salt additions. A late turn to firm dryness, clean tartness and dry cider taste cleans the taste and allows for a snappy fresh closure and only an echo of bready wheat seconds after.

Light in body, the ale is effortless on the palate and the stomach as its refreshing properties are easily tasted and felt. Pleasant tartness hinges on sourness and cleanses the palate with ease. Its late sourness and astringency is much like grape skin, apple peels and lime zest- it allows for as much Gin-like tang as it does wine-like acidity.

I appreciate the return to dying styles- but isn't there a reason that these styles die? After all, the current beer market doesn't have much room for bile-beers or buttermilk-beers. This ale has a lot going for it, but its that soured milk character that's only moderately charged but casts an offensive shadow over the session.
Jun 24, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Magery from Kentucky

Jun 24, 2013
 
Rated: 2 by Thorpe429 from Illinois

May 29, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by HeadyTheElder from Louisiana

May 19, 2013
Schmetterling Gose from Local Option
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 41 ratings