Gose
Breakside Brewery - SE Taproom

better than its ratings. i think people have forgotten how a basic gose is supposed to taste, everyone wants to barrel age them in tequila, spike them with vanilla and milk sugar, and add all kinds of esoteric fruits and veggies into them, lost are the beers like this, the pure and straight up examples of the style. sure this might be a little bland by some standards, but the proportions are right and its mighty traditional and drinkable, which is more and more what i am looking for in this style. this one is really pale, clearer as they go, with a short but spritzing white layer of bubbles on top. it smell and tastes real clean on the souring and the ferment, with some tart lemon character to it, some minerals from the salt, and a lightly floral element. not at all too sour, although acidity is probably above the average in the style right now, it sure doesnt impede drinkability at all. i know breakside for quality in everything they do, and that continues here. sometimes less is more, and that is absolutely the case with this. a throwback to a few years ago when everyone discovered the style in its purest form for the first time. understated, but in a good way. summery and light.

edit: just had this fresh at the brewery and while the recipe has likely been tweaked some over the years, i have decided that this is pretty close to the gold standard for straight up gose. more flavorful than i remember, clean on the souring but with lemon and lime characteristics to it, i can taste the wheat, and the salt is also apparent, perfectly proportioned and extremely refreshing, well carbonated, and just a great beer, not bland at all as i suggested in the original review. either this has been updated or the proximity to the source makes all the difference. i have to raise some scores, this was downright fantastic at the brewery!

 

 

On Draft at Belmont Station, served in a tulip.

I have fallen in love this style as of late.

A: Staw colored, reminds me of a glass pineapple juice (minus the pulp). Thin white head that quickly dissapears.

S: Faint hint of sour, but not the main aroma. Lemon zest, starfruit and faint seashore dominate.

T: This is where this beer shines. You can taste the wheat backbone, but the citrus/apple flavors wash delicately over the tounge. The coriander is almost undetectable, but it is there.

M: Mild fizzy carbonation keeps the mouthfeel light and effervescent.

O: Maybe its a a mental thing, but the salt left on the lips reminds me of being at the coast, and this is exactly the type of beer I'd be drinking. A great summer beer that I will be enjoying more of in the near future.