Glasgow Smile
Nightmare Brewing Company
- From:
- Nightmare Brewing Company
- New York, United States
- Style:
- Gose
Ranked #15 - ABV:
- 6.7%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #5,598 - Avg:
- 4.18 | pDev: 7.89%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 23
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 23, 2026
- Added:
- Jun 06, 2019
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 4
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding
Gose soured on Wild Scottish Bilberries with Heather, Lemon Zest, Raspberries and Blueberries.
Originating from 1930’s era Scotland, the Glasgow Smile was a signature performed on those unlucky enough to suffer at the hands of the Glasgow Razor Gangs. Given to rival gang members or the unfortunate victims of muggings, the act slices a person from the corners of the mouth towards each ear. While seeming like ancient history, in 2008 knife related injuries were reported every six hours and the Glasgow Smile was executed at minimum once a week.
Soured on Wild Bilberries grown in the Caledonian Forest of the Scots Pines, brewed with Heather (an ingredient used in Scotland beers for 5,000 years), Lemon Zest and Black Sea Salt, then fermented with Raspberries and Blueberries.
Maraschino sweet cherry, jammy raspberry and lemon zest sharpness aromatics. Bilberry skin and Heather come across as a balancing slight tannin earthiness. Hint of citrus and underripe raspberry tartness gives way to a mouthwateringly dry champagne finish with savory salinity.
Originating from 1930’s era Scotland, the Glasgow Smile was a signature performed on those unlucky enough to suffer at the hands of the Glasgow Razor Gangs. Given to rival gang members or the unfortunate victims of muggings, the act slices a person from the corners of the mouth towards each ear. While seeming like ancient history, in 2008 knife related injuries were reported every six hours and the Glasgow Smile was executed at minimum once a week.
Soured on Wild Bilberries grown in the Caledonian Forest of the Scots Pines, brewed with Heather (an ingredient used in Scotland beers for 5,000 years), Lemon Zest and Black Sea Salt, then fermented with Raspberries and Blueberries.
Maraschino sweet cherry, jammy raspberry and lemon zest sharpness aromatics. Bilberry skin and Heather come across as a balancing slight tannin earthiness. Hint of citrus and underripe raspberry tartness gives way to a mouthwateringly dry champagne finish with savory salinity.
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Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.41/5 rDev -18.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.41/5 rDev -18.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
I got the PG artwork on my can. Anyhoo, looks like a summer day down on the river in 2024 is when I cracked this guy open. I'd call it a wild ale and gose combination, its far more sour and almost 7% abv, ain't hitting a traditional gose vibe. #13th ranked gose? Surely you jest first glass advocate.
Pours a light brown with some red to it. Similar color to like a flanders oud bruin/flanders mashup. Thin beige head 1/5". Its not an attractive looking beer. The aroma has a lemon like wild ale sourness to it. After that, some juicy berries come out. Salinity is missing from the beer, a hallmark of the gose style.
The taste is mostly fruit berry juice with some lemon like inoculated kettle sourness. I'm leaning into wild ale territory even more now. Raspberry and blueberry is an interesting pairing. Carbonation high, didn't really get the dryness or salinity in the mouthfeel either. Fine as a fruited kettle sour, not quite sure it hits the mark as a gose.
Oct 17, 2025Pours a light brown with some red to it. Similar color to like a flanders oud bruin/flanders mashup. Thin beige head 1/5". Its not an attractive looking beer. The aroma has a lemon like wild ale sourness to it. After that, some juicy berries come out. Salinity is missing from the beer, a hallmark of the gose style.
The taste is mostly fruit berry juice with some lemon like inoculated kettle sourness. I'm leaning into wild ale territory even more now. Raspberry and blueberry is an interesting pairing. Carbonation high, didn't really get the dryness or salinity in the mouthfeel either. Fine as a fruited kettle sour, not quite sure it hits the mark as a gose.
Reviewed by Greywulfken from New York
4.25/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dry and tart, with elements of berry and citrus at play; lightly puckering, scrubbing effervescence, tingly on the tongue... Refreshing and quenching - very nice sour... Recommended...
Jan 01, 2024
Reviewed by dbl_delta from Pennsylvania
3.93/5 rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Undated can into pint glass. Pours a lovely clear*, deep gold with almost no head. No lacing. Initial impression is raspberries, blueberries, lemon, and a bit of saltiness. Mouthfeel is medium with a good amount of carbonation. Finish fades to tart berry and lime. Overall, a very enjoyable sour (which I'm not a fan of, but this one is tolerable).
* Well, it WAS clear until I dumped the rest of the can into my glass. Got kinda murky then.
Feb 10, 2023* Well, it WAS clear until I dumped the rest of the can into my glass. Got kinda murky then.
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois
3.86/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
3.86/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Glasgow Smile Looks and Tastes well above the average for a fruited, tart gose. Smells totally unique, intriguing. A talented brewer, creatively adding Scottish herbs and fruits. But, I'm going to let others review the beer. I'm concerned with some larger issues.
I actually bought the can because of the name; I've been to Glasgow twice, once last year. But I didn't look closely at the can (mine has a less graphic sketch than the one below.) I really don't get why these guys have such macabre thoughts and images stuck in their minds as I found on the cans on Nightmare's website. I agree that 2020 is a year in which the worst in humans has exploded to the surface. But also, the efforts to resist these horrors are growing. And positive efforts might not succeed if too many macabre images are in our collective mind. Nightmare is one micro-brewer; but they are doing collabs and also could be positive force on other micros... but not with those images or beverage titles. Anyway... That's my review of beer and life. Cheers !
Oct 05, 2020I actually bought the can because of the name; I've been to Glasgow twice, once last year. But I didn't look closely at the can (mine has a less graphic sketch than the one below.) I really don't get why these guys have such macabre thoughts and images stuck in their minds as I found on the cans on Nightmare's website. I agree that 2020 is a year in which the worst in humans has exploded to the surface. But also, the efforts to resist these horrors are growing. And positive efforts might not succeed if too many macabre images are in our collective mind. Nightmare is one micro-brewer; but they are doing collabs and also could be positive force on other micros... but not with those images or beverage titles. Anyway... That's my review of beer and life. Cheers !
Reviewed by beerthulhu from New Jersey
4.38/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.38/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A: Sunset glowing orange is vibrant in the vessel, with a lively carbonation factor that brings the image to life. Cushy and bready textured head shows slight tannish highlights, at one inch, and turns to a creamy coating soon after. Small freckled reminders are light on the vessel walls. Love the bright, almost florescent coloring.
S: Beautiful smooth berries on the opening nose of raspberries and blueberries. Fresh muffins with a bit of maraschino cherry juice. It is the blueberries and raspberries that perfectly combine and shine the brightest here, juicy, eloquent and of moderate strength to provide a fine aromatic experience. Very clean and defined.
T: The flavor was tart and smooth, again the blueberries and raspberries most dominate and defining, eloquent in their combination and strength. Some fresh muffin, lemon zest, with a good serving to sea salt. Some cherries, stone fruit, and a jam like fruitiness, fireweed being the first to come to mind (only true Alaskans can appreciate).
M: Smooth creamy wheat mouthful, dry and soft.
O: Overall very bold in flavor sourness per style. Exhibits a lot of fine qualities found in the higher grade sours at much higher prices. An eloquent brewing process, smooth tartness and pronounced flavor of raspberries and blueberries makes for outstanding consideration. Very high likeability, and complexity.
Sep 30, 2020S: Beautiful smooth berries on the opening nose of raspberries and blueberries. Fresh muffins with a bit of maraschino cherry juice. It is the blueberries and raspberries that perfectly combine and shine the brightest here, juicy, eloquent and of moderate strength to provide a fine aromatic experience. Very clean and defined.
T: The flavor was tart and smooth, again the blueberries and raspberries most dominate and defining, eloquent in their combination and strength. Some fresh muffin, lemon zest, with a good serving to sea salt. Some cherries, stone fruit, and a jam like fruitiness, fireweed being the first to come to mind (only true Alaskans can appreciate).
M: Smooth creamy wheat mouthful, dry and soft.
O: Overall very bold in flavor sourness per style. Exhibits a lot of fine qualities found in the higher grade sours at much higher prices. An eloquent brewing process, smooth tartness and pronounced flavor of raspberries and blueberries makes for outstanding consideration. Very high likeability, and complexity.
Reviewed by stortore from Illinois
4.14/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.14/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16 ounce can into a stange glass. Had 9/7/20.
Pours a mostly pinkish orange color, cloudy, with a huge head of slightly pink creamy foam with excellent retention, and lots of foamy lacing. But that head and lacing fade to nothing. Aromas of raspberries, bright lemon, light yeast, some cherries, a little funk and tartness as it warms. Smells a little floral, has a general berry aroma. The flavor is sour and tart up front, with raspberries, some lemon, light sea salt. It’s fairly acidic. Tastes lightly floral and herbal. Smooth, a little dry, a very good lighter body, well carbonated.
Not a style I have often, but this a solid example of a Gose. The raspberries are the star and the lemon peel has a solid presence. Another interesting and unique offering from Nightmare. Very enjoyable.
Sep 16, 2020Pours a mostly pinkish orange color, cloudy, with a huge head of slightly pink creamy foam with excellent retention, and lots of foamy lacing. But that head and lacing fade to nothing. Aromas of raspberries, bright lemon, light yeast, some cherries, a little funk and tartness as it warms. Smells a little floral, has a general berry aroma. The flavor is sour and tart up front, with raspberries, some lemon, light sea salt. It’s fairly acidic. Tastes lightly floral and herbal. Smooth, a little dry, a very good lighter body, well carbonated.
Not a style I have often, but this a solid example of a Gose. The raspberries are the star and the lemon peel has a solid presence. Another interesting and unique offering from Nightmare. Very enjoyable.
Reviewed by DokiDokiLitFam from New Jersey
4.01/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.01/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a reddish pink with a dense two fingers of white/pink tinted head. Tight compact bubbles that dissipate quickly.
Nose is bright and tart. Not getting much fruit right away. Honestly reminds me a little like popcorn getting popped in the microwave sans the butter.
Taste is blueberry, raspberry, some sort of other very tart, dark berry, and tart citrus. This moves quickly over to strong crackery malt backbone. The tartness from this one is around a 3 out of 5.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. Bubbly and light. Not quite crisp though, as there is some left over sugar that sticks to the side of your mouth and teeth. Some cloying quality.
Overall a solid gose. Not my favorite from Nightmare but still enjoyable. I think Ling Chi is my favorite sour from them, with Windlass close behind, and when they come back in rotation with it, I'll give it a proper review, completing my Nightmare Brewing roster. For now...
Sep 02, 2020Nose is bright and tart. Not getting much fruit right away. Honestly reminds me a little like popcorn getting popped in the microwave sans the butter.
Taste is blueberry, raspberry, some sort of other very tart, dark berry, and tart citrus. This moves quickly over to strong crackery malt backbone. The tartness from this one is around a 3 out of 5.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. Bubbly and light. Not quite crisp though, as there is some left over sugar that sticks to the side of your mouth and teeth. Some cloying quality.
Overall a solid gose. Not my favorite from Nightmare but still enjoyable. I think Ling Chi is my favorite sour from them, with Windlass close behind, and when they come back in rotation with it, I'll give it a proper review, completing my Nightmare Brewing roster. For now...
Reviewed by hopsputin from New Jersey
3.88/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.88/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
a: cranberry colored with a hint of ruby red and purple. no real head to speak of
s: super tart cranberries, lemons, cherries, and a touch of vinegar. big note of crackers. some lemongrass and lemon juice at the end
t: lemons and tart cranberries. a touch of cherry, and some salt water. a little bit of raspberries sourness and a hint of peach and nectarine
m: lighter mouthfeel, with high carbonation - though, no head
o: a pretty interesting Gose. the sour berries add a nice layer of complexity to this, but it's not overly complex and still keeps the basics of the style
Aug 09, 2020s: super tart cranberries, lemons, cherries, and a touch of vinegar. big note of crackers. some lemongrass and lemon juice at the end
t: lemons and tart cranberries. a touch of cherry, and some salt water. a little bit of raspberries sourness and a hint of peach and nectarine
m: lighter mouthfeel, with high carbonation - though, no head
o: a pretty interesting Gose. the sour berries add a nice layer of complexity to this, but it's not overly complex and still keeps the basics of the style
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