Time for another review!!!!  For today’s craft beer review I’m going to be trying the Goose Island Sofie produced by the Goose Island Beer Company located in Chicago, Illinois.

This brew has always been one of my favorites from Goose Island and one that seems to appeal to a wide range of craft beer drinkers.

Let’s get to the website, gooseisland.com, and see what they have to say about it.

Fermented with wild yeasts and aged in wine barrels with orange peel, Sofie is a tart, dry, sparkling ale. A subtle, spicy white pepper note, a hint of citrus from the orange peel and a creamy vanilla finish make Sofie an intriguing choice for Champagne drinkers and beer drinkers who are fond of Belgian Saisons.

Nice!!!  Let’s drink.

This brew has an ABV of 6.5% and it comes in a 12 oz. bottle.

It poured a beautifully hazy, yellow/pineapple juice color.   A snow white head adorned the top of the liquid.  It was very soft, fluffy, soapy and large.  It maintained it’s size for a good long while and as it dissipated it left behind some solid lacing on the sides of the snifter.

The nose began by releasing a nice bit of funk and stinky wet hay.  Sound wafts of yeast and bread as well as some distinguished grassy notes.  Just a tad bit of orange citrus.  I actually discovered more lemon than orange I thought.  A firm scent of peppercorns came through later and really helped create a very well balanced and pleasing all around bouquet.  I like it.

The taste didn’t seem to be quite as forceful as the aroma.  The funk was minimized, however a gratifying, tarty profile started to emerge.  The orange citrus was noticed again, but like in the aroma, it was not extremely prevalent.  It also had a slight white wine similarity due to the discovery of some green grapes.  I’m assuming the wine barrels play a significant role in that as well.  As the brew warmed it started to dispense a firm dose of the yeast, “grassiness” and peppery spice.  Solid.

The mouthfeel was medium bodied.  A touch sharp, although crisp, dry and refreshing.  It had a lively, spritzy carbonation as well as a precise warmth from the peppercorns.  A good deal of flavor was left covering the palate long after the sip too.

I can easily see why the Goose Island Sofie is a favorite among beer drinkers.  It’s a reliable and dependable beer that really sets well with the Spring and Summer warmth.  Plus, it can be aged for up to 5 years for a nice vertical tasting.  The drinkability is outstanding and it has enough character to be contemplated for the entire session.  I know I like it and it’s a brew that I will continue to pick up on a regular basis.  What do you guys think of the Sofie?  Is it one of your favorites?  Feel free to leave a comment and let me know.

Thanks for reading everyone.  I really appreciate all of the support.

Until next time.  Cheers.

Score:  4.2 out of 5
Grade:  A-