Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Sofie, Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale


Goose Island Beer Company


Tonight I am trying a brew that I have been looking forward to. We had this brew on tap at work when I first started and I was not able to try it before it sold out. I have had many brews from this brewing company. Let's dive into the history of the brewery, before we talk about the brew for tonight. Goose Island Beer Company was founded in 1988. Goose Island is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.  Founder of Goose Island when travelling to Europe realized that every where he went in Europe they would try local brews. He was curious how that was not the case in the United States. After coming to the realization and researching, John Hall, created his brewery. That brewery is still around and still part of Goose Island. At the corner of Fulton & Wood streets in Chicago, the original brewery is a hub of innovation since its inception. Goose Island the spirit of experimentation is alive and employees throughout the company get a chance to come up with a new brew. 



In 1992, Goose Island Beer Company came up with the concept of the bourbon barrel aged beer, creating new excitement in the industry. This process is now something every brewery does and it started with the Goose Island Beer Company. If you get the chance make sure you check out the Bourbon County Series. 



Sofie Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale by Goose Island Beer Company


Now onto tonight's brew, something I have been wanting to try but haven't. Last year during Migration Week for Goose Island, I ran into Jack Blake and Jesse Valenciana, who introduced me to Juliet. Another one of Goose Island Beer Company's Vintage Ales Series. Which is something you should look for. I had the Matilda, which was a Belgian Style Pale Ale. I am trying another one of the Vintage Ales; Sofie. Sofie is a Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale. Vintage Ale series is the series that I have seen be cellared. Sometime people think beer and wine gets better with age. I am the impatient one and I wanted to try this brew, the year it was brewed. Sofie, I am trying tonight is from 2016 and has an alcohol by volume or ABV of 6.5% and and IBU or bitterness of 20. This brew is named after the founder, John Hall's granddaughter. 



Appearance of Sofie

The aroma is enticing, makes me want to drink it right away. The aroma I noticed was a zesty orange aroma that was blended into a spice note. The two are almost like a yin and yang. Neither is overpowering the other. I did notice the wine aroma in this brew, there is a dryness that is noticeable. The more and more I think about the spice aroma, the more I picked up on it subtlety. It's a white pepper note that blends with the orange zestiness. There is a sour note that almost gives off a champagne aroma. I believe that aroma comes from the yeast that was used in the brew. The appearance of Sofie is a pale golden hue. There is a lingering foam at the top of the glass, the foam is around an eighth of an inch at the top. There is some lacing around the edge of the glass. 


Now onto the taste of this brew. First thing I noticed was the belgian notes. I noticed a tart note at first that was followed up with a belgian funk note. The tart was the citric note from the orange/lemon. Belgian funk note was a subtle bubblegum note as well. I think the Belgian funk is noticeable because of this brew being a Belgian Style Farmhouse. I drank a little more and notice the dryness of the beer, that was rather enjoyable. The spice note that I found in the aroma is noticeable, but blends well into the citrus note. There is a crisp dryness that plays off of the aging in wine barrels that is noticeable in the taste. As I drank more of Sofie, I began to notice as warm mouthfeel and bubbliness as you finished your sip. There is a subtle fresh vanilla taste note that is the finishing note. Sofie has a medium body and is dry like a wine. 



Goose Island Beer Company, Vintage Ale, Sofie 


Overall, I found Sofie to be rather enjoyable and perfect ending to a hot day. If you are a Saison and Farmhouse Ale fan, this brew is a must try. The belgian addition to this brew is a welcomed addition to the style and makes me wish I had aged this brew. All the farmhouse notes were hit right on the head and the aging in wine barrels brought out subtleties that added to the profile of the farmhouse ale. I have seen people do a Sofie-Mosa. I think the way this beer is brewed and the noticeable dryness as it acts almost like a champagne, it makes sense to do a beermosa. It is almost like Sofie is like a fine wine that you want to enjoy over and over again, that is how much I enjoyed it. In addition make sure you look out for the Fulton & Wood series, I enjoyed their Bee Squad Saison. 

Check out Goose Island Beer Company on their website and social media:



SnapChat- Goose-Island 













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