My friends, I give you…..Goose Island Lolita Belgian Style Wild Ale. I’ve heard some good things about this beer, good things indeed. Still, I’ve been a bit hesitant to buy it because it’s so pricey-$19.99 for a 765 ML bottle at Total Wine. That’s 77 cents an ounce, and for that price (actually less) I can get quite a few assorted Belgian ales from Belgium rather than one form Illinois.

Then it happened, though. I saw Goose Island Lolita on tap at my local Taco Mac one fine Sunday while watching a Patriots game. It was $9 for 11-ounces, or 82 cents an ounce, so not really more expensive than the bottle to have it on tap. So, I went for it.

I’m glad I did. I was heartily impressed with Lolita and its funky, sour fruity flavors. It was very refreshing indeed and matched favorably with Belgian wild ales/sours/lambics. Favorably for an American beer anyway; it won’t be taking the place of Rodenbach, Liefman’s or Boon beers, but it is a fine enough complement (and compliment when you think of it) that I’m now anxious to try the similar Belgian-inspired beers in the Goose Island lineup.

From the website:

Lolita is a pink rose colored Belgian style pale ale fermented with wild yeast and aged on raspberries in wine barrels. Aromas of fresh raspberries, bright jammy fruit flavors and crisp, refreshing body make Lolita ideal for beer drinkers fond of Belgian Framboise.

Ingredients, also from the website:

Hops: Golding Celeia, Pilgrim, Saaz , Styrian

Malts: 2-Row, Caramel, Sugar

Goose Island Lolita has an alcohol content of 8.7% by volume with 32 IBUs. Here’s what I thought of it:

Goose Island Lolita Belgian Style Wild Ale pours to a hazy pinkish color with almost no head formation and a very appetizing dry sour funky yeasty nose. Taking a sip, I get the very tart raspberry fruit along with more funky, wild yeast notes, subtle almondy notes, and a puckering sour finish.

I found the beer to be very well done and very delicious. I drank it without food, but could imagine this as a great accompaniment to prime rib or, perhaps even better, a holiday turkey. Would I buy it again? At the price not as much as I might otherwise, but I would be hard-pressed to say I would never buy this beauty again. I'll give it 4 1/2 stars, less 1/2 for the high price in the bottle.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

(G)=Growler

 

 



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