Rare Goose Island Vintage Reserve beers

December 2011

With 2011 drawing to a close we are excited to announce a final surprise from our friends at Goose Island Brewery in Chicago. We have released a limited quantity of Goose Island’s renowned Vintage Reserve beers rarely seen in the UK.

The American craft brewing movement takes a great deal of inspiration from the traditional brewing cultures of Belgium, Germany and the UK. Not content with mimicking these traditional styles they are creating their own variations with creativity at the core and Goose Island’s Vintage Reserve series is a great example of this: an American take on the traditional Belgian Sour Beer style or “new world” sour beers.

Two beers will be available Madame Rose and Lolita. Both beers are fermented with wild yeast strains that produce tart sour flavours and then barrel aged in wine barrels with cherries and raspberries respectively.

Brewers Notes:

Madame Rose:

Madame Rose is a crimson colored Belgian style brown ale fermented with wild yeast and aged on cherries in wine barrels. Layers of malty complexity, sour cherry, spice and wood notes make Madame Rose an ideal beer to suggest to Bordeaux enthusiasts and beer drinkers fond of Belgian Kriek and Flanders Brown Ales.

Food Pairings: Madame Rose pairs well with a wide variety of foods, her earthy tannin, rich malt and sour fruit character complement the richness of red meats and contrast with rich chocolate desserts.

Cheese Pairings: Firm cow milk cheese like aged cheddar

Cellaring Notes: Develops in the bottle for up to 5 years

World Beer Championships: Flemish Style Brown Ale (gold medal 2011)

Lolita:

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. The youthful Lolita also sat in French and American red wine barrels, but was accompanied by 50 pounds of Klug Farm raspberries. And the elegant Madame Rose mingled with 40 pounds of whole cherries from Klug and Seedling Farms for a total of 13 months.

Food Pairings: Lolita pairs well with a wide variety of foods, her bright jammy raspberry flavors complement light fresh flavors like salads or white fish while her sour notes contrast the richness of savory pork and chicken dishes.

Cheese Pairings: Soft goat milk cheeses like chevre Cellaring Notes: Develops in the bottle for up to 5 years

World Beer Championships: Belgian and Specialty Ale (platinum medal 2011)

Please note that quantities are limited. Stock will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Please contact us on 01422 377560 for more details.