Goose Island reconsidered

Why? Because I recently was advised to try goose island's Matilda and Sophie, both Belgian style ales which while having the same style name have nothing in common except exceptional brewing technique.

I don't know if goose island got another brewer or what, but these examples are far superior than the urban wheat 312 I had once upon a time.

Both shouldn't be drunk too cold. Both are well-balanced. The Matilda is pungent and earthy. You could drink it by itself to explore the odd tones or with earthy foods like game and mushrooms. The Sophie is a classic witbier. The citrus is present but not overwhelming. 6.5 ABV. Trying to move up from blue moon? Try the Sophie. Both are solid A's.

Dock Street Brews

Time:  rainy Sunday happy hour in April upper 60s F

Food:  thin crust wood-fired pizza

Beers: (F) Dock Street collection on tap (includes pils, wit, pale ale, IPA, porter)
DRAFT: YES

All the beers suffer from a lack of body and maturation.  The hops is all wrong as well -- for simplicity's sake, it's too hoppy, but actually, the hops is just unbalanced for the brews.  The only palatable beer is the wit, and even it is not anything to talk about.

The pizza, while more palatable, also suffers from a balance issue having a ratio of toppings which burdens the crust and creates sogginess.  The combo of toppings and the ingredients themselves are quite good -- it's just the balance thing.

A final remark: it's places like this that brew awful beer and offer mediocre fare, yet are packed thurs, fri and sat where I realize that we'll eat and drink pretty much anything.

Conclusion: don't waste your time -- better food and beer await elsewhere.

Southampton Double White Ale

Time:  Spring Afternoon in April, lower 70s F
Food:  Burger, Belgian fries, Sausage sandwich, mixed greens salad

Beer:  A / Southampton Double White Ale (Witbier)
Draft: YES

Regular disclaimer: Food always tempers a beer, so really I haven't met a beer that should be drunk without food.

Before the food, the wit was refreshing with spice notes -- overall a very nice white ale.  The beer only helped clear the palate while eating the burger (which was one of the best I've had in a long time).  


This double white (as it's name suggests) is higher in ABV than your average wit bier.  For those who need a little hop, this beer has none.


In conclusion, this is a brew to try more than once! 

UPDATE:

Purchased a case (reasonably priced for a microbrew), so have had many occasions to try this beer again.  Make sure one pours the yeast into the beer to impart the entire flavor.  Leave an inch of beer in the bottle when pouring, swish the bottle to unsettle the yeast at the bottom, and pour the remaining beer into the glass.


After several revisits, this beer is definitely a "spicy" white.  The spiciness needs food for balance, and my recommendation would be that this is not a beer to drink by itself.  That being said, for the price and quality, I would drink this double white over Hooegarden any day.