Leipziger Gose

3.9

   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 15/20

Chad9976 (1454) - Albany, New York, USA - SEP 16, 2015

Leipziger Gose is an original old school, traditional gose from the land it was created. It’s not quite the same as the versions we’re used to here in the USA, though it’s not like it’s completely unfamiliar, either. This beer is a less flash and more substance, and it’s just as tasty as the American craft brews.

I poured an 11.2oz bottle into a flared snifter. There was no freshness date and it cost $4.79 ($0.42 per ounce).

Appearance: Pale orange hue with an extremely cloudy body. Initially pours to a large, bright white layer of foam but it mostly dissipates and leaves little lacing. For what it’s worth, this is the foamiest gose I’ve ever seen.

Smell: A light citrusy scent of orange and coriander. The bacteria presence is noticeable and gives the nose a bit of a tangy quality – but in a good way, of course.

Taste: Most brews of the style I’ve had tend to come out swinging, but this one is cool, calm and collected. I get a lovely orange and coriander flavor right away, along with a bit of a wheaty sensation. There’s a mild salty sensation that lingers in the background. Once the swig hits the apex, it punches the tongue with a dry bitterness and a light sourness. On the aftertaste there is a lingering sensation of tartness and a bit of sour. I also notice a distinct lemon/lime flavor as well. The flavor fades rather quickly, but what’s there is quite enjoyable. I don’t think anyone would be put off by this palette.

Drinkability: The best way to drink Leipziger Gose is on a hot summer’s day (or night) so that it can deliver on its performance promise of being refreshing and quaffable. At only 4.6% ABV, this is definitely what I would consider a session beer for the warmer months…. That is, if it weren’t so expensive and rare. This brewery should sell this in 500ml cans – it would sell a lot of units very quickly.

RATING: 8/10