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Goose Island Honkers Ale

Goose Island Honkers Ale

Rated 3.400 by BeerPals

Brewed by Goose Island Beer Company

Chicago, IL, United States

Style:  Extra Special Bitter

5% Alcohol by Volume

Availability of this beer is unknown


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Inspired by visits to English country pubs, Honker’s Ale combines a spicy hop aroma with a rich malt middle to create a perfectly balanced ale that is immensely drinkable. A smooth, drinkable English Bitter for those looking for more from their beer.

ID: 4331 Last updated 2 weeks ago Added to database 23 years ago

Key Stats

90
percentile

1

Drunk

89

Reviews

0

Likes

1 Member Photo


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Most noted beer attributes

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Statistics

Overall Rank5665
Overall Percentile89.8
Style Rank62 of 742
Style Percentile91.6
Lowest Score1.1
Highest Score4.7
Average Score3.413
Weighted Score3.400
Standard Deviation0.461

Rating Distribution

Beer vs Style

89 Member Reviews

Recent | Card View | Table View
WAY2LATE4THIS 8 reviews
rated 3.8 16 years ago

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Copper color. Small, short-lived head with slight lacing. Smells of pine and citrus. Very nice blend of hops and malt. Mild for an ESB. I try to drink local crafts when travelling on business. This did not disappoint.

  • TREBORIUS 308 reviews
    rated 3.4 4 years ago

    Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

    I have tried this beer both before the AB takeover and since, and can’t really detect any difference. The beer pours a slightly cloudy golden orange color with a thick creamy off-white cap that sticks around. Citrusy hops and biscuit malts are the strongest aromatics with notes of yeast and light fruit as well. Mouthfeel is average. Flavor leans toward the bitter side of the spectrum as the hops dominate the malt on the tongue.

  • MARTINSANDERS 361 reviews
    rated 3.4 6 years ago

    Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

    Can. Colour - clear rust colour, light tan coloured cap that sricks around, some lacing. Aroma - light notes of caramel and grapefruits, hints of cereal and grass. Mouthfeel - medium bodied, well carbonated. Flavour - well balanced between the caramel sweetness, tart fruit, and bitter hop finish.

  • JNE5HUSG 1814 reviews
    rated 2.9 6 years ago

    Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 5

    355 ml capped bottle. Poured a clear and reddish copper coloured ESB with a good two fingers beige and soapy foamy head that had a mid-sized retention and tons of micro bubbles. Soft carbonation. Some lacing. The aroma is mild caramel malts, faint citrussy hops, red fruits, strawberries and an unpleasant skunky feel. The flavour is caramel malts, biscuits, moderate citrussy hops, vegetables, cabbages and faint red fruits, strawberries. The mouthfeel is thin and light fizzy. The texture is watery. This light bodied ESB has a dry malty finish. This Goose Island Honker Ale offers quite nothing more that a light ABV, 4.3 % and an unexpected unpleasant skunky feeling. Where is the " Extra Special Bitterness " ? For me , clearly a disappointement.

  • PAULCARDOM 549 reviews
    rated 3.0 6 years ago

    Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

    An English style pale ale that seems more American in style. A clear copper pour with a light tan coloured foamy head. Aroma is caramel malts, light fruits, and a bit heavy on the citrusy hops for an English style ale. Flavour is nicely balanced between the caramel and citrus, but still not to style.

  • GIVMEBEER 795 reviews
    rated 3.4 8 years ago

    Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

    Nice copper colour pour with a two finger foamy head. Flavour has caramel, and biscuit malt, mild fruits, is slightly floral and metallic. Average mouthfeel for the style. Wet grass aroma.

  • CYRENAICA 2418 reviews
    rated 3.3 8 years ago

    Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

    473ml can
    4.3% ABV (as written on the can)
    Milton LCBO Outlet #1 (Milton, Ontario, Canada)
    February 22, 2016
    Brewed in Canada by the Labatt Brewing Company (a subsidiary of Anheusaer-Busch-InBev)
    The beer pours a translucent light copper colour with a generous foamy light tan coloured head. The aroma is biscuity malt, weak caramel, weak citrus, and earthy hops. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with average carbonation. Flavour is a mish-mash of caramel up front and citrus in the finish. Easy drinking, but nothing remarkable.

  • STANG 237 reviews
    rated 3.2 9 years ago

    Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

    this had a nice amber color with a little head with some lacing. aroma was average with some hop to it. caramel and malt tastes to it. left a lingering aftertaste for a bit as well.

  • VIPINVELP 2001 reviews
    rated 3.4 10 years ago

    Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

    Clear amber with off-white lacing foam head. Aroma is malty, little bitter, some wheat, some hay. Nice bitter ale, again some hay notes. (Velp 201409)

  • PALEALERIDER 2314 reviews
    rated 3.7 10 years ago

    Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

    Enjoyed on tap at D'Arcy McGee's just before seeing Al Pacino at Ottawa NAC. Pours a thin foamy cap and has an amber appearance. Decent sticky lacing. Aromas of malts, nuts, a bit of barley and earthy hops. Flavours are quite fruity, a bit of resin and mild citrus hops. Very light notes of caramel. Fruity taste is mainly citrus and some plums as well. Tingling sensation. Medium bodied mouthfeel.

  • BEERDOG 1556 reviews
    rated 3.8 10 years ago

    Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

    $7/pint at The Henry in Cloverdale last night, with my son. He bought! Copper pour, scant white head. Mild aroma, some malt. Lovely flavour, malt with underlying hops, tiny sweet finish. Really nice ESB, and eminently sessionable, although not at $7 a pop. First Illinois beer, too!

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