First Posted: 12/29/2014
Description– Matilda pours a golden sunrise color with frothy white head that leaves a thick lacing on the glass. The aroma is refreshing with notes of dried fruits such as lemon and apricot with hints of malts, earthy hops, and hints of spices and yeast. The taste follows the nose with added flavor depth. Sharp notes of bright lemons hit first with backing notes of wonderful tropical fruits which are quickly followed by sweet pale malts and spicy earthy hops along with hints of cloves. The yeast is also on display here bringing bright and spicy flavors to the beer which also aids in leaving behind a perfectly dry finish. The medium body and moderate carbonation give this beer a very vibrant feeling on the palate and enable it to have the wonderfully dry finish. Another absolutely world class beer from a world class brewery, a must try for fans of Belgian beers.
Food pairing– Matilda is a great beer to pair with a wide variety of dishes that will be served in any party environment. This is also the perfect beer to enjoy in lieu of champagne and also pairs nicely with many of the foods one would traditionally be enjoyed with champagne. Try pairing Matilda with wonderful seafood dishes such as mussels, clams, scallops, swordfish, or cod. The wonderful carbonation will cleanse the palate while hints of fruit and spice will match perfectly with the dishes. If you are looking for more of a contrasting dish try with pork belly, the fat of the dish will be cut by the wonderful carbonation while the rich caramelization when combined with the lighter malt bill will create an added flavor depth. Matilda is also a great beer to accompany many cheeses that will be enjoyed during the holiday season but goes especially well with cheeses such as Camembert and Brie.
The Final Word – Goose Island has long had a reputation for brewing world class beers. Matilda truly exemplifies the Belgian Pale Ale style and is an extremely approachable beer for all beer drinkers. The brewery has truly grown into a phenomenal brewery and has a beer lineup featuring some of the most sought after beers available today, including the amazing Bourbon County line of beers. While many breweries and beer drinkers are chasing “the next big thing” breweries like Goose Island prove that staying power truly comes from brewing great beers consistently and not from having one very popular beer. Another great facet of Matilda is its ability to age magnificently for up to five years adding to the variety of flavor complexities and over time having a more rounded flavor profile. A beer that truly gets better with age and a fantastic beer to have on hand to ring in the New Year.
Where can I get it?– Currently available in 12 oz. bottles at: J&H Beer- Plains Twp; Exit 190 Beer Deli- Dickson City; Wegman’s- Dickson City and Wilkes Barre; Georgetown Deli- Wilkes Barre. Also available on draft at: Backyard Alehouse- Scranton
Remember, enjoy responsibly.
