Goose Island Lolita 765ML

Goose Island Lolita 765ML is a Belgian-style pale ale fermented with wild yeast and aged on raspberries in French oak wine barrels, bottled at 9% ABV. This limited-release sour ale earned a 96-point score in a blind taste test conducted by BJCP-certified judges for Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine, placing it among the most acclaimed American wild ales available.

Quick Facts: ABV: 9.0%  |  Origin: Illinois, United States  |  Barrel-Aged Sour Ale  |  Brewery: Goose Island Beer Company

Production & Heritage

Goose Island Beer Company was founded in 1988 by John Hall in Chicago, Illinois, and has operated under the Anheuser-Busch InBev umbrella since 2011. Lolita is a flagship expression in Goose Island's celebrated barrel program: a Belgian-style pale ale inoculated with wild yeast strains, then aged for eight months or more in French oak Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. Each barrel receives over 50 pounds of fresh raspberries, triggering a spontaneous secondary fermentation that drives the beer's signature tartness and fruit complexity. The result sits at the intersection of American craft brewing ambition and Old World wild ale tradition.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh raspberries dominate the nose immediately, layered with floral notes and bright jammy fruit. Beneath the berry character, subtle hints of red wine tannin and French oak emerge as the beer warms in the glass.

Taste: The entry is sharply tart with vibrant raspberry and black cherry, quickly joined by a honeyed sweetness and bready malt backbone at mid-palate. As the sip develops, tannic red wine qualities surface alongside light oak, lemon zest, and a subtle almond-like nuttiness from the wild yeast fermentation. The acidity is assertive but measured, never overwhelming the fruit.

Finish: The finish is dry and puckering, with lingering sour raspberry and a faint barnyard funk that recalls traditional Belgian lambic. Oak tannins provide structure, while a whisper of strawberry sweetness fades slowly.

How to Drink Lolita

Lolita is best served at cellar temperature (50–55°F) in a tulip glass or wine goblet to concentrate its aromatic complexity. Pouring with care preserves any bottle-conditioned sediment at the bottom. For cocktail-adjacent serves, try a Berliner Shandy — Lolita topped with a splash of elderflower lemonade to amplify the floral notes. A Sour Beer Spritz pairing equal parts Lolita with sparkling water and a lemon twist works as a refreshing warm-weather drink. A Wild Ale Mimosa — Lolita blended with a small pour of fresh orange juice — leverages its natural acidity for a brunch-worthy alternative to sparkling wine.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who collects barrel-aged releases
• Pairing with a curated cheese board at a dinner party
• Celebrating a special occasion with a wine-crossover beer experience
• Adding depth to a sour ale tasting flight alongside lambics and gueuzes

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Lolita taste like? Lolita delivers tart raspberry and black cherry upfront, supported by red wine tannins, light oak, and a funky wild yeast character. The acidity is prominent but balanced by a subtle bready malt sweetness and jammy fruit notes.

How does Lolita compare to Lindemans Framboise? Lindemans Framboise is a traditional Belgian raspberry lambic that tends to be noticeably sweeter and lower in ABV (around 2.5%), making it more of a dessert-style beer. Lolita is drier, more complex, and significantly stronger at 9% ABV, with French oak barrel character and a more aggressive tartness that appeals to sour ale purists.

Is Lolita good for sipping on its own? Lolita is designed as a contemplative sipping beer, best enjoyed slowly at cellar temperature to let its layered fruit, oak, and wild yeast flavors fully develop in the glass.

Where is Lolita made? Lolita is brewed by Goose Island Beer Company in Chicago, Illinois. The barrel-aging and raspberry fermentation take place at Goose Island's barrel warehouse facility, where the brewery manages one of the largest barrel programs in American craft brewing.

What foods pair well with Lolita? Aged goat cheese or chèvre complements the beer's tartness. Roasted duck with cherry reduction mirrors its fruit-forward profile. Dark chocolate truffles contrast the acidity with richness. A charcuterie board with prosciutto and fig jam bridges the sour and sweet elements. Fresh berry tarts or raspberry panna cotta echo the core fruit character without competing with it.

What sizes does Lolita come in? Lolita is primarily available in the 765ml bottle format, a size commonly used for Goose Island's barrel-aged and specialty releases.

Is Lolita worth the price? Lolita positions as a premium specialty release within the American sour ale category, reflecting its extended barrel aging, whole-fruit fermentation, and limited production. For drinkers who appreciate wild ales and Belgian-inspired sours, it delivers complexity that justifies its place in the upper tier of domestic sour beer pricing.

Why Lolita?

A 96-point blind taste score from BJCP-certified judges is not easily earned, and it speaks to the technical precision behind this beer. The combination of wild yeast fermentation, eight-plus months in French oak Cabernet Sauvignon barrels, and over 50 pounds of fresh raspberries per barrel creates a layered drinking experience that few American sour ales replicate at this level of consistency. Lolita bridges the gap between Belgian framboise tradition and modern American barrel-aging craft in a way that rewards patient, attentive drinking. Within Goose Island's acclaimed barrel program, it remains one of the most distinctive fruit-forward expressions the brewery produces.