Gose is the ultimate summer beer

After IPAs and stouts, Gose could well be the next big beer thing. Even non-beer drinkers are fans (yup, it’s me). Thinking: ‘Gose beer, for goodness’ sake: what is that?’, don’t be embarrassed and read on.

I had never heard of Gose beer either. Until I drank a bottle of Oedipus Swingers. Quirky bottle, incredibly fresh contents. Incredibly delicious. It turned out to be Gose. All my life I thought I didn’t like beer, only to discover that I had simply never found a beer style that could convince me. Gose, then.

Sour wheat beer

Gose isn’t new, by the way. It has been brewed in Germany since the Middle Ages. Gose is a beer style that originated near Leipzig, in Goslar, a small town through which the Gose River flows. The beer was named after it. It is a sour wheat beer traditionally brewed with salt and coriander seeds. Oedipus Swingers is Dutch beer and is made with sea salt, but without coriander. (Good news for the coriander haters among us!). Lemon, lime and orange peel have also been added to the beer. The result is a refreshingly sour beer with citrus notes and a slightly salty finish.

Women’s beer?

Thanks to its fresh, slightly salty taste and, oh joy!, low alcohol content, Gose seemed like the ideal women’s beer to me. But when I suggested that to Bas Visser of Oedipus, I was almost knocked out with my empty bottle. Bas: “Women’s beer doesn’t exist! Beer is simply a drink with a huge range of flavours, and within that spectrum everyone can find their own taste. Gose does bridge the gap to flavours found in white wine, such as citrus, acidity and few bitter notes. If you like white wine, you’ll appreciate this beer more quickly too. What’s more, this beer has barely any bitter notes, and bitterness is often the biggest objection among people who don’t like beer.”

Ideal summer beer

Okay, so it isn’t women’s beer. What is it, then? The ideal summer beer. Its freshness makes it perfect to drink on a beautiful warm day. Add to that the low alcohol content (Swingers contains only 4% alcohol) and you’ll understand my enthusiasm.

Beer to pair with food

Still not convinced? Gose also goes very well with food. In fact, beer pairing is quite the trend. Try Swingers with oysters. The citrus notes in the beer take on the role of the lemon that is normally served with an oyster. The oyster, in turn, brings out the beer’s salty notes beautifully. Your summer evening won’t get any better. Promise.

Image: Michelle Piergoelam

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