gose: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low / SpecializedSpecialized / Informal
Quick answer
What does “gose” mean?
A type of sour German wheat beer, traditionally brewed with salt and coriander.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of sour German wheat beer, traditionally brewed with salt and coriander.
Any modern craft beer or beverage inspired by the traditional sour, saline style of beer.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling is identical; usage is equally niche in both varieties. US craft beer culture may use the term more frequently and broadly for various 'gose-style' or 'fruited gose' beers.
Connotations
Connotes artisanal, craft, or specialty brewing. May imply a tart, refreshing, and slightly salty flavour profile.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general discourse. High frequency within the specific domain of craft beer enthusiasts, brewers, and reviewers.
Grammar
How to Use “gose” in a Sentence
[drink/enjoy] a gose[brew/make] a gose[describe] [something] as a goseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gose” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- This Leipzig gose has a perfect balance of sourness and salinity.
- He's an expert on historical German gose.
American English
- I'll have a mango gose, please.
- The brewery's gose won a gold medal at the festival.
adverb
British English
- None (not standard).
American English
- None (not standard).
adjective
British English
- The gose character was evident in its tart finish.
- A gose-style beverage.
American English
- They make a great gose beer with local sea salt.
- It's a gose-inspired hard seltzer.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the business of craft breweries, marketing, and beverage distribution.
Academic
Used in historical, cultural, or food science studies related to brewing traditions.
Everyday
Rarely used outside of conversations about beer.
Technical
Used in brewing science, recipe formulation, and beer judging guidelines (e.g., BJCP).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gose”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gose”
- Pronouncing it like 'goes' (/ɡoʊz/); correct is 'GO-zuh' (/ˈɡoʊzə/).
- Misspelling as 'ghose' or 'goze'.
- Confusing it with 'geuze' (a Belgian lambic beer).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Gose' is pronounced 'GO-zuh' (/ˈɡoʊzə/), with a clear final schwa sound, unlike 'goes' (/ɡoʊz/).
Both are sour beers. Gose is German, wheat-based, brewed with salt and coriander, and often top-fermented. Lambic is Belgian, spontaneously fermented with wild yeast, and typically aged in wooden barrels.
No, it is a specific style. Using it as a general term is incorrect within beer culture, though some may use it loosely in marketing. The general term is 'sour beer'.
No, it is a low-frequency, specialized term. You will only encounter it in contexts related to beer, brewing, or food and drink reviews.
A type of sour German wheat beer, traditionally brewed with salt and coriander.
Gose is usually specialized / informal in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"GOse" tastes like it "GOes" with a pinch of salt (think: goes -> gose).
Conceptual Metaphor
BEER IS A LANDSCAPE (sour, salty, refreshing).
Practice
Quiz
What is a defining characteristic of a traditional gose?