| Industry | Alcoholic beverage |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Products | Beer |
| Owner(s) | Anheuser-Busch InBev |
| Website | http://www.gooseisland.com/ |
Goose Island Brewery is a brewery located in Chicago, Illinois, that began as a single brewpub known as Clybourn, which was opened in May 1988 by John Hall in Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois. The larger brewery (as we know it today) was opened in 1995, while the second brewpub, Wrigleyville, was opened in 1999.[1] On March 28, 2011, Goose Island announced that it will sell its 58% stake in Fulton Street Brewery LLC (the legal name of Goose Island Brewing) to distribution partner Anheuser-Busch. The remaining 42% stake, owned by Craft Brewers Alliance LLC, is also to be purchased by Anheuser-Busch.[2]
Goose Island produces several year-round and seasonal styles of craft beer, the best-known of which are 312 Urban Wheat Ale and Honker's Ale. Goose Island also offers Root Beer and various sodas including Orange Cream and Grape soda. The beers are distributed across the United States and the United Kingdom,[3] after a large stake of the company was sold to Widmer Brothers Brewery in 2006, and the brewery was able to expand into different markets.[4] The brewer began distributing Matilda west of the Rockies in March 2010.[5][6] Goose Island outsources the production of some of its beers. Honker's Ale and IPA sold on the east coast is now brewed under contract in New Hampshire.[7]
In November 2008, Goose Island made news when its small batch of Bourbon County Stout became available for the first time in Western states.[8] That Russian Imperial Stout is cask-conditioned in oak Bourbon barrels, which may include Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single barrel bourbon, the "oldest Single Barrel Bourbon in the world at 18 years . . ." which loses nearly 2/3 of the Bourbon barrels contents into Angel's share.[9] See Brewing methods and Mash ingredient.
Greg Hall will step down as brewmaster with the AB InBev purchase.[10]
Contents |
Goose Island has two brewpubs which both serve brunch, lunch, and dinner. The Clybourn location has specialty food items, such as duck, rabbit, and truffle aioli served with your french fries. They serve anything from a burger and fries to homemade sausages and PEI Mussels. The Wrigleyville location serves mostly pub food like burgers, and chicken. The brewpubs are supplied by local farmers who raise natural meats, many of the animals are fed the same wheat and grain that was previously used to make the beer, as one sign reads "Beer Fed Pork Served Here."
The Goose Island brewpubs were not a part of the sale of Goose Island Beer Company to Anheuser Busch. [11]
The brewery conducts tours at the Clybourn Brewpub:
Saturday- 12:30pm, 2pm, and 3:30pm
Sunday- 1:30pm, 3pm, and 4:30pm
Tours are also available by special arrangement. These are popular and reservations are recommended. [12]
| Name | Style | ABV % | IBU | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 312 Urban Wheat Ale | Wheat ale | 4.2 | 20 | |
| Honkers Ale | Bitter | 4.2 | 30 | |
| India Pale Ale | India Pale Ale | 5.9 | 55 | |
| Nut Brown Ale | Brown ale | 5.3 | 25 | |
| Oatmeal Stout | Oatmeal stout | 5.1 | 30 | Retired |
| Matilda | Belgian ale | 7.0 | 32 | |
| Pere Jacques | Belgian strong ale | 8.0 | 26 | |
| Mild Winter | Mild ale | 5.6 | 28 | Seasonal—available November-December |
| Summertime | Kölsch | 4.7 | 20 | Seasonal—available March–August |
| Harvest Ale | Extra special bitter | 5.7 | 35 | Seasonal—available August–November |
| Christmas Ale | Old ale | 5.4 | varies | Seasonal—available November and December |
| Rare Bourbon County Stout | Imperial stout | 13 | 60 | Retired - One time release in 2010 |
| Imperial IPA | Imperial India Pale Ale | 9 | 85 | Retired |
| Night Stalker Stout | Imperial Stout | 11.7 | 60 | Available March only |
| Fleur | Belgian ale | 7.0 | 32 | Year Round |
| Imperial Brown Goose | American strong ale | 7.2 | 55 | Retired |
| Red Felt | Amber ale | 6.0 | 55 | Brewpub Only |
| Demolition | Belgian strong ale | 7.2 | 45 | Retired |
| Naughty Goose | Brown ale | 5.4 | 35 | Brewpub Only |
| Juliet | Sour ale | 6.7 | 15 | Available once a year |
| Sofie | Saison | 6.5 | 15 | Year Round |
These are only some of beers that have been brewed at the Clybourn microbrewery. Every Thursday the brewpub premieres a new beer to be served exclusively at their pub or at the Wrigleyville brewpub.
Willie's Small Beer, Bourbon County Coffee Stout, Fulton & Wood, Honest Stout, Willow Street White Ale, John the Younger, Lake-Effect Lager, La Deuxieme, Demolition 1800, Dead Goat Porter, Lincoln Park Lager, English Malt Porter, Hefeweizen, Old Aberration Barley Wine, Pilgrim Pale Ale, Doppelbock, Maduro, Russian Imperial Stout, Rotweizen, Dublin Stout, Rye Pale Ale (Rye.P.A) Special Pale Ale (S.P.A.), Extremely Naughty Goose, Golden Goose Pilsner, Dublin Stout, Smoked Bock, 21st Amendment Ale, Maibock, Wheatmiser, PMD Mild Ale, Celebration Red, Six, Saison, XXX Porter, Schwarzbier, S.O.B, Pivo, Oktoberfest, Midway IPA, Early Spring Brew, Bracket Buster IPA, Coffees and Cream, Chocolate Milk Stout, Standard Ordinary Bitter (S.O.B), Citrus, Dominique, Green Line Pale Ale and Midwest Coast Wheat.
In addition to the beer, Goose Island produces a craft soda, The Chicago Style Root Beer; and four natural craft sodas, including Concord Grape, Spicy Ginger, Vanilla Cream, and Orange Cream.[13][14]