Goose Island Brewery

Goose Island Beer Company

Industry	Alcoholic beverage
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois, USA
Products	Beer
Owner	Anheuser-Busch InBev
Website	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] This ownership being more than 25% by a non-craft brewer makes Goose Island a non-craft brewery. ^{[upper-alpha 1]}

The beers are distributed across the United States and the United Kingdom,^[4] 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.^[5] The brewer began distributing Matilda west of the Rockies in March 2010.^[6][7] 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.^[8]

Greg Hall will step down as brewmaster with the AB InBev purchase.^[2]

Brewpubs

Goose Island brewpub on Clybourn Ave.

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 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.^[9]

Tours

The brewery conducts tours at the Clybourn Brewpub on Saturday (12:30pm, 2pm, and 3:30pm) and Sunday (1pm and 2:30pm).

Products

Beer

Goose Island produces a number of beers that are available year-round, as well as some beers that are seasonal. At different times in the past, the brewery has produced dozens of other beers.^[10]

In November 2008, Goose Island made news when its small batch of Bourbon County Stout became available for the first time in Western states.^[11] That Russian Imperial Stout is cask-conditioned in oak Bourbon barrels, which may include Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single barrel bourbon,^[12] 25-year-old Pappy Van Winkle bourbon,"^[7] or Jim Beam Bourbon barrels.^[13]

Soda

In addition to the beer, Goose Island produces a craft soda line, which includes Chicago Style Root Beer, Concord Grape, Spicy Ginger, Vanilla Cream, and Orange Cream.^[14][15]

Awards

^[16][17]

References

Notes

Citations

External links

• Goose Island Beer Company Site