Opened 1988 Website gooseisland.com Founder John Hall CEO John Hall (1988–) | Owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev Goose IPA India Pale Ale Founded 1988 | |
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Key people John Hall (founder)Brett Porter (Brewmaster)Jared Jankoski (Brewmaster) Parent organization Anheuser-Busch, Incorporated Profiles | ||
Goose Island Brewery is a brewery in Chicago, Illinois, that began as a single brewpub opened in 1988 in Lincoln Park, Chicago, and named after a nearby island. The larger brewery opened in 1995, and a second brewpub, in Wrigleyville, in 1999.
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In 2011, Goose Island was sold to Anheuser-Busch InBev.
Their beers are distributed across the United States and the United Kingdom, after a stake of the company was sold to Widmer Brothers Brewery in 2006, and the brewery was able to expand into different markets. The brewer began distributing Matilda west of the Rockies in March 2010. 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.
Greg Hall stepped down as brewmaster with the AB InBev purchase in 2011.
Brewpubs
Goose Island had two brewpubs which both serve brunch, lunch, and dinner. The 1800 N. 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 brewpub is 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 Wrigleyville location closed in September 2014, but reopened for the Chicago Cubs season in April 2015. It closed for good in November 2015, and its brewing equipment was removed.
The Goose Island brewpubs were not a part of the sale of Goose Island Beer Company to Anheuser Busch.
Tours
The brewery conducts tours at the Clybourn Brewpub on Saturday (12:30pm, 2pm, and 3:30pm) and Sunday (1pm and 2:30pm).
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.
In November 2008, Goose Island made news when its small batch of Bourbon County Stout became available for the first time in Western states. That Russian Imperial Stout is cask-conditioned in oak Bourbon barrels, which may include Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single barrel bourbon, 25-year-old Pappy Van Winkle bourbon," or Jim Beam Bourbon barrels.
Soda
For several years, the WIT Beverage Company licensed the Goose Island name for a craft soda line including Chicago Style Root Beer, Concord Grape, Spicy Ginger, Vanilla Cream, and Orange Cream. The branding was changed to WBC Craft Sodas following the expiration of the Goose Island licensing in 2013.