A visit from Goose Island

After reading an article on the small but growing craft beer scene in an airline magazine, Goose Island Brewing owner and founder John Hall decided Chicago needed some local beer.  He opened their Clybourn brewpub in May of 1988, a production brewery in 1995 and a second brewpub in Wrigleyville in 1999.  They currently distribute their brews to 15 states and the United Kingdom, including their highly anticipated yearly Bourbon County Stout release.  First made in 1994 to celebrate the 1000th batch at their Clybourn brewpub, BCS is a beer geek favorite and the grandfather of bourbon barrel aging. When they first took it to the Great American Beer Festival, attendees didn't know what to make of it, but they liked it, as it was gone after the first day of the four-day festival. It's creation began a revolution of how big beers are made in the US and bourbon barrel aged brews are now such a staple that US breweries without one are few. They've recently focused more on Belgian styles and were one of the first US breweries to use brettanomyces yeast with the release of their Belgian Pale Ale, Matilda. They are now creating a dizzying array of brews across all styles.

Despite selling a 35% stake to Widmer Brothers Brewing of Portland, Oregon, in 2006, the Hall family continues to run the business, and we are excited to have Goose Island's Senior Brewer, John J. Hall in store this Friday, July 16th from 5-7PM. John will be hanging out in our tasting room to talk about all things Goose Island or just beer in general. Whether you are a home brewer with a specific question or just curious about what Goose Island has coming in the near future, stop by to bend his ear. 

UPDATE: For those of you on the fence about coming, we will be pouring samples of 2007 Pere Jacques, 2007 Demolition, 2008 Matilda and a limited amount of Juliet, their Belgian Sour Ale.  I hope that makes your decision easier.