Goose Island Brewery - Chicago, Illinois -- Beer Info

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 was opened in 1995, while the second brewpub, Wrigleyville, was opened in 1999.

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, 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.

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 barrels from Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single barrel bourbon, the "oldest Single Barrel Bourbon in the world at 18 years" and losing nearly 2/3 of the barrels contents into Angel's share.

Beers
Goose Island focuses primarily on traditional English-style ales and produces five year-round beers available in both bottles and on draft. The flagship brew, Honker's Ale, is a traditional English Bitter style beer. The other four year-round beers include the Nut Brown Ale, India Pale Ale, Oatmeal Stout, and 312 Urban Wheat. Goose Island also produces four seasonal beers. These include Summertime, a German Kölsch-style beer produced in the summer, Harvest Ale, an Extra Strong Bitter style beer produced in the fall, Christmas Ale, a Winter Warmer-style beer produced in the early winter months, as well as Kilgubbin Red Ale, an Irish Red produced from late winter through early spring. Goose Island also produced several limited-availability beers available during select times of the year. These include Pere Jacques, Demolition, Matilda, Imperial IPA, and Bourbon County Stout.

312 Urban Wheat
Densely populated with flavor, 312’s spicy aroma of Cascade hops is followed by a crispy, fruity ale flavor delivered in a smooth, creamy body. This gives 312 a balance of flavor and refreshment that never fills you up and won’t let you down.

Recipe Information
Style: Urban Wheat
Alcohol by Volume: 4.2%
International Bitterness Units: 20
Color: Hazy Straw
Hops: Liberty, Cascade
Malts: 2 Row, Torrified Wheat

Honker's Ale
Inspired by visits to English country pubs, Honker’s Ale combines a fruity hop aroma with a rich malt middle to create a perfectly balanced beer. Immensely drinkable, Honker’s Ale is not only the beer you can trust but one you’ll look forward to time and again.

Recipe Information:
Style: English Style Bitter
Alcohol By Volume: 4.2%
International Bitterness Units: 30
Color: Golden Sunset
Hops: Styrian Golding
Malts: 2 Row, Caramel, Wheat, Roasted Barley

India Pale Ale
The IPA recalls a time when ales shipped from England to India were highly hopped to preserve their distinct taste during the long journey. The result is a hop lover’s dream with a fruity aroma, set off by a dry malt middle, and long hop finish.
Recipe Information:
Style: English Style India Pale Ale
Alcohol by Volume: 5.9%
International Bitterness Units: 55
Color: Bourbon
Hops: Styrian, Fuggle, Cascade, Centennial
Malts: Pale

Nut Brown Ale
Brewed in the English tradition, our Nut Brown Ale combines the finest domestic and imported malts to produce a chestnut-hued ale of unusual complexity. Subtle notes of chocolate, honey and fine tobacco give this ale an enjoyable and satisfying “nutty” finish.

Recipe Information:
Style: English Style Brown Ale
Alcohol by Volume: 5.3%
International Bitterness Units: 25
Color: Chocolate
Hops: UK Fuggle, Willamette
Malts: 2 Row, Caramel, Wheat, Dark Chocolate, Victory

Oatmeal Stout
An aromatic blend of oats, chocolate and roast malts make up this classic English-Style Oatmeal Stout. A rich black over ruby hue and creamy tan head make our stout a memorable beer to behold.

Recipe Information:
Style: English Style Stout
Alcohol by Volume: 5.1%
International Bitterness Units: 30
Color: Ruby over Black
Hops: UK Fuggle, Willamette
Malts: 2-Row, Roasted Barley, Oat Flake, Barley Flake, Caramel, Debittered Black