Beer Me! — Goose Island Beer Company — Chicago, Illinois, United States

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Goose Island Beer Company

(Anheuser-Busch InBev)

Not open to the public (as far as I know)

1800 West Fulton Street
Chicago IL 60612
Telephone: +1 312-226-1119
Toll-Free: +1 800-466-7363
Brewer: Brett Porter
[Contact] [Map] [Update]

Notes

Opened: 1995

Annual Production: 130,000 bbl

Contributor: Diane Crawford

Baderbräu and Wolaver's are brewed here, along with the full line of Goose Island draft and bottled beers and soft drinks. The Nut Brown Ale was discontinued in 2010, but it returned in 2012.

Updated: May 19, 2013

News

2012-11-16: John Hall to leave Goose Island as CEO (Chicago Tribune)
2012-08-25: Chicago's Goose Island beers going national (Sacramento Bee)
2012-07-03: How A-B InBev has changed Goose Island over the last year (BeerPulse)
2012-03-12: Office Space: Goose Island brewer (Chicago Tribune)
2011-07-29: Named for Chicago, but Goose Island's 312 to be brewed in New York (Chicago Tribune)
2010-11-24: New Goose Island Beer Costs $45/Bottle (My FOX Chicago)
2010-10-25: Goose Island to brew at ‘partner’ brewery Redhook (ProBrewer)
2010-04-08: Goose Island Beer Co.: (Hex) Nut Brown Ale and Oatmeal Stout (Goose Island Beer Company)
2010-02-02: Goose Island launches new eco-friendly beer but how does it taste? (Chicago Tribune)
2010-01-26: Franklin Square: Beer-and-food pairing (Explore LI)
2009-01-15: Goose Island goes to DC (Chicago Business News)

Beer List

312 Urban Wheat Ale

English-Style Summer Ale

4.00% abv.
Awards:
- Gold Medal, 2010 Great American Beer Festival
- Bronze Medal, 2008 Great American Beer Festival
- Gold Medal, 2006 Great American Beer Festival
- Date: January 19, 2008 (#6832)
  
  Package: bottled
  
  Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE
  
  Score: 19 points
  
  Appearance (3)
  Golden. Slight haze. Low head.
  
  Aroma (4)
  Fruity hops. Lots of wheat malt.
  
  Mouthfeel (9)
  Light body, smooth. Big sweet wheat malt character. Clean fruity hop flavor with a very low bitterness.
  
  Overall Impression (3)
  Good clean beer, just a bit sweet.

Baderbräu Pilsener

American-Style Lager

Date: May 12, 1998 (#2782)

Package: bottled

Place: Siebel Institute of Technology, Chicago IL

Score: 13½ points

Overall Impression
Golden, high carbonation, moderate head. Malty aroma, some diacetyl. Medium body, sulfury, sweet.

Big John

Imperial Stout

11.50% abv.

Awards:

Gold Medal, 2011 Stockholm Beer Festival

Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout 2010

Coffee Flavored Beer

13.00% abv.

Date: May 29, 2010 (#8236)

Package: bottled

Place: Brix, Omaha NE

Score: 19½ points

Appearance (3)
Black. Moderate dense head.

Aroma (3½)
Alcohol. Wood. Whisky.

Mouthfeel (10)
Thick, malty, roasty. Lots of oak, coconut. Less alcohol in the mouth than in the nose.

Overall Impression (3)
Tasty and complex and dangerously smooth.

Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout 2013

Coffee Flavored Beer

13.00% abv.

Date: April 18, 2013 (#9050)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Stony Brook, Omaha NE

Score: 20 points

Appearance (3)
Black. Almost no head.

Aroma (4)
Big coconut. Mild sweet dark malt, some whisky.

Mouthfeel (10)
Thick and chewy, moderate carbonation. Rich malt flavor, nicely roasty, with nice coffee undertones. Mild whisky character grows through the finish. Surprisingly only slightly warming.

Overall Impression (3)

Bourbon County Brand Stout 2007

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

13.00% abv.

Date: December 8, 2007 (#6732)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 19 points

Appearance (3)
Black. No head.

Aroma (3)
Ferocious alcohol and lots of oak.

Mouthfeel (10)
Massive. Black. Strong. Lots of vanilla.

Overall Impression (3)
A very tasty and complex sipping beer!

Bourbon County Brand Stout 2008

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

13.00% abv.

Date: November 21, 2008 (#7552)

Package: draught

Place: Max & Joe's Belgian Beer Tavern, Omaha NE

Score: 20 points

Appearance (3)
Black. Dense brown (or white) head.

Aroma (4)
Whiskey. Coconut.

Mouthfeel (10)
Massive. Sweet and black and strong. Lots of oak, vanilla, whiskey, and malt.

Overall Impression (3)
Incredibly intense, and still very well-balanced and enjoyable. Fantastic beer! Bill paid $210 for a ⅙-barrel of this beer; he sold 4-ounce pours for $3²⁵ and 8-ounces for $6⁰⁰, and it was worth every penny.

Bourbon County Brand Stout 2009

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

13.00% abv.

Date: April 1, 2010 (#8189)

Package: bottled

Place: Brix, Omaha NE

Score: 19½ points

Appearance (3)
Black. Low head.

Aroma (3½)
Huge coconut. Intense bourbon.

Mouthfeel (10)
Massive. Malty and black with a huge oak-coconut flavor. Nice alcohol bite, but it doesn't burn. Real nice balance.

Overall Impression (3)
Real tasty beer.

Bourbon County Brand Stout 2010

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

Awards:

Bronze Medal, 2010 Great American Beer Festival

Bourbon County Brand Stout 2012

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

15.00% abv.

Date: December 30, 2012 (#8995)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Stony Brook, Omaha NE

Score: 20 points

Appearance (3)
Black. Low brown head.

Aroma (4)
Whiskey. Coconut. Malt and alcohol.

Mouthfeel (10)
Thick, smooth. Fiercely malty, with lots of coconut and whiskey.

Overall Impression (3)
Remarkably strong and remarkably well-balanced.

Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout 2010

Herb and Spice Beer

Christmas Ale

American-Style Brown Ale

6.20% abv.

Awards:

Bronze Medal, 2010 World Beer Cup

Date: February 11, 2001 (#3767)

Package: bottled

Place: Woodman's Food Market #20, Green Bay WI

Score: 18 points

Overall Impression
Deep dark red, high carbonation, thick head. Earthy, roasty, faint allspice aroma. Medium body, lots of dark caramel malt, fairly roasty, very drying. Some allspice in the finish.

Demolition

Belgian-Style Pale Strong Ale

8.00% abv.

Awards:

Silver Medal, 2009 Great American Beer Festival

Date: February 9, 2007 (#6313)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Columbus, Columbus NE

Score: 18 points

Appearance (3)
Golden, some haze. Incredibly high carbonation. Thick head.

Aroma (3)
Malty, fruity, spicy, alcoholic.

Mouthfeel (9)
Big really smooth body. Nowhere near as fizzy as it looks. Hugely malty and fruity. Mild alcohol character. Fruity esters and fruity hops, but not at all bitter. Very Tripel-like.

Overall Impression (3)
Bottle conditioned. The label says it will age for five years, and I believe it.

Fleur

Herb and Spice Beer

5.20% abv.

Date: July 30, 2011 (#8610)

Package: draught

Place: Max & Joe's Belgian Beer Tavern, Omaha NE

Score: 16 points

Appearance (3)
Bright golden-amber. Dense head.

Aroma (3)
Mildly tart, mildly biscuity.

Mouthfeel (8)
Medium body, creamy. Very mildly tart on top of a nicely biscuity malt flavor. Some fruitiness toward the end.

Overall Impression (2)
"Belgian style pale ale blended with hibiscus and kombucha tea"

Green Line

American-Style Pale Ale

Harvest Ale

American-Style (Extra Special) Strong Bitter

Awards:

Bronze Medal, 2011 Great American Beer Festival

Date: January 28, 2010 (#8122)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 16½ points

Appearance (3)
Amber. Slight haze. Big head.

Aroma (3)
Big fruity hops. Mildly toasty.

Mouthfeel (8)
Medium body, low carbonation. Biscuity malt, toasty, with fruity hops. Moderate bitterness lingering in the finish.

Overall Impression (2½)

Honker's Ale

Classic English-Style Pale Ale

Awards:

Bronze Medal, 2006 World Beer Cup
Bronze Medal, 2003 Los Angeles County Fair Competition

Date: August 30, 2002 (#4396)

Package: bottled

Place: Beer Club International

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression
Bright amber, moderate carbonation and head. Fairly citrusy aroma with quite a bit of caramel. Light-medium body, nice citrus hop flavor and mild bitterness. Toasty-caramelly malt base.
Date: October 28, 2001 (#3953)

Package: draught

Place: Goose Island - Lincoln Park, Chicago IL

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression
Bright amber-brown, thick head. Mildly toasty aroma. Medium body, big toasty malt flavor, very nice herbal hop flavor and bitterness.
Date: May 12, 1998 (#2770)

Package: bottled

Place: Siebel Institute of Technology, Chicago IL

Score: 15 points

Overall Impression
Amber, moderate carbonation and head. Berry fruitiness in the nose. Medium body, lots of caramel, lots of fruitiness, fairly bitter and drying. A little cheesy.

Imperial IPA

Imperial or Double India Pale Ale

9.00% abv.

Date: November 2, 2012 (#8967)

Package: draught

Place: Jake's Cigars and Spirits, Omaha NE

Score: 18½ points

Appearance (3)
Copper-amber, very hazy. Big thick head.

Aroma (4)
Fresh spicy hops on top of mild malt.

Mouthfeel (9)
Medium body, mildly fizzy. Really malty with lots of fruity, spicy, reasonably bitter hops. Nicely bitter, nicely malty, nicely complex, not overwhelming at all.

Overall Impression (2½)

India Pale Ale

English-Style India Pale Ale

Awards:

Gold Medal, 2012 Great American Beer Festival
Gold Medal, 2010 World Beer Cup
Silver Medal, 2009 Great American Beer Festival
Silver Medal, 2004 Great American Beer Festival
Gold Medal, 2004 Los Angeles County Fair Competition
Gold Medal, 2003 Los Angeles County Fair Competition

Date: June 12, 2009 (#7813)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Columbus, Columbus NE

Score: 18 points

Appearance (3)
Bright golden. Dense head.

Aroma (4)
Huge piney, fruity, mildly citrusy hops.

Mouthfeel (9)
Medium body, chewy. Good malt background behind lots of fruity, fairly bitter hops. Clean finish.

Overall Impression (2)
Date: February 6, 2004 (#5209)

Package: draught

Place: Oblio's, Oshkosh WI

Score: 17 points

Overall Impression
Bright amber. Nice thick head. Fruity — grape? — aroma, and big spicy Centennial hops! Medium body, low carbonation. Huge fruity hop flavor, reasonably bitter. Fairly sweet, too. Actually really pretty sweet.
Date: August 31, 2002 (#4399)

Package: bottled

Place: Festival Foods, Oshkosh WI

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression
Golden amber, moderate carbonation, thick head. Fresh spicy hop aroma. Big body, richly malty. Hop flavor is spicy, but surprisingly mild, as is the bitterness.
Date: April 9, 1998 (#2721)

Package: bottled

Place: Sam's Wine and Spirits, Chicago IL

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression
Golden-amber, very low carbonation, thick head. Sweet, grapefruit aroma. Medium body, great big citrusy hop flavor. Reminds me a lot of Anchor Liberty.

King Henry Barleywine Ale

Barley Wine-Style Ale

13.40% abv.

Date: December 31, 2011 (#8691)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Stony Brook, Omaha NE

Score: 19 points

Appearance (3)
Brown-black. Low head.

Aroma (3)
Sweet, malty, dark. Maple sugar. Some alcohol.

Mouthfeel (10)
Hugely chewy. Incredibly rich malt character. Coconut. Alcohol. Dates and chocolate. Oaky finish is surprising clean.

Overall Impression (3)
Excellent complex beer that will repose comfortably in my cellar.

Lolita

Garden (Fruit) Beer

9.00% abv.

Awards:

Silver Medal, 2010 World Beer Cup

Date: March 9, 2012 (#8744)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Stony Brook, Omaha NE

Score: 14 points

Appearance (3)
Bright red-brown. Low-moderate head.

Aroma (2½)
Raspberries. Mildly spicy.

Mouthfeel (7)
Light body, fizzy. Raspberries and Brettanomyces.

Overall Impression (1½)

Matilda 2007

Other Belgian-Style Ale

7.00% abv.

Date: March 1, 2007 (#6357)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Columbus, Columbus NE

Score: 18 points

Appearance (3)
Deep golden. Hazy. High carbonation, thick head.

Aroma (3)
Malty, spicy. Grainy and floral.

Mouthfeel (9)
Light body. MASSIVELY fizzy. Nice malt base. Lots of grassy hop flavor, fairly bitter. Great Belgian spiciness. Yeasy, hoppy finish, with some warming.

Overall Impression (3)
A couple of these bottles will go to the cellar!

Matilda 2011

Other Belgian-Style Ale

Mild Winter

Brown Porter

5.60% abv.

Date: January 1, 2009 (#7641)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 18½ points

Appearance (3)
Bright amber-brown. Dense head.

Aroma (3½)
Spicy, peppery. Tobacco leaves.

Mouthfeel (9)
Medium body, really creamy. Big toasty, mildly sweet malt character. Mild grassy, earthy hop flavor and bitterness. Clean finish.

Overall Impression (3)
Real good beer.

Naughty Goose

American-Style Brown Ale

5.20% abv.

Date: February 12, 2013 (#9016)

Package: draught

Place: Brass Monkey Sports Bar, Omaha NE

Score: 15½ points

Appearance (3)
Dark brown. Moderate head.

Aroma (3½)
Sweet, toasty. Biscuits.

Mouthfeel (7)
Light-medium body, fizzy. Lots of sweet, toasty malt. Big grassy hop flavor, fairly bitter.

Overall Impression (2)
"Naughty?"

Night Stalker Imperial Stout

Imperial Stout

11.70% abv.

Date: April 20, 2011 (#8515)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Stony Brook, Omaha NE

Score: 17 points

Appearance (3)
Black. Very low brown head.

Aroma (3)
Spicy, earthy hops. Dark chocolate.

Mouthfeel (9)
Thick, smooth. Malty, roasty, bitter. Earthy and grassy. Big grassy-bitter finish. Warming. More chocolate and licorice as it warms.

Overall Impression (2)

Nut Brown Ale (formerly Hex Nut Brown)

American-Style Brown Ale

Awards:

Gold Medal, 2010 World Beer Cup
Gold Medal, 2006 World Beer Cup

Date: March 12, 2008 (#6936)

Package: bottled

Place: Crescent Moon Ale House, Omaha NE

Score: 16 points

Appearance (3)
Deep dark red. Very high carbonation. Dense head.

Aroma (3)
Smoky, herbal — wet grass.

Mouthfeel (8)
Medium body, smooth. Really malty. Sweet and toasty and earthy.

Overall Impression (2)
Date: May 20, 1998 (#2809)

Package: bottled

Place: Siebel Institute of Technology, Chicago IL

Score: 12 points

Overall Impression
Deep red, thick head. Smells grainy. Medium body, sweet, dark, worty.

Oatmeal Stout (discontinued)

Oatmeal Stout

Date: July 12, 2003 (#4960)

Package: bottled

Place: Peabody's Ale House, Oshkosh WI

Score: 17 points

Overall Impression
Black. Thick brown head. Mild chocolate aroma, herbal. Medium body. Chocolatey and roasty. Drying at the end. Mild herbal hop flavor.
Date: May 30, 1998 (#2817)

Package: bottled

Place: from the brewery

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression
Deep red, good head. Very chocolatey, roasty aroma. Lots of coffee flavor, medium body, long bitter finish. Thanks, Matt!

Oktoberfest

American-Style Märzen/Oktoberfest

Awards:

Bronze Medal, 2004 Los Angeles County Fair Competition

Date: October 25, 2003 (#5122)

Package: bottled

Place: Woodman's Food Market #20, Green Bay WI

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression
Bright amber. Good head. Lots of Munich malt and noble hop aroma. Medium-big body. Richly malty all the way through. Fairly fizzy.

Pepe Nero

Herb and Spice Beer

6.00% abv.

Date: February 16, 2011 (#8470)

Package: draught

Place: Max & Joe's Belgian Beer Tavern, Omaha NE

Score: 18 points

Appearance (3)
Bright deep red-brown. Thick creamy head.

Aroma (3)
Smoky. Meaty, but not in a bad way — like a smoked brisket.

Mouthfeel (9)
Big & creamy. Dark, smoky, and earthy. Grassy hop flavor, low bitterness.

Overall Impression (3)
Rich, creamy beer.

Pere Jacques 2005

Belgian-Style Dubbel

Awards:

Silver Medal, 2004 Los Angeles County Fair Competition

Date: August 14, 2005 (#5754)

Package: bottled

Place: Liquid Solutions, Tigard OR

Score: 17½ points

Appearance (3)
Red-brown, opaque with powdery yeast. Moderate head.

Aroma (3)
Spicy, alcoholic, fruity, malty.

Mouthfeel (9)
Big creamy body, fairly high carbonation. Big earthy, smoky, mildly roasty character. Good malt flavor. Fairly fruity. Clean smoky finish.

Overall Impression (2½)

Pere Jacques 2011

Belgian-Style Dubbel

8.00% abv.

Date: April 23, 2011 (#8519)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Stony Brook, Omaha NE

Score: 16½ points

Appearance (3)
Brown, opaque. Low head.

Aroma (3)
Toasty and sweet.

Mouthfeel (8)
Thick and fizzy. Lots of chewy malt. Spicy. Mild plum flavor. Toasty, mildly bitter and grassy.

Overall Impression (2½)

Pils

Bohemian-Style Pilsener

Date: February 16, 2003 (#4685)

Package: bottled

Place: Woodman's Food Market #20, Green Bay WI

Score: 14 points

Overall Impression
Bright yellow, slight haze, short-lived head. Fruity hops aroma with grainy malt. Light body, moderate carbonation. Sweetly malty with lots of fruity hop flavor and not much bitterness at all.

Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout 2010

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer

13.00% abv.

Red Woody

Wood- and Barrel-aged Beer

Awards:

Silver Medal, 2009 Great American Beer Festival

Schwarzbier

German-Style Schwarzbier

Awards:

Bronze Medal, 2004 Great American Beer Festival

Sofie 2009

Belgian-Style Pale Ale

6.50% abv.

Date: January 20, 2010 (#8117)

Package: bottled

Place: Brix, Omaha NE

Score: 17 points

Appearance (3)
Golden. Opaque. Moderate head.

Aroma (3)
Spicy, fruity, with a hint of citrus.

Mouthfeel (9)
Medium body. Fizzy. Big citrus note up front, sort of like an American Double IPA without the bitterness. Big Belgian spiciness on a sweet grainy malty base.

Overall Impression (2)

Sofie 2010

Belgian-Style Pale Ale

6.50% abv.

Awards:

Bronze Medal, 2011 Great American Beer Festival

Date: January 13, 2011 (#8424)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Stony Brook, Omaha NE

Score: 17 points

Appearance (3)
Golden, hazy. Massive head.

Aroma (3)
Spicy, fruity. Dill.

Mouthfeel (9)
Medium-big body, creamy and very fizzy. Sweet malt behind a big tartness. Fruity and warming. Dill in the finish, with some citrus.

Overall Impression (2)
Nice complex beer. "80% Belgian style ale blended with 20% Belgian style ale aged in wine barrels with orange peel."

Sofie 2011

Belgian-Style Pale Ale

Date: June 23, 2012 (#8859)

Package: draught

Place: Crescent Moon Ale House, Omaha NE

Score: 17 points

Appearance (3)
Bright golden. Low head.

Aroma (3)
Oranges, lemons.

Mouthfeel (9)
Light body, fizzy. Sweet malt and lots of citrus. Very low bitterness. Sweet, clean, fruity finish.

Overall Impression (2)

Summertime Kölsch

German-Style Kölsch/Köln-Style Kölsch

Date: June 10, 2008 (#7094)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 17 points

Appearance (3)
Bright yellow. Big thick head.

Aroma (3)
Grainy. Mild grassy, fruity hops.

Mouthfeel (9)
Light body, smooth. Sweet, grainy malt. Mild noble hop flavor and bitterness in the finish.

Overall Impression (2)
Date: August 31, 2002 (#4397)

Package: bottled

Place: Beer Club International

Score: 14 points

Overall Impression
Bright golden, high carbonation, good head. Big fruity hop aroma. Light body, lots of fruity hop flavor all the way through. Mild maltiness and very mild bitterness.
Date: June 28, 1998 (#2938)

Package: bottled

Place: 1st Wines and Spirits, Allouez WI

Score: 15½ points

Overall Impression
Bright golden, nice head. Malty, slightly spicy aroma, with some diacetyl. Medium body, fruity, hint of bitterness. Malty finish.