Goose Island

• 🏭 Founded in 1988 in Chicago by John Hall, Goose Island is one of the pioneers of the American craft movement. After a first brewpub in Lincoln Park, it opened a large brewery in 1995 and was acquired by AB InBev in 2011, becoming the first “craft” integrated into a major global group.
  
  
• 🍺 Iconic range: Goose IPA, 312 Urban Wheat Ale, Honkers Ale, Belgian saisons (Sofie, Matilda) and above all the legendary Bourbon County Brand Stout (1992), the first stout aged in bourbon barrels, released every year in highly anticipated limited editions (see the full article on the Bourbon County Brand Stout).
  
  
• 🎨 A sober and modern visual identity, centered on the iconic black goose of Chicago. A clear, effective, and recognizable style, applied to cans, bars, and merchandising worldwide.
  
  
• 🌍 International presence: distributed across all 50 U.S. states since 2012 and brewed in Europe through AB InBev facilities. Network of Goose Island Pubs and Taprooms in London, Toronto, São Paulo, Shanghai, Seoul, and beyond.
  
  
• 🏅 Awards and recognition: Bourbon County Stout considered a global benchmark for barrel-aging, Goose IPA regularly winning medals in international competitions, Goose Island ranked among the most influential breweries in the U.S. craft scene.
  
  
• 🚀 Growth and innovation: pioneer in barrel-aging, flash pasteurization to ensure quality, occasional collaborations, and community engagement (Migration Week, local initiatives). Goose Island continues to combine craft heritage with the power of a global group.
  
  
• 🍻 A few gems acclaimed on Untappd:
  • #1 (4.49/5) Bourbon County Brand Bardstown Cask Finish Stout (2024) (Stout - Imperial / Double) -> here
  • #2 (4.38/5) Dapper Rye (Stout - Imperial / Double) -> here
  • #3 (4.37/5) Bourbon County Brand Stout (Stout - Imperial / Double) -> here
  • #4 (4.37/5) Anniversary Cuvée Barrel Aged Ale (Strong Ale - Other) -> here
  • #5 (4.37/5) Dapper Barleywine (Barleywine - English) -> here

Goose Island Beer Company: history, beers, and innovations

Introduction

Founded in 1988 by John Hall in Chicago, Goose Island Beer Company is the oldest continuously operating brewery in Illinois. Its first brewpub opened in Lincoln Park, followed in 1995 by a large production brewery on Fulton Street and in 1999 by a second pub in Wrigleyville. In 2006, an investment from Widmer Brothers helped expand distribution overseas, and in 2011 Goose Island was acquired by AB InBev. This acquisition propelled the brand nationwide: while it had previously been distributed only to bars and stores in Chicago, since 2012 its beers have been available across all 50 U.S. states, and in Europe they are now brewed in Anheuser-Busch facilities in Belgium.

With AB InBev, the brewery also expanded its establishments internationally. Goose Island brewpubs opened in Shanghai (2017), then in London, São Paulo, Toronto, Seoul… as part of a global rollout strategy. On the local side, however, things changed significantly: the historic Clybourn Avenue brewpub (Chicago) remained under John Hall’s ownership until 2016, when he finally sold it to AB InBev. The former Wrigleyville pub had already closed its doors in 2015. Despite these changes in ownership, Goose Island maintains its ties to its Chicago roots and continues to offer brewery tours and events at its original facilities.

Beer styles and ranges

Goose Island produces a wide variety of craft beers. The best known are Goose IPA (a fruity India Pale Ale), 312 Urban Wheat Ale (a refreshing wheat ale at 4.2% ABV), and Honkers Ale (a traditional English bitter). Belgian inspirations are also present: Sofie (a spiced saison), Matilda (a strong Belgian pale ale), and other beers aged in whiskey or wine barrels. Goose Four Star Pils is an American golden pilsner, while Green Line Pale Ale is a session ale brewed with a sustainable approach, etc. Finally, the Bourbon County Stout series (imperial stout at over 14% ABV) is iconic: launched in 1992, it was one of the first stouts aged in bourbon barrels. Every late November, Goose Island releases its Bourbon County Brand Stout and its flavored variants in limited editions (barberry, coffee, chocolate, etc.) -> see the full article on the Bourbon County Brand Stout series.

More recently, the brewery has expanded these styles through special editions and collaborations. For example, double or triple IPAs, beers with specific hop varieties, and even fruit-based experiments (tequila barrel-aged, etc.). A 2011 analysis already noted that Goose Island was broadening its range: the introduction of Sofie, honeysuckle beers (Pepe Nero), chocolate stout (Madame Rose), variations of Bourbon County, as well as a sustainable project around Green Line. Passionate enthusiasts can still discover new creations, ranging from smoky (e.g., Bourbon County Proprietor’s Barrel-Aged Stout) to rye beers, along with lighter pilsners and aromatic wheat beers.

Brewing techniques and innovation

Goose Island benefits from modern facilities and advanced technical expertise. The brewery’s equipment (fermentation tanks, brewing kettles, etc.) is visible on site and allows for high-volume production while respecting precise recipes. Brewmasters, for example, use quality hops sourced from the largest contiguous hop farm in the United States (Elk Mountain Farms, Idaho), ensuring aromatic richness and consistency across batches. The brewery claims a guiding mantra: “We don’t have to be the only beer you drink, we just want to be the best beer you drink,” reflecting its commitment to high-quality raw materials and techniques.

One of Goose Island’s technical specialties is barrel-aging. As early as 1992, brewer Greg Hall aged a stout in bourbon barrels, giving birth to Bourbon County Stout. As brewer Brett Porter notes today, the storage is left to “endure Chicago’s temperatures—cold winters, hot and humid summers—which push the liquid in and out of the wood’s pores, and that’s where the flavors are created.” This “old-fashioned” process gives stouts deep notes of vanilla, cocoa, and oak. Goose Island has multiplied these barrel-aging experiments (wine, whiskey, etc.) and continues to produce highly sought-after beers from them.

To improve quality, the brewery has also adopted modern technologies. Following bacterial contaminations in 2015 that affected several batches of Bourbon County Stout, Goose Island invested in a flash pasteurizer for its barrel-aged beers. Brewer Jared Jankowski explains that the goal is to kill microbes (microbiological stabilization) without altering the flavor. Internal sensory tests showed that no taste difference could be detected between pasteurized and non-pasteurized beer. This example illustrates Goose Island’s spirit of innovation and rigor: trying new techniques (pasteurization, monitoring fresh barrels) to ensure optimal quality. The brewery also continues experimenting with rare yeasts and hops, while expanding its research lab.

National and international distribution

With the support of AB InBev, Goose Island is now present in almost all markets. In the United States, its beers have been sold in all 50 states since 2012, whereas they were initially available only in Chicago and Illinois. Internationally, Goose Island is now exported to many countries: in Europe, it is even brewed within the group (in InBev’s Belgian facilities), and in cities such as London, Seoul, Toronto, or São Paulo, Goose Island Tap Rooms serve its beers on site. For example, a 2018 report notes that Goose Island opened its first brewpub in Shanghai in 2017, followed by others in Milan, London (Shoreditch), Melbourne… with local distribution of its beers. This international network (breweries, pubs, distribution partnerships) reflects AB InBev’s strategy to make Goose Island a global craft brand.

Reputation in the craft community

Goose Island enjoyed a solid reputation as a “craft” brewery before being acquired by AB. Its Bourbon County Stout, in particular, was repeatedly cited among the best American stouts, and beers like Goose IPA or 312 Wheat Ale won numerous awards. However, the acquisition by giant Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2011 sparked mixed reactions among enthusiasts. Some “purists” strongly criticized the sale, fearing a loss of independence and quality. Greg Hall himself had to reassure them by stressing that AB’s support was mainly logistical: “the beer now arrives on a different truck, but it’s the same beer brewed by the same people.”

On the production side, the outcome has been rather positive: as a Goose Island marketing manager stated in 2013, “it worked out very well” after the acquisition, and the brewery was even able to focus more on its specialty beers like Bourbon County. In practice, AB InBev took over production of the core beers (Honkers Ale, 312 Wheat) in its own facilities, leaving Goose Island Chicago free to focus on limited series. For example, they were able to brew one batch of Bourbon County per week (compared to far fewer before).

That said, the reputation has not remained intact. Industry analyses showed that in 2017 some of Goose Island’s “heritage” beers saw sales decline (e.g., 312 Wheat –19%, Honkers Ale –49%), a sign of waning interest from part of the public. Critics also point to a lack of transparency regarding production sites (“not easy to know what’s brewed in Chicago and what comes from elsewhere”). Nevertheless, connoisseurs acknowledge that Goose Island continues to innovate and refine its recipes. Limited editions, in particular, are still highly anticipated: each Bourbon County release or seasonal brew remains a major event for the community. In summary, although belonging to AB InBev has sparked debate, the brewery maintains an overall good level of quality and regular innovation.

Environmental and community commitments

Goose Island also demonstrates social responsibility. Each year it organizes “Migration Week,” a tasting tour across several cities combined with volunteer initiatives. In 2017, for example, the brewery partnered with Keep America Beautiful to co-organize urban cleanups and tree-planting operations in five cities during its tour. As then-president Ken Stout explained: “Giving back is part of our company philosophy.” These events combine beer-related activities (meet-the-brewer sessions, concerts, happy hours) with eco-friendly projects in local communities.

On the environmental side, Goose Island emphasizes an interest in sustainability. For example, the Green Line beer was created as a “sustainable” pilot project: brewed with malts from organic farming and lower alcohol content, highlighting a reduced ecological footprint. The brewery also promotes recycling, water conservation in its processes, and the reuse of brewing by-products. Finally, its involvement with organizations like Keep America Beautiful reflects its community-oriented stance: not just selling beer, but contributing positively to society.

Notable events

Several annual events are now associated with Goose Island. The most famous is undoubtedly the release of Bourbon County Stout at the end of November. Every year, thousands of enthusiasts line up in front of stores in the early hours of Black Friday to get the new variants of this barrel-aged stout. Back in the brewpub days, Goose Island even hosted tasting sessions and bottle signings at the Chicago pub on this big day.