Goose Island won me back

If you look at the link he/she (never assume) provided, it's all about brewmasters leaving Goose Island.

I haven't seen any of the top 3 brewed back in Chicago yet -- I live just north of the city and purchase Goose Island as part of my beer rotation. All the 12 packs and Pub Packs I've seen are from Baldwinsville.

Good stuff to hear -- now when are they gonna start expanding the big brewery as promised?

 

I'm not sure why GI ever lost you. Their quality has not suffered one bit and, therefore, should not have lost you in the first place.

 

Don't forget that this is coming from an ABI guy, but I presume he knows what he's talking about for that very reason, rather than pushing the company line.

 

My concerns with the "new GI" were with the 2011 BCBS debacle where we were told by GI reps several times more GI was coming and it never came and this season the constant delay of BCBW. These things made me wonder if they can run the joint. But flip side is this last batch of BCBS was plentiful and up to snuff, and I would rather have them not release BCBW than to put out a big barrel aged barleywine that really lacked a good barrel character just to make their time line (not mentioning any barrel aged barleywines by name -- ounders-fay oltcutter-bay) So I am happy with the new GI to date...

 

Not to mention, the Goose Brewpubs are cranking out more great beer than ever... the clybourn pub is putting out an average of 3-4 new brews per week right now. Add to that the Fulton & Wood series that the mothership is doing, and you've got a company that is firing on all cylinders right now.

InBev can have their 312, IPA, Honkers, etc... all that does is free up capacity for the Chicago boys to spend more and more time experimenting and making great beer for the Chicago market. I've never been happier w/ Goose Island than I am right now.

 

Uhh...

 

I didn't say they did... I'm saying Goose as a whole (as I made a distinction between pubs and mothership) is better than ever right now.

Sorry for posting.. I guess I'll have you proofread all posts going forward since you seem to be quite the authority on all things Goose Island.

 

Don't go gettin' yer back up just because I'm pointing out what so many don't seem to understand and the fact that this thread was started about the AB ownership debate -- it's just discussion, not a pissing match (jeze, is everyone around here a whiner anymore?).

And to the point of the Pubs and the AB-owned brewery -- how could one really be effecting the other? Unless you count the salary John Hall is getting and probably putting back into the pubs?

Not to say that I don't enjoy the pub -- been going to Clybourn since it opened and I'm glad it's still going strong.

 

whack

 

They won me back with how wonderful (read: sessionable) 312 is, AND the fact that I can actually get it now, and at gas stations no less. Now, I'm just waiting on that increased BCBS distro... Of course I'd settle for being able to get Night Stalker here.

 

Can't believe Goose Island sells a watered-down version of their IPA in Colorado grocery stores - at a premium beer price. Not knowing Colorado's 3% law for supermarket beer, bought a six-pack on a recent visit and thought I was drinking Coors Light. Just awful. No longer a Goose Island fan. No way to treat unsuspecting consumers.

 

It took me two beers out of one sixpack to figure out that Colorado grocery store beer glitch.

 

Ok this is a GI thread, not really an InBev debate. I don't like GIs year round brews, they're not bad by any means just ok. Their ipa is an English style IPA, so take it at that. BcBs is the star as it should be, this years hiccup not withstanding, but traditionally it's an outstanding beer, or set of beers.

 

I don't know that GI won me back because they never really had me to begin with. Their standard portfolio is marginal at best. Their BC lineup is great but I can find BA stouts that are equally as good (or better) without having to hunt them down at dawn the day after Thanksgiving.

 

as mentioned in other threads, pretty sure they wound up tossing an entire 2011 variant. pretty sure that's where a chunk of the *anticipated* secondary allocations fell short.

if you're speaking about 2015 BCBW "delays", possibly you aren't aware there were full refunds on those due to spoilage?

 

gotta' say thanks for the heads up from another member. i did not realize the discussion was excuvated ancient history. never mind my comment/quote .lol

 

Matilda, Sofie, and Bourbon County has never left my rotation. I don't care who makes it - if it's a good beer, I'm gonna drink it.

Thanks for the write-up.

 

*sets down his beer and cracks his fingers*

Sofie pulls both sides into the Farmhouse Ale recipe and blends them beautifully. It has both the sweet, tart, fruitiness of France and the floral, slightly bitter, dryness of Belgium. You have to understand that the Farmhouse ale has different philosophies and takes...usually being a sweet, fruity fresh drink, or a thirst quenching field ale for the workers, depending on which the brewer feels best represents the style and history or whichever is easiest to make. So usually the brewers stick to one side or the other, or tend to try both and fail miserably.

Sofie again, implements both and does it beautifully. Between it and Colette, they compete for first place as the best Farmhouse Ale in the world, imo. No shame here.

 

Yo, if i took a hike in the woods, and sasquatch himself approached me and said "here, drink this beer i made" and it was good, id hand over the money.

So it doesn't matter who makes it. Although i do get what youre saying.

 

I e wasn't sure whether or not to pick up sofie. But you single handedly convinced me. Cheers