Goose Island Clybourn Closing

It was the best brewpub in Chicago until it shut down for Inbev's renovation after it's 2016 buyout and didn't re-open for like a year. Memories- great people working there, great regulars, great beer, convenient parking and CTA Redline access, solid food,awesome events (Belgian Beer Fest, Stout Fest, Anniversary Parties, Black Friday tastings, MBA member monthly tastings, brewpub's bottle releases, etc. etc.). Great place to watch the Bears games as well- not enough breweries have the local sports on tv let alone tvs. Just another "I remember when" to bank to go along with the former Wrigleyville location which was great for having good beer pre/post game before/after watching the worst team in professional sports or catching a show at IO. I suspect the Clybourn site will become another cookie cutter, budget material skyscraper laughably billed as luxury rentals so they can finish transforming the Goose Island neighborhood into the Near North's version of another soul-less, stagnant, characterless Ricketsville.

 

Nope. Sounds like a blast though.

 

Goose Island was the OG craft brewery for me. Really loved the Clybourn space, and the previous staff, of which OG Adan continued to work after the remodel, and will hopefully will go to the Salt Flats.

Really loved the old place and MBA program, didn’t go as much after their change (went to Fulton Brewery more) and then started shifting my primary to Revolution over the past four years.

I enjoyed most of their beers brewed in the brewpub (and Fulton) across many styles. I always appreciated a permanent cask handle, the only one on everyday I’m aware of in the city. One positive is it should be a much more efficient and easier for the brewing staff to brew beer in the new space. I liked the Fulton Brewpub staff too once I got to know them, but I haven’t seen any familiar faces the past few visits post COVID mandated closures.

I believe their lease is up in February, but perhaps they will be allowed to stay longer if there isn’t a new tenant signed (or tear down / construction is stalled due to the economy / high interest rates / little to no demand), so I would make plans to go over the next several weeks if you want to lock in at least one more visit. I may go tomorrow before being shut in with the vortex heading here next week.

One article noted the plan to open late next year, but the City has been absolutely horrendous the past few years in terms of construction permits and licenses, so there could be a big gap in time of nothing at either spot. Guinness was supposed to open their new brewpub on 2023 Saint Patrick’s Day, but I heard that’s not going to happen because of the lengthy governmental construction permit / inspection delays I mentioned.

 

Used to go pretty often before the changes sucked the soul out of the place. I think I went just a single time after that?

Not really saddened by the closing, in my eyes they already killed it a few years ago.

 

Would've been pretty cool to see The Radiators at an event like that. Saw them in New Orleans a few times in the early '00s.

EDIT: I remember seeing Medeski, Martin, and Wood at maybe 312 Fest or something like that in the early 00's. Was that different than GI Fest, or am I thinking of the same thing?

 

College. Some hazy days. Found an article.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-08-13-0308140059-story.html

LOL. So technically grad school for me

 

Lol, my downstairs neighbor in 2001/2002 was in Sonia Dada…

 

In the past, I'd head down from Milwaukee to Chicago to visit some of the few brewpubs in the city at that time...Rock Bottom downtown, Piece, and Goose Island Clybourn (with a mandatory stop at Map Room as well). The remodel killed the soul of GI Clybourn. What a shame.

Anyway, I'm eager to check out the "relocated" original Goose Island in 2023 (but more likely 2024).

Prost!

 

Read the article in Eater as well. The Clybourn taproom was probably the first "taproom" I went to back in the early 00's when I was first getting into craft beer.

Sad to see it go, but hopefully the new location will be a cool update.

 

Here you go. Looking back, that's quite a line up.

Even if Goose Island isn't your favorite brew, this event's music lineup is enough reason to check it out. Highlights include cult favorites Guided By Voices and Sonic Youth on Friday; hometown punk-pop band Alkaline Trio and '80s relic Psychedelic Furs on Saturday; and indie rockers Tortoise on Sunday. The beer blowout has a new location this year at A. Finkl & Sons.

Friday: 5:45 p.m.: Yakuza; 6:30 p.m;The Waco Brothers; 7:45 p.m.: Bob Mould; 9 p.m.: Guided By Voices; 10:30 p.m.: Sonic Youth

Saturday: 5:30 p.m.: Spindle; 6:15 p.m.: Charlotte Martin; 7 p.m.: Detachment Kit; 8 p.m.: Alkaline Trio; 9:30 p.m.: Ike Reilly; 10:45 p.m.: Psychedelic Furs

Sunday: 5:30 p.m.: J. Davis Trio; 6 p.m.: Family Tree; 6:30 p.m.: The Pharcyde; 7:30 p.m.: Family Tree; 8 p.m.: Tortoise; 9:30 p.m.: Medeski, Martin & Wood

Festival runs 5 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday; 5-11 p.m. Sunday. $20; three-day is $50. 2011 N. Southport Ave. 312-559-1212.