Goose Island Beer Company

Goose Island Beer Company is an American craft brewery founded in Chicago in 1988 by John Hall, who named it after a small island in the Chicago River near the original brewpub. It began as a brewpub on Clybourn Avenue and grew into one of the most recognized craft beer names in the United States, building a reputation on barrel-aged and Belgian-inspired beers as well as approachable wheat ales. The brand's flagship lineup includes 312 Urban Wheat Ale, named for Chicago's area code, Honker's Ale, IPA, and the Bourbon County Brand Stout family of barrel-aged imperial stouts, released annually and highly sought after by collectors. Goose Island also operates brewpubs and a production brewery in Chicago. In 2011, Anheuser-Busch acquired a majority stake in Goose Island, and in 2015 the remaining stake was acquired, making it a wholly owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev. The deal was one of the earliest and most discussed acquisitions of a craft brewery by a global beer giant, and it helped pave the way for further consolidation in the craft segment. Under AB InBev, Goose Island expanded distribution internationally, including into China and the United Kingdom, and opened a brewery in the UK. The brand positions itself at the premium end of the beer market, bridging craft credibility and large-scale distribution. It remains headquartered in Chicago and continues to release Bourbon County variants each year.

Goose Island was founded in 1988 by John Hall, who opened a brewpub on Clybourn Avenue in Chicago. The brewery was named after Goose Island, a small island in the Chicago River near the brewpub. In its early years the brewpub built a local following and began bottling and distributing its beers. Through the 1990s and 2000s Goose Island expanded its production and portfolio, becoming known for both accessible beers such as 312 Urban Wheat Ale and Honker's Ale and for ambitious barrel-aged and Belgian-inspired beers. The Bourbon County Brand Stout, an imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels, became a flagship and a cult favorite, with annual releases drawing long lines and secondary-market interest. In 2011, Anheuser-Busch acquired a majority stake in Goose Island for a reported sum of about $38.8 million, a landmark deal in the craft beer industry. In 2015, AB InBev acquired the remaining stake, making Goose Island a wholly owned subsidiary. The acquisition was controversial among some craft beer enthusiasts but gave the brand access to AB InBev's distribution network and capital. After the acquisition, Goose Island expanded internationally, including a brewery in the United Kingdom and distribution in China, where the brand became a prominent imported craft beer. The company continued to operate its Chicago brewpubs and production facilities and to release Bourbon County variants annually.

• 2016

  Goose Island opens a brewery in the United Kingdom.

• 2015

  AB InBev acquires the remaining stake, making Goose Island a wholly owned subsidiary.

• 2011

  Anheuser-Busch acquires a majority stake in Goose Island.

• 1995

  Bourbon County Brand Stout is first brewed as an anniversary beer.

• 1992

  Goose Island begins bottling and wider distribution of its beers.

• 1988

  John Hall opens Goose Island brewpub on Clybourn Avenue in Chicago.

Premium craft beer brand combining Chicago craft heritage with global distribution under AB InBev.

• Bourbon County Brand Stout

• 312 Urban Wheat Ale

• Goose IPA

• Honker's Ale

• Matilda

• Sofie

• Unconfirmed

  Reported2019.09.26

  Goose Island launches Gagag Goose Session IPA[3]鹅岛精酿推出嘎嘎鹅轻盈IPAprnasia.com

  Goose Island introduced Gagag Goose Session IPA, a new beer developed by its Asia brewery that was selected by consumers after a small-scale market test.

Read more

1. 1Goose Island Beer Company official websitegooseisland.com
2. 2Goose Island Beer Company - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
3. 3鹅岛精酿推出嘎嘎鹅轻盈IPAprnasia.com