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Goose Island Beer Company - Lincoln Park

(Brewpub)

Last updated: August 30, 2000

1800 North Clybourn Avenue
Chicago IL 60614

Phone: +1 312-915-0071
Fax: +1 312-337-0172

Opened May 19, 1988.
2,500 bbl annual capacity.

Finally, after more than four years, my tasting notes from 1993 have reappeared. In May 1998, I spent a week working here as part of my training at the Siebel Institute...thanks to Matt Brennan for showing me the ropes, and for passing along quite a few great beers!

My Opinion Of The Beers That I've Tried:
15.5 points overall

• 1996 Bourbon County Stout (beer engine)
  Style 11 - Stout
  • 15 points - Beer #34-3026, 1998 Great Taste of the Midwest, Madison WI, August 8, 1998
    "Two years old...aged 100 days in oak casks." Black as night, with a head that takes half an hour to settle. Reeks of ALCOHOL! Syrupy thick, bitter, hi-test. It's a black roasty barleywine.

• Aviator Doppelbock
  Style 12 - Bock
  • 12 points - Beer #30-2484, at the brewery, December 12, 1993
    Nice deep amber and thick head. A little thin in body. Alcohol flavor OK. Otherwise unimpressive. A Doppel should grab you by the short hairs...this one doesn't.

• Barleywine
  Style 1 - Barley Wine
  • 14 points - Beer #35-3341, 1999 Great Taste of the Midwest, Madison WI, August 14, 1999
    Dark dark red, thick head. Smells like...horseradish...? Incredibly thick and creamy. Tons of dark caramel flavor. Eternal sweet and bitterish finish.

• Blonde Ale
  Style 6 - American-style Pale Ale
  • 15.5 points - Beer #31-2587, at the brewery, March 31, 1998
    Golden, flat, good head. Spicy aroma. Light body, sweet, some spicy hop flavor. Finishes quick.

  • 16 points - Beer #30-2480, at the brewery, December 12, 1993
    Yellow, few bubbles. Spicy hop aroma. Good body and carbonation. Assertive pleasant hops. Good beer.

• Christmas Ale
  Style 1 - Barley Wine
  • 17 points - Beer #30-2482, at the brewery, December 12, 1993
    Dark brown, good head. Spicy and hoppy! Their description "rich, chocolatey, etc" is perfect. Long lingering bitter finish.

• Dublin Stout
  Style 11 - Stout
  • 14.5 points - Beer #31-2594, at the brewery, March 31, 1998
    Black, thick head. Spicy hop aroma. Lots of hop flavor and bitterness. Some chocolate at the end.

• Geordie Brown Ale
  Style 4 - Mild / Brown Ale
  • 14 points - Beer #31-2591, at the brewery, March 31, 1998
    Very very dark, thick head. Sweet, brown, alcohol aroma. Bitter, sweet, alcoholic. Sticky at the end.

• Honest Stout
  Style 11 - Stout
  • 14 points - Beer #30-2483, at the brewery, December 12, 1993
    Black. Some burnt aroma. Creamy with a pleasant astringency/bitterness. OK beer.

• Honker's Ale
  Style 6 - American-style Pale Ale
  • 14.5 points - Beer #31-2589, at the brewery, March 31, 1998
    Amber, low carbonation, big head. A little citrus aroma, a little sweet. Medium body, hoppy but not bitter. Quick finish.

  • 14 points - Beer #30-2481, at the brewery, December 12, 1993
    Amber...just a little light to be brown. Sweet, fruity aroma. Fairly chewy. Good caramel flavors, but masked by the hops. Good beer, but overhopping...

• Kilgubbin Irish Ale (beer engine)
  Style 5 - English-style Pale Ale
  • 18 points - Beer #32-2616, at the brewery, April 2, 1998
    Red, clear, thick head. Herbal aroma, sweet. Smooth, very low carbonation. Excellent caramel flavor. Herbal hops up front, sweet malty finish. "Kilgubbin" is Gaelic for "Goose Island".

• Kilgubbin Irish Ale
  Style 5 - English-style Pale Ale
  • 15.5 points - Beer #31-2590, at the brewery, March 31, 1998
    Ruby red, clear, thick head. Roasted barley aroma. Medium body, some roastiness but not a lot. Pretty clean beer.

• Porter
  Style 9 - Porter
  • 17.5 points - Beer #31-2592, at the brewery, March 31, 1998
    Very dark red, thick head. Roasty aroma. Medium body, bitter from hops and bitter from black malt. Nice sweet balance. Good beer.

• Ruby Mild
  Style 4 - Mild / Brown Ale
  • 15.5 points - Beer #31-2588, at the brewery, March 31, 1998
    Red brown opaque, thick head. Intense brown malt aroma, almost smells like rye. Sweet, amber/roasty.

• Rye Stout
  Style 23 - Specialty Beer
  • 16 points - Beer #31-2593, at the brewery, March 31, 1998
    Black, thick head. Roasty aroma, a little malty. Big, sweet, roasty. Vague hints of rye.

• Strong Brown Ale (beer engine)
  Style 4 - Mild / Brown Ale
  • 19 points - Beer #32-2617, at the brewery, April 2, 1998
    Very dark brown, massive head. Aroma is a little roasty sweet. Thick, sweet, flat. Drying. Alcohol burn late. Hell of a sippin' beer.

• Strong Brown Ale
  Style 4 - Mild / Brown Ale
  • 14.5 points - Beer #31-2595, at the brewery, March 31, 1998
    Black, thick head. Smells too sweet, too black. Medium body, very chocolatey. Very sweet finish.

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