Goose Island - Summertime

Goose Island first opened its doors in 1988, entering a world where craft brewing had just begun. Founder and beer-lover, John Hall had developed Goose Island with his beloved taste for European beer in mind. While traveling across Europe, Hall was determined to create a beer of his own that captured the memorable taste of each region's popular beers in Europe. Hall realized that living on the shore of Lake Michigan is a huge advantage, and in a city of evolving cultures and tastes, John had decided that his hometown, Chicago, would be the perfect place to create a one of a kind beer.

Hall had decided that allowing consumers to watch the brewing process would build interest in his craft beer. John had a motive to provide a memorable experience and cater to each customer's taste. Goose Island opened its first Brewpub on Friday, May 13, 1988. 





Hall's theory was proven to work, Chicago's interest in Goose Island grew rapidly and were welcoming towards the new idea of craft beer. The Goose Island brewpub was so successful by 1995 that Hall had decided to open a larger brewery and bottling plant to keep his customers satisfied. Becoming even more successful, John Hall had opened a second Goose Island Brewpub conveniently located near Wrigley Field.



Still today, Goose Island brews a selection of over 50 craft beers that are bottled at the Fulton Street Brewery. Goose Island Beers are consumed in all 50 states and also in Europe.

This past year I had the opportunity to visit the Goose Island Brewery in Chicago and what Hall said was true, when allowing consumers to watch the brewing process does build interest in his beers. I was able to taste their newest brews and also the long loved traditional brews like 312 that has been a favorite of mine. The Director of Operations that gave the tour is a graduate of University of St. Francis in Joliet (where I go to school.) It was awesome seeing how the beer was made and also seeing an alumni from my school hold such an important position at the brewery.

Anyway on to the beers..
Goose Island produces three categories of beer, Urban Ales, Classic Ales, and Vintage Ales. They also produce their very own bourbon, and have brews that are currently in production. Here is Goose Island's description of each beer...

Urban Ales:

• 312 - Inspired by the city of Chicago and flowing with flavor, 312 has a blend of Cascade hops and a crisp, fruity ale flavor delivered in a smooth, creamy body that's immensely refreshing.
•  Green Line Pale Ale - Green Line Pale Ale is a honey-colored American pale ale with a  bright hop aroma and citrus flavor.

Classic Ales:

• Honker's Ale - Inspired by visits to English country pubs, Honker’s Ale combines a fruity hop aroma with a rich malt middle to create a perfectly balanced beer.
• India Pale Ale - The result is a hop lover’s dream with a fruity aroma, set off by a dry malt middle, and long hop finish.
• Nut Brown Ale - Our Nut Brown Ale combines the finest domestic and imported malts to produce a chestnut-hued ale of unusual complexity. Enjoy subtle notes of chocolate, honey and fine tobacco.
• Summertime - A light fruity aroma and a hint of fruity acidity, Goose Island Summertime is the perfect summer session ale
• Harvest Ale - A fruity American hop aroma and a toasty malt character make Goose Island Harvest Ale an extra special beer worthy of your devotion.
• Mild Winter - Toffee brown, medium-bodied, with a creamy head and an aroma of raisins and freshly baked dark bread.
• Christmas Ale - Every year to celebrate the holiday season, we brew up our Christmas Ale, and with each year we change the recipe slightly so that you have something special to look forward to. (Something I always look forward to.)

To read about the seven vintage ales, five bourbons, and beers currently in production visit the Goose Island website. 

Goose Island Summertime:
Goose Island's full description of the Classic Ale - The color of sunshine, with a light fruity aroma and a hint of fruity acidity, Goose Island Summertime is the perfect summer session ale. A Kölsch beer brewed in the traditional German fashion, you’ll find yourself enjoying and savoring each sip of summertime as much as you do those hot summer days and cool summer nights.
 The Ale has a ABV (Alcohol Bottle Volume) of 4.9% and is sold seasonally from March to August. Summertime has won a variety of awards, most recently winning the silver medal in the World Beer Champions.

My experience: Summer is my favorite season and Goose Island perfectly places this season in a bottle. Goose Island nails it with the color, when poured from bottle or on tap, it is the color of sunshine. The beer is fruity with a traditional light beer taste and a hint of lemon. The beer is very refreshing and goes down very smooth with the perfect amount of hops. Summertime is the perfect summer beer, keeps you cool and calm through those relaxing, hot summer months.



This video explains how Summertime is made and what makes it so refreshing!

Let me know what your favorite Chicago brew is to review next week!

5 Rabbit Cerveceria - 5 Rabbit

 

5 Rabbit Cerveceria describes themselves as "Bringing the energy, passion and richness of Latin culture and cuisine to the delicious world of craft beer."
5 Rabbit is located in Lincolnwood, Illinois and opened in 2010.

The name 5 Rabbit was meant to capture the color, playfulness, and mystery of the Latin heritage. The beer produced by 5 Rabbit is inspired by Aztec mythology, capturing the true spirit of beer.

In 2007, two friends, Isaac (from Mexico) and Andres (from Costa Rica) had a dream to create their own microbrewery. Isaac and Andres worked for one of the biggest breweries in Latin America and fell in love with making beer. The two friends realized that popular Latin American beers were completely bland and tasteless compared to everything else from Latin America. In 2010, during Chicago Craft Beer Week, Isaac and Andres met Randy. Within five minutes, the three knew they had an instant connection and would work great together. Randy was a perfect addition to 5 Rabbit with his expertise and creativity.

5 Rabbit produces 6 different brews:

• 5 Rabbit - An elegant take on golden beer.
• 5 Grass - A bright hoppy ale with the fresh outdoorsy aroma of the desert.
• 5 Lizard - Winner of the Gold Medal, Fruit Wheat Beer, 2011 Great American Beer Festival.
• 5 Vulture - Deep amber-colored ale with complex caramel and sugar cane aromas with a long dry and spicy finish.
• Vida Y Muerte -Rich, caramelly, fall beer that celebrates the spirit of the harvest season/
• Huitzi - A winter Belgian Strong Golden Ale, brewed with hibiscus flowers, ginger, thai palm sugar and local Chicago honey.

The beer I chose to taste was 5 Rabbit, the company's original beer.

www.5rabbitbrewery.com Describes 5 Rabbit as follows:
"5 Rabbit is an elegant take on a classic golden beer. A base of high-quality malt contributes caramel and honeyed notes, and these are balanced by a brisk, clean bitterness. Its lively hop aroma blends the legendary hop of pilsners Czech Saaz with the vibrant fruitiness of New Zealand Motueka plus added fruitiness from an ale fermentation. 5 Rabbit is familiar, yet fresh; sophisticated, yet fun—just like its namesake. It’s a pale beer with surprising depth, a hearty and satisfying quaff.
In Aztec mythology, 5 Rabbit (Macuiltochtli) is one of the 5 Gods of Excess (Ahuiateteo) and symbolizes the excess of pride. The long ears of the rabbit invite us to learn and listen, not only to others, but also to our community and inner voices. 5 Rabbit also represents vitality, happiness and fertility."

My experience: When poured from the bottle, clear and bright bubbly hay color. Good head, foam, and lacing after each sip. The taste is some what dry, lightly toasted pilsner style malts with earthy hops, and the ale yeast add some fruity summer aromas as well. Fruity yeast adds another level to this crisp, toasty, milled grain, and earthy hopped golden ale. I was satisfied with this beer, can be drunk all year round with no complaints.

5 Rabbit recommends to pair the beer with fried fish, chicken or pork enchiladas, tamales, pizza, roasted chicken, and anything fried. The beer is sold in a 12 pack of 12 oz. bottles at $9.99, with 155 calories per bottle and 5.3% ABV.

 'An Interview with Radical Randy from 'Chitown on Tap' about 5 Rabbit Brewery


Have any of you tried 5 Rabbit Brewery's beers?

Two Brothers Brewing Co. - Domaine DuPage

Two Brothers Brewing Co. is located in Warrenville, IL. Two Brothers is a family owned brewery created in 1997, perfecting their own original artisan beers. Two Brothers was founded by Jim and Jason Ebel. They started the company with the Brewer's Co-Op, a beer and wine producing retail store in Naperville, IL. The brothers became very passionate about brewing and created their own brewing company. The company is still 100 percent family owned.

Two Brothers brews seasonal beers and year-round beers. Along with these all year brews, seasonal beers, and artisan beers. The six "All Year" beers are Domaine DuPage, The Bitter End, Ebel's Weiss, Prairie Path, Cane & Ebel, and J Series Beer.

• Their four seasonal are 
• Monarch White for Spring.
• Dog Days Lager for Summer 
• Heavy Handed IPA for Fall
• Northwind Stout for Winter.

Two Brothers Brewing Co. describes their artisan beers as follows, "These are beers we have been itching to brew but have a hard time getting to while brewing all our regular beers.  Most of them are unique in one way or another.  We may or may not brew them again at some point, but these limited run beers are all are fun and fantastic." The artisan beers they create are, Hop Juice IPA, and Heavier Handed. Two Brothers will also be releasing two more artisan brews, one in February 2013 and the other in August 2013. 

The brew that I chose to review is one of Two Brother's most popular All Year brews, Domaine DuPage. www.Twobrosbrew.com describes it as, "Inspired by the brothers time living in France, this food-friendly beer is deep amber in color, with a toasty and sweet caramel start. It finishes with just enough hops to clean off the palate. Bon Appetite!" 

My Experience: Domaine DuPage pours an amber color with a white head that does not last very long. The smell is very malty and the taste is very sweet, just like Two Brothers says. You can pick up the caramel straight away. The beer itself is very smooth with a bitter hops after-taste. The beer is something I like, very sweet and smooth. Domaine DuPage has an alcohol concentration of 5.9% and 177 calories per serving. Domaine DuPage is priced at $16.99 for a 12 pack.