History of Goose Island Brewery

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Celebrate The Death Of Prohibition

Posted By John on April 7th, 2010

Looking for a reason to drink good beer? Hate prohibition? Like the 30s? Then check out Lucky Bucket’s Speak Easy Party April 17th at the brewery. Here is the press release.
Lucky Bucket Brewing Company & Sòlas Distillery are hosting a “Speak Easy” Costume Party on April 17th from 8pm until 1am at their brewery located [...]

History of Goose Island Brewery

Posted By Ryan Cairns on April 14th, 2009

Goose Island first opened it’s door in 1988 but the story behind the brewery begins with John Hall and a Delta airlines magazine. John was traveling extensively with his career in packaging industry and spent an extensive amount of time in Europe. During these travels he noticed that everywhere he went their was always a local beer available except for in
the United States.

Clybourn Brewpub

Now back to the magazine….. In 1986 John was on a plane in the Dallas airport in which his flight was delayed because of inclement weather. While waiting he flipped through a in-flight Delta Airlines magazine where he found an article on boutique beers. This article struck up an idea of creating a brewery all of his own. After two years of planning and research quit his 20 year career with Container Corporation and he opened the original Goose Island Brewpub at 1800 Clybourn Avenue.

So on Friday, May 13, 1988 the Goose Island Brewpub was opened for business. Johns son Greg started out as an assistant brewer at Goose Island in 1988 and went on to graduate from the Siebel institute in 1989 and by 1995 he took over as the Brewmaster and along with his father they made the decision to open a larger brewery and bottling plant to keep up with demand.

They went on to open a second brewpub in Wrigley square. (which is an area close to Wrigley Field) They are currently shipping their beers to 15 states and the U.K. And they brew over 50 craft beers in their brew pub. <brewery web site>