Anheuser-Busch Introducing Goose Island Beer Nationally in November

Chicago Craft Brewery Expands Honker’s Ale, India Pale Ale, 360 and Matilda

Chicago’s popular craft beers arc coming to the rest of the USA.

Thanks to a purchase by Anheuser-Busch nearly two years ago, Goose Island will now be available across the nation. Utilizing the vast distribution network and increased brewing capacity of A-B, it is being introduced to bars and retail outlets in November.

The beers are the fairly light but tasty Honker’s Ale, the very flavorful India Pale Ale, the wheat beer 360 and the wine or even champagne like Matilda.

You can read reviews of three of those beers here on PubClub.com.

The beers are high end and not Old Style, the beer most people associate with Chicago. The price point in bars is likely to be $6-7.

The tap handles look like a goose neck, and you’ll be seeing them where fine beers are served, and at places where there are several beer choices. It’s recommended you give them a taste. I have, and they are very good. My favorite is the India Pale Ale, which is a bit unusual because normally I find IPAs to heavy for my normally lager preference, and also most have a very bitter aftertaste. Not so with Goose Island’s IPA; it’s as smooth as a college girl’s skin.

Some purists balk at big breweries buying small beer producers. Personally, I like and you should too, because it means we get to try a lot of great beers we would otherwise not experience.

To me, that’s worth raising a glass and toasting a big “cheers.”