danimalarkey wrote:Those of us looking forward to WhiskyFest might have noticed one of their seminars features Greg Hall, GI's brewmaster. I'm tempted to attend and ask him not about using bourbon barrels to age his beer, but why he has let his flagship pub go so far downhill. Hardly appropriate, I know, but I'm flummoxed and frustrated enough to do so anyway.

I don't think this is inappropriate, especially if you ask in private and in a pleasant tone.

Darren72 wrote:

danimalarkey wrote:Those of us looking forward to WhiskyFest might have noticed one of their seminars features Greg Hall, GI's brewmaster. I'm tempted to attend and ask him not about using bourbon barrels to age his beer, but why he has let his flagship pub go so far downhill. Hardly appropriate, I know, but I'm flummoxed and frustrated enough to do so anyway.

I don't think this is inappropriate, especially if you ask in private and in a pleasant tone.

Now that I think about -- I admit to not thinking about it too seriously, hence the somewhat flippant tone of my earlier post -- you're right.

On the other hand, it might be easier, and even more appropriate, to try and talk to him at one of his weekly, Tuesday night, new-beer toasts. If they still have those, that is.

If the reaction is something along the lines of "nothing has changed" or "I haven't noticed a drop in quality," you can always point to the quite one-sided discussion in this forum as evidence that something is going on.

Oddly, TimeOut Chicago is raving about GI's food in the current issue. Maybe they ate there some time ago?

I had to meet some vendors at the Wrigleyville location yesterday afternoon before they took us to the game. The place was hoppin' and there was no shortage of staff. I've never been to either Goose Island before so can't really tell if there's been a downturn in quality. I ordered the standard cheeseburger with fries. At $9, maybe a little high but not outrageous for the area and the product delivered. It was cooked to order at a nice medium rare and remained juicy with a decent char flavor from the grill. The fries were of the shoestring variety and well seasoned and crisp. All in all a decent pub meal with fast and efficient service. Maybe it tasted better because I wasn't paying for it or the $50 Cub tickets?

I ate at the Clybourn location last night and everything was just as good as it had been in the past (it was not outstanding, but I never thought the food there was outstanding). My basic cheeseburger was $10, which is a slight increase in price over what used to be the pub burger (which I believe was $8.95 before the menu change). But it was cooked to a perfect medium rare as requested and I think I prefer the new shoestring fries to the former fries. This burger certainly paled in comparison to the $10 burger I had a Kuma's a few weeks ago, but Goose was convenient to where we were and much more conducive to dining with a newborn zonked out in his car seat.

While the menu does seems to be more limited, I go to Goose maybe 5-6 times per year and basically always order a burger, so it's not an appreciable difference for me personally. I would mildly disagree with the assertion that Goose is aiming to be like the Hopleaf but missing the mark. I would characterize the menu changes at Goose as an attempt to go to more "upscale American bar food," while the Hopleaf is something different altogether, with more of a European focus and food that in many cases would stand on its own outside of a bar setting.

I had the Coffee Imperial Stout, which I quite liked. While I've had a fair number of imperial stouts, I am not too familiar with coffee stouts, but I thought this one had a nice, strong coffee flavor that was pretty well balanced such that it did not overwhelm the beer. The beer managed to be relatively dry despite the sweetness of the coffee and I think hid the 8% ABV pretty well.

Well, it seems that the Clyborne location will soon be no more. According to the Tribune, the lease is not being renewed and will close at the end of the year.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-080414-goose-island-brewpub-to-close,0,5019030.story

12345ne wrote:Well, it seems that the Clyborne location will soon be no more. According to the Tribune, the lease is not being renewed and will close at the end of the year.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-080414-goose-island-brewpub-to-close,0,5019030.story

I heard this from some employees over the weekend. Word is that they plan on opening a new location, but that it probably won't happen until after the Clyborne pub has closed.

I've always had a great experience at the Clyborn location (that's the one by Sam's right?). I usually go to Flossmoor Station or 3 Floyds, but I went a little out of the way to take my date to Goose Island on a weekday evening. Right away I noticed:

1. Sheet of paper menu, lack of choices, increased prices.
2. It was dead for a Thursday night (sat next to the bar).
3. The food was good, but the prices don't reflect the quality and presentation.
4. There were no IPA's or hoppy beers on the menu, everything was the basic GI's or stouts/porters, and the beer didn't seem as good as it once was.

I blame the economy, that's the only reason I can think of for this blasphemy!

LabRat wrote:

12345ne wrote:Well, it seems that the Clyborne location will soon be no more. According to the Tribune, the lease is not being renewed and will close at the end of the year.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-080414-goose-island-brewpub-to-close,0,5019030.story

I heard this from some employees over the weekend. Word is that they plan on opening a new location, but that it probably won't happen until after the Clyborne pub has closed.

I just heard this on NPR this morning...probably related to lease terms (20 year renewal hike?), I'm thinking. Very sad.

That would be a good spot for 3 Floyds to open up shop!

UniAddict wrote:That would be a good spot for 3 Floyds to open up shop!

Maybe, but if GI isn't willing to pay for the rent increase, then I doubt FFF would, either. Judging from the TOC blog post, the issue isn't a lack of business, but a decision by the building's owners to charge more rent.

As much as I'll rag on GI for their recent menu-overhaul, I think this is a big shame. Even though they'll open up a new location, the Clybourn one is close to where I live! And I was so excited to wrap up my MBA this year and see my name on the wall for years to come. Also, as one of the first businesses to move into that area, it seems like a low blow to price them out of the area now. It's only business, and nothing personal, but still...

Hit Goose Island (Clybourn) this eve for the first visit with the new menu. I went with a burger and thought it was quite good. Very juicy, slight char flavor and quite enjoyable. I think as far as brewpub burgers go, it was more than I would expect. I did go with onion rings instead of fries and glad I did as they switched to Steak and Shake super skinny fires which I hate.

All the other entrees our table ordered looked great, and I really liked my wife's handmade veggie burger topped with curried carrots, olive tapenade and goat cheese. The burger it self had a nice char lines and it and a very earth taste of cumin. One of the better handmade veggie burgers I have tasted in the city (and unfortunately I have sampled more than anyone carnivore should).

As for beers, I WISH we had more places that turned out such amazing specialty brews in Chicago. I went with the La Deuxieme and a Special Pale Ale, both excellent. My wife started with a Six (where else can you have a 2.5% ABV Belgian-Style Table Beer??) and finished with a Märzen. Thanks to the 2.5% ABV my wife was able to enjoy a second beer this eve Thank you Goose Island; I'll miss the hell out of you when you are gone...
Jamie

Special Pale Ale 6.0% ABV
The rich, red luster of our Special Pale Ale is almost as inviting as the deliciously hoppy nose. Loads of Centennial, Chinook and Cascade hops give the characteristic bite of West Coast style Pale Ales, while the unique combination of Pale Ale and Special B malts make this beer a true Goose Island original. Served in a Pint glass.

Six 2.5% ABV
Our brewer was intrigued while looking through the World Beer Cup style guidelines. Category 50A: Belgian-Style Table Beer — Pale to dark brown in color, light bodied with relatively low carbonation and limited aftertaste; hops to provide balance; 0.5-3.5% ABV. The name Six (pronounced “cease”) is the starting gravity of the beer. And coincidentally our pub brewer just celebrated his 6th anniversary here at LPB. Served in an Imperial Pint glass.

La Deuxieme 7.6% ABV
A strong Belgian-style ale brewed in Celebration of the 1ST birthday of our pub brewers 2nd daughter, Ciara. The Belgian yeast strain imparts a complex spicy aroma and flavor, while the blend of 7 malts give the brew a deep amber/brown color with a rich malty/fruity palate-and a warm finish. Served in a Tulip glass.

Märzen 5.6% ABV
“March Beer” is descended from amber colored Vienna-style lagers. Märzen aged through the summer and poured in the fall became Oktoberfest beer. Ours is reddish-brown in color with a nutty malt character and a touch of floral American hops.

danimalarkey wrote:

UniAddict wrote:That would be a good spot for 3 Floyds to open up shop!

Maybe, but if GI isn't willing to pay for the rent increase, then I doubt FFF would, either. Judging from the TOC blog post, the issue isn't a lack of business, but a decision by the building's owners to charge more rent.

My wife saw a "Future Home of Whole Foods" sign at the new construction project near North and Clyborne. The property where Whole Foods on North Ave is currently located is owned by the same people who own the Goose Island property. Seems odd that two major tenants are leaving at the same time unless the landlord is trying to vacate the property prior to selling or redeveloping it. (WARNING...SARCASM APPROACHING!) We could always use a few more condos in the area. (SARCASM ALERT HAS BEEN LIFTED!)

LabRat wrote:

danimalarkey wrote:

UniAddict wrote:That would be a good spot for 3 Floyds to open up shop!

Maybe, but if GI isn't willing to pay for the rent increase, then I doubt FFF would, either. Judging from the TOC blog post, the issue isn't a lack of business, but a decision by the building's owners to charge more rent.

My wife saw a "Future Home of Whole Foods" sign at the new construction project near North and Clyborne. The property where Whole Foods on North Ave is currently located is owned by the same people who own the Goose Island property. Seems odd that two major tenants are leaving at the same time unless the landlord is trying to vacate the property prior to selling or redeveloping it. (WARNING...SARCASM APPROACHING!) We could always use a few more condos in the area. (SARCASM ALERT HAS BEEN LIFTED!)

I know that WFs has been planning to build a new store--one of their "flagship" stores with ~80K square feet--in that area for more than a year.

Jamieson22 wrote:Hit Goose Island (Clybourn) this eve for the first visit with the new menu. I went with a burger and thought it was quite good. Very juicy, slight char flavor and quite enjoyable. I think as far as brewpub burgers go, it was more than I would expect. I did go with onion rings instead of fries and glad I did as they switched to Steak and Shake super skinny fires which I hate.

All the other entrees our table ordered looked great, and I really liked my wife's handmade veggie burger topped with curried carrots, olive tapenade and goat cheese. The burger it self had a nice char lines and it and a very earth taste of cumin. One of the better handmade veggie burgers I have tasted in the city (and unfortunately I have sampled more than anyone carnivore should).

This remains one of the more frustrating aspects to their menu for me. Much of it is perfectly fine. Not bad but not earth-shattering, either. I stopped in on Monday evening early enough to get their 'happy hour' special -- select appetizers are 50% off (I think the choices were limited to buffalo wings/tenders, pretzels and nacho's? maybe the sliders, too?) -- and the buffalo tenders were fine. It was a lot of chicken (with some nice heat, even if the sauce came pre-made and tasted perfectly (and generically) 'buffalo hot sauce'-like). But to pay $9 for it normally?

I think again of the Hopleaf -- they can turn out a damn fine ham and cheese sandwich, one that is worth the $10 (to me, at least). I know that GI is aiming for a different style of food, which is good, but for the prices they're asking now just seem out of whack.

The bartender was telling someone that they expect to be in their current space until December of this year. Though the lease ends in January 2009, it's going to take a long time to move all of their stuff out -- and they plan on removing every item that isn't nailed down (and even then...). If there's an upside to their imminent re-location, maybe they will be able to find a better balance between food prices/quality.

Also, as far as the current beer list, they had their Imperial IPA on tap again -- this is a must-try for any IPA fans. I prefer it, even, to Three Floyd's Dreadnaught, one of the most well-praised imperial IPA's out there.

Well, it is a very sad day. Just got notice that Goose Island (Clybourn) will be closing December 21, 2008. Last details I heard prior to this was an Oct 10th meeting to attempt to come to terms on a lease, allowing them to stay. Apparently it didn't work out.

Think this hurts more than losing Leo's Lunchroom...



Jamie

Man, that is bad news! Good thing I'm on track to wrap up my MBA well before then, at least.

Carrying on from my previous post about ham sandwiches, Goose Island has added one to their menu! And it's pretty good -- nueske ham, cheese, grilled on a pretzel roll. Not quite on par with Hopleaf's, but not bad at all. I'm glad that they're still adding/fiddling with their menu. Their fries need serious work, though -- small and pretty obviously frozen. The $1 upcharge to get onion rings is almost a necessity for me.

And Jamie... Leo's? Don't remind us. Now *that* was a great loss!

If the problem was the lease, doesn't this suggest more a relocation than a closing? Maybe they will relocate somewhere not too far away from the current site, in a westerly direction. Unless there's more to the story.

I believe it is just a matter of the property owner wanting more rent and I've been hearing all along that they're planning to relocate and have two brewpubs still.

Thing is, a brewery is pretty much a factory, and I can't imagine how long it will take to break down everything, move it, and re-assemble. I know that they don't do a tremendous amount of brewing in the Clybourn location, but they still brew a fair amount of the beer there that gets sold on-site. I just don't want to go weeks/months without their great beer (and for me, the Wrigleyville location isn't as attractive being farther from me and in, well, Wrigleyville).

Does anyone know what is going in there, I didn't think it was going to be a restaurant? I gave up on this location after they changed the wing sauce recipe, so I haven't been back in a long time. It was a good place in that area to be able to park the car and get some lunch, I'll miss it for that reason only.

Leo's, oh how I miss you and your breakfast burrito.

Logan Square has been mentioned as a possibly relocation, but that is no insider info.

Though I do wonder what is "under contract" at the old Max Gerber space on Milwaukee, south of California. I've heard a McDonald's, among other things.

miss ellen

There is a brewery coming to Logan Square -- Revolution Brewing. It's a new venture from the owner(s) of Handlebar and will be at 2323 N. Milwaukee -- just West of California. According to their more recent blog posts, the owners are still waiting for a liquor license. Here's hoping they can get it -- the more craft beer we can get here, the better!

Yes, I'm very excited about Revolution. Been following the blogs & watching the space; glad to see the for sale sign finally come off the front.

That is why rumors of Goose Island moving to Logan Square are interesting and could pose problems. For now, until there is more news, I'll just wait & see.

Via Chicagoist:

With a little more than a month before they were to shutter the windows and drop last call, Goose Island Beer Company has reached a deal with its landlord on a new lease, allowing the brewpub that started it all to stay open well past its proposed December 21 closing. Goose Island founder John Hall, in a press release, summed it up simply: "I could not be happier."

Heard this tonight from John Hall himself. Goose Island has signed a 3-5 years lease extension for the Clybourn location that will keep them open past 21st of December!

The company just confirmed it. New lease. They're staying for at least 3 more years. Here's the full release:


Clybourn Not Closing
Draft Four
November 09, 2008

CHICAGO (Nov 9, 2008)

Goose Island Clybourn Brewpub to Remain Open
A Chicago Icon Remains Intact

For the Goose Island Beer Company it would have been as poignant as selling the house you grew up in. With the expiration of their lease at the end of this year Goose Island expected to close their brew pub on Clybourn Avenue, and another Chicago landmark would have been gone forever. The staff and customers had been notified. Plans were in place for a series of farewell parties and an auction of Clybourn memorabilia. After 20 years in the neighborhood, the Goose Island Beer Company was moving out. “The whole neighborhood was disappointed,” says Jeff Price of the Ranch Triangle Community Conservation Association. “We expected to lose a beloved neighborhood business with a Cheers-like atmosphere and end up with another sterile, cookie-cutter big box store.” (We left a message for Jeff Price and have not heard back from him. But this is the point we think he should make.)

But suddenly everything has changed. Last-minute negotiations have produced an accommodation with the landlord, a new lease has been arranged and nobody is happier about it than John Hall, Goose Island Beer Company’s founder and president. “I’m ecstatic,” says Hall. “I felt like I was losing a part of me. The company has grown enormously over the years, but the Clybourn location was where it all began. Everything we’ve accomplished started there, and I’ve shared a lot of pints with a lot of friends in that old building. Twenty years ago Clybourn was the Goose Island Beer Company.”
.
In the years since the Clybourn brewpub opened, the Goose Island Beer Company has become a symbol of Chicago and its products have acquired an international reputation. In 1995 Goose Island opened their Fulton Street Brewery and in 1999 their second brewpub opened in Wrigleyville. But even as Goose Island outgrew its original location, the Clybourn brewpub continued to be a place for innovation and experimentation. In a Tuesday night ritual attended by fiercely loyal patrons the brewpub introduced new beers on a weekly basis. The recipes for the best beers were then taken to the Fulton Street Brewery for production and distribution through out the Midwest. Goose Island products like Honker’s Ale, Nut Brown, Summertime and Christmas Ale are well-established brands now, but they all had their humble beginnings on Clybourn Avenue.

“It all started in 1988,” says Hall. “My flight was delayed and I was flipping through the flight magazine. I saw an article about boutique beers, and I realized that everywhere I’d been in Europe I encountered distinctive local beers, but we had nothing like that in Chicago. Chicagoans drank the same beers that were sold everywhere else in the country.”

Hall decided that Chicago was ready for locally-crafted specialty beers. So on Friday, May 13, 1988, the Clybourn Avenue brewpub opened its doors and introduced Chicagoans to a renaissance of brewing in their city. (Interestingly, it wasn’t the first time the building had a role in Chicago brewing – it was originally built, back in the 1890s, as a factory for brewing equipment.) Hall challenged his customers with new beers and flavors, and he treated them to the then-novel experience of watching the brewing process happen right on site. They loved it.

Today Goose Island sells its beer in 15 states and the United Kingdom. Their Chicago-brewed products have consistently received top marks at prestigious competitions such as the World Beer Awards and the Great American Beer Festival, and Goose Island has earned a reputation as a world class center of excellence in brewing. The company is also involved with the production of a small selection of craft soft drinks. They’ve come a long way.

Goose Island’s success has allowed the company to participate in community-building projects all over the Chicago area, with the company’s better-known affiliations including the Friends of the Chicago River, the Erie Neighborhood House, Ryne Sandberg’s Ryno Kid Care, the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago, the Alliance for the Great Lakes, Green City Market, Friends of Bloomingdale Trail and the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation. Goose Island takes a special interest in environmental issues. In addition to supporting support for Chicago environmental groups, Goose Island also provides eco-friendly services at Chicagoland festivals and events. “And we draw all of our raw materials from within a 275-mile radius,” says Hall. “Chicago is home. Of course we’d want to support local vendors and take care of the Chicago and Midwest environment. We live here.”

“I’m a lucky man,” he adds. "I’m working with people I love, and I love what I do."

Hall even gets to work with is his own son, Greg, who has turned out to be an award-winning brewmaster in his own right. "I knew he’d be good at this," says John, "but it turns out that he’s even better than I’d expected. He’s absolutely great at what he does, and it’s a joy for me to watch him grow and succeed doing something that he truly loves. A father couldn’t ask for more."

Greg Hall began his brewing career in 1988, as an assistant brewer at the Clybourn brewpub. “It paid minimum wage,” Greg laughs, “Dad doesn’t play favorites. The people answering the phones made more than I did." But Greg was fascinated by his new work, and he set out to learn everything there was to know about brewing.

After graduating from Siebel Institute of Technology and World Brewing Academy in 1989, Greg embarked upon an aggressive study of brewing techniques, touring craft breweries throughout the United States and traveling to Europe to learn more about Old World methods. He made more than a dozen trips to Europe to meet the master brewers of England, Belgium, Germany and the Czech Republic, where he developed lasting relationships. By the time the company’s bottling operation began in 1995, Greg Hall had become a full-fledged brewmaster.

The Goose Island brewery has flourished under Greg’s direction, expanding its repertoire of both draft and bottled beers. Greg brews a host of award-winning beers – including Honker’s Ale, India Pale Ale, Nut Brown Ale, and Oatmeal Stout. He also spearheaded the production of Goose Island’s line of "Reserve" beers, which have been widely lauded in craft beer circles, receiving a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival for Greg’s Matilda beer and a gold medal at the World Beer Cup for his Bourbon County Stout.

The Halls intend to keep brewing beer in Chicago for a very long time, and Goose Island’s sales and product line continue to expand. But it all began in that old brick building on Clybourn Avenue – and it still feels like home

apparently goose island is going to stay at its present location on clybourn according to the sun-times. the landlord had a change of heart given the current economy.

abolt wrote:apparently goose island is going to stay at its present location on clybourn according to the sun-times. the landlord had a change of heart given the current economy.

Landlords having such changes of heart may be another "bright side of the global economic depression," to quote another thread title. Seems to me we've seen several favorite places move or cease operations because of ridiculously rising rents. Maybe that'll have the brakes put on it for awhile.

riddlemay wrote:Landlords having such changes of heart may be another "bright side of the global economic depression," to quote another thread title. Seems to me we've seen several favorite places move or cease operations because of ridiculously rising rents. Maybe that'll have the brakes put on it for awhile.

Yep, now I can look at my investment accounts and finally have a reason to smile