If there can be said to be any benefits of the current economic troubles and the collapse of the real estate market, it is that the original Goose Island Brewpub is still open. The pub opened at the North and Clybourn sight in 1988. Last year the owner of the building was trying to sell to developers, thus ending the Goose Island lease. But the market tanked, the building couldn’t be sold, the lease was renewed, and this little piece of Chicago beer history remains.

I spend a couple of months a year in Chicago working. As the brewpub is close to the place where I work, I spend a bit of time there on my nights off. I call it my Chicago office. Aside from enjoying many good and even great beers, I have also met some very interesting characters in the place and had some fantastic and even downright strange conversations with people. I love the ambiance. I am happy to see it has survived.

Last night I was going to see a friend play some in a jazz combo and had a couple of hours to kill before heading to that venue (more on that in another post), so I stopped off at the “office” for a beer. I started heavy and full-flavored with a cherry wood smoked doppelbock and ended light with a 3.2% cask pale ale. Here’s my notes:

Cherry Wood Smoked Bock
Aroma: All hickory BBQ smoke. The smoke has a woody character instead of the meaty character of most traditional Beechwood smoked beers. Faint hints of caramel malt and dried dark fruits lurk way in the background.
Appearance: Dark mahogany with ruby highlights. Beautiful, thick off-white head that lasted a long time and left lace on the glass. Clear.
Flavor: That wonderful cherry wood smoke is the dominant flavor. Like the aroma, it’s a woody smoke instead of a meaty smoke. It has a charred BBQ pit quality that is very nice. Sweet caramelized raisin maltiness and dried cherry notes provide a solid counterpoint to the smoke. There is a faint spicy heat in the finish that reminds me of chipotles.
Mouthfeel: Crisp and well attenuated. Medium body but rich and creamy. Medium carbonation.
Overall Impression: A wonderful blend of dried dark fruits and woody BBQ smoke. Although I was assured that there were no chili peppers used, this has all the goodness of a dark sweet chipotle ale without the undrinkable heat that most often comes with those beers. This would go great with any BBQ.

21st Amendment Pale Ale
Aroma:Toffee and caramel malt with very light pine resin hops.
Appearance: Light copper and clear. Poured with two fingers of creamy off-white head that persisted.
Flavor: Caramel, toffee and grainy malt is the dominant flavor. Very light resinous hop flavor and medium-low bitterness. Light orange citrus character. Seems to have flavors fruity flavors of an English yeast strain. Loads of malt character for 3.2% ABV.
Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Low carbonation.
Overall Impression: They call this a light American Pale Ale. It seems English to me in every way except the choice of hops. The hop flavors are characteristic of American varieties. Whatever you want to call it, it was tasty and even stood up after that super-flavorful smoked bock.