Goose Island — double barrel 2025

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

The nose opens with assertive bourbon-soaked oak, waves of dark chocolate, and espresso grounds, layered with vanilla bean and toasted coconut from extended barrel contact. On the palate, viscous molasses and burnt caramel anchor a complex progression through dark fruit—fig and prune—while charred oak tannins and roasted malt bitterness provide structure against the formidable alcohol warmth. The finish stretches long and warming, leaving lingering notes of bittersweet chocolate, tobacco leaf, and bourbon-barrel char that evolve in the glass as temperatures rise.

Food Pairing

Pair with a dense chocolate bourbon pecan pie, where the beer’s oak character and sweetness mirror the dessert’s caramelized notes while cutting through richness. Alternatively, serve alongside aged Stilton or Roquefort—the beer’s intensity and residual sweetness balance the cheese’s sharp, salty funk, while shared dark fruit and nutty characteristics create harmonious complexity.

About Goose Island Beer Company

Goose Island Beer Company stands as Illinois’ oldest continuously operating brewery, tracing its roots to 1988 when it opened as a brewpub in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. Named after a nearby island, the brewery was founded with inspiration drawn from English brewing traditions and pub culture, establishing a distinctly European sensibility within the American craft beer landscape. What began as a neighborhood brewpub expanded significantly with a larger production brewery in 1995, allowing Goose Island to grow from local favorite to nationally recognized brand. The brewery gained particular acclaim for its barrel-aged beers and innovative brewing techniques, helping to define the craft beer movement in the Midwest. In 2011, Goose Island became part of Anheuser-Busch InBev, marking a significant moment in craft brewing history as one of the first major acquisitions of an established craft brewery by a global beer conglomerate. Today, Goose Island operates its original Fulton Street production facility with tap room and tours, alongside the Clybourn Avenue Brewhouse, continuing to produce beers distributed across the United States and United Kingdom while maintaining its Chicago heritage.