Goose Island Clybourn gave away 62 pounds of hops to Chicago area homebrewers as it prepares to close for a five month renovation.
photo courtesy Goose Island
Goose Island Clybourn, which was purchased last year by Anheuser-Busch, is closing Sunday after service for five months to re-concept, as reported by Josh Noel at the Chicago Tribune.
The to-do list for Goose Island’s pub at 1800 N. Clybourn Ave. includes removing the top half of that dark wood bar to open and lighten the space. The loft adjacent to the bar, which currently has seating, will be ripped out so that new brewing tanks can be installed in the cellar below (also currently seating).
All brewing and kitchen equipment will be replaced. Walls will come down to create an open kitchen in view of the dining room. The food menu, an off-and-on struggle, will get a remake with input from chef Paul Virant (of Vie in Western Springs and Vistro in Hinsdale), who is consulting on the project.
When you close for that long you’ll have some perishable items you have to account for. And when you are a brewpub, those perishable items include hops.
One of Goose Clybourn’s brewers posted a note to the Chicago Home Brewers Group Facebook page Wednesday, alerting the private group to the 62 pounds worth of hops up for grabs. Varieties included Centennial, Chinook, Citra and Simcoe — among others. All 62 pounds of hops had been claimed within 15 minutes of the posting.
Goose Island President Ken Stout wants Goose Island Clybourn to be more “electric.” As someone who was a regular at Goose Island Clybourn when I lived in Chicago, I did find the space to be a little ho-hum at times. Although, personally, I dug the laid back feel. Plus, I was really there for the Cuban and a couple of brewpub-only one-offs.
The new-look Goose Island Clybourn will re-open this summer.
Update
It looks like Goose Island Clybourn is offering up barrels too: