This past week I was in Chicago for a couple of days for business. I always try to act as expected and fit in a visit to a great beer spot while I am anywhere. This week it was Goose Island’s brewpub located in the trendy Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. This isn’t my first trip to the Goose, but it may be my last. The pub (not the production brewery) is scheduled to close due to the very high cost of real estate in the area. That unfortunate news is compounded by the fact that the premises is also shared with the Siebel Institute, which is the oldest and one the most respected brewing schools in the world. Many a good brewer has graduated Siebel’s master brewing program. I can only hope Siebel finds a suitable location even if the pub decides not to reopen.

I had a few great beers while there. Replicale was the summer seasonal. It was based on a Belgian farmhouse style ale, but with a little hoppier kick. The Summer Bitter was my favorite, similar to a popular British ale called Summer Lightning. The Go0se’s version weighed in at just under 5% abv and was a slightly more bitter than what I recall in the British version. If your plans include Chicago over the next few months, you may want to visit Goose Island before it’s gone…

The third “Fest of Ales” was held at the South Charleston Ramada Inn on Friday. I was once again asked to emcee the beer-tasting portion along with the “emcee” Brian Thompson of FM-105 and the Comedy Zone. I guess the younger crowd doesn’t mind a middle aged bald guy telling them how to drink beer. Actually, the age of the crowd is surprisingly mixed and a good time is had by all. Think about it; beer, food and a comedy show (2 comedians) for 25 bucks! That’s a sweet deal.

Brewers from 19 states participated in this year’s Mountain Brewer Open in Huntington on Saturday. No, it aint the big-time national competition, but it is a place where many of the country’s best brewers send their beers to compete. Dave Zalewski, a friend and a member of the Huntington brewing club “GHHA” took best of show, edging out Gordon Strong, who recently won the “Ninkasi” award (Most Winning Brewer) at the Nationals. Kudos to DZ! I took a first place in Belgian Dubbel style and a third in Belgian Saison, being “dusted up” by my frequent brewing partner, Tim Lepley, who took first in the category with my yeast… You Ba#4&rd!

It’s off to Britain for me. I am traveling on business but I will squeeze in a couple of days at the Great British Beer Festival. Stay tuned for my report.

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