GOOSE ISLAND — Beer meets bourbon when Goose Island releases its annual, highly-awaited barrel-aged brews this week.
Goose Island's 2016 Bourbon County Stout, aged in bourbon barrels from the Heaven Hill Distilleries, is formally released Friday with a major event at Binny's RANCH Triangle outlet at 1720 N. Marcey St.
But beer fanciers can get a first taste at a handful of Chicago bars on Wednesday.
The annual release of the Bourbon County brews has had beer drinkers foaming at the mouth for years.
This year, Goose fans can get a taste ahead of the formal Black Friday release in a series of city events starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at three locations: Timothy O'Toole's Pub, 622 N. Fairbanks Court, Beer Bistro, 1061 W. Madison St., and Sheffield's, 3258 N. Sheffield Ave.
The formal release comes at 9 a.m. Friday at Binny's, although brew connoisseurs should be well aware that it typically draws people camping out on site to be assured they'll get their fix.
The first 200 in line will get Goose Island Bourbon County Stout gift bags, filled with various swag. The first 500 will be rewarded with a mini breakfast burrito.
Intelligentsia Coffee will be serving the same coffee used in this year's Bourbon County Coffee brand, and the Babycakes Gourmet food truck will be on hand to serve pancakes with Bissell Maple Farm barrel-aged syrup from 7 a.m. on.
Later Friday, Bourbon County Stout will be featured in beer events at three other bars: at 2 p.m. at Fatpour Tap Works, 2005 W. Division St., at 3 p.m. at the Long Room, 1612 W. Irving Park Road, and at 5 p.m. back at Timothy O'Toole's.
Beer appetit!
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