Oct. 29--Goose Island began its alumni brewing series this summer with the longtime face of the brewery, Greg Hall, returning to create the beer of his choice. For the second installment, Goose Island has turned to an industry star not often associated with the brewery.
Phil Wymore, who worked at Goose Island from 2006 to 2009 as a brewer and cellar manager, and who now owns and operates St. Louis' Perennial Artisan Ales, visited Goose last month to brew a saison that will be tapped Nov. 5 at the brewery taproom (1800 W. Fulton St.) between 6 and 8 p.m. A complimentary five-ounce sample will be offered to those in attendance at the free event.
Wymore, who was head brewer at Half Acre Beer Co. for a year after leaving Goose Island, has scored a hit with Perennial, which is currently rated as one of the world's top 100 breweries by RateBeer. Wymore has also worked as a beer consultant to chef Rick Bayless.
Goose described the collaboration as "a mixed fermentation saison" made with two slightly different saison yeast strains. The result is "bone dry, with refreshing fruity notes and a spicy character shining through from the yeast," the brewery said.
As with the beer made with Hall -- an English mild ale -- the mixed fermentation saison began as an idea from Wymore, and blossomed during brewing with Goose Island's innovation manager, Mike Siegel.
"The whole point of this alumni series is reconnecting with former Goose brewers and getting them back here to brew something they are interested in, so I like to have these ideas start with them, and we go from there," Siegel said. "Phil threw out a few different styles that he favored, one of which was a mixed fermentation saison, something I was already considering for a future brew, so it seemed the perfect time to do it."
Goose will continue the alumni beer series in the coming months, the brewery said.
jbnoel@tribpub.com
