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Do This: Goose Island Belgian Fest

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Aug 8, 2011 3:48PM

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Here's your first look at the Goose Island/Chicagoist/Rare Tea Cellars barrel-aged Sai Shan Tea. (Chuck Sudo/Chicagoist)
With August now upon us it's time for Goose Island's annual Belgian Fest. Last year's model featured over 40 selections from ver a dozen breweries, with Sai Shan Tea, the beer I brewed with Goose Island Clybourn's Jared Rouben and Rare Tea Cellars' Rod Markus, being a popular selection among the attendees. I haven't spoken to Rouben in a few days, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the barrel aged version of Sai Shan Tea - aged for a year in Justin Vineyards Isosceles red wine barrels, on tap here.

This year's brewery lineup has expanded to include 5 Rabbit, Finch's Beer Co., Flossmoor Station Restaurant and Brewery, Destihl Brew Works, Granite City of Orland Park, Half Acre Beer Co., Haymarket Pub & Brewery, The Lucky Monk, Lunar Brewing Co., Revolution Brewing, Rock Bottom Chicago, Rock Bottom Warrenville, Rock Bottom Yorktown, Piece Brewery & Pizzeria and Two Brothers Brewing Co. For some beer geeks this would be an ideal opportunity to sample some brewpubs they may have not heard of. Destihl and Granite City are two of our favorite brewpubs and they never fail to come correct to these fests.

Goose Island Belgian Fest will be held August 28 from Noon-5 p.m. Tickets cost $25 and include 20 tickets for beer samples. RSVP by calling 312-915-0071 or by ordering tickets online here.