Founder of Goose Island Brew Pub and Brewery leaving his current role of CEO.  

John Hall and his brother started Goose Island Beer Company as an on-premise brewpub in Chicago back in 1988, years before the first craft explosion of the mid 90s.  They were pioneers along with Pete's Brewing Co. (now defunct) Boston Beer Co. & Sierra Nevada Brewing.  I remember many good pours in their establishment on historic Clybourne Avenue. 

John personally ran and expanded the business up until last year when they sold to beer giant Anheuser-Busch for a cool $40 million.  We will have to wait and see if anything changes in the way of the production of their cult-like favorites, Matilda and Bourbon County Stout.  Currently they are still being brewed locally at the Fulton Street brewery, but they may find their way out and/or into production at one of ABs plants in Colorado or New York, much like Honkers Ale and 312 Urban Wheat.

Best of luck John, you'll be missed

Chin chin

David Ruiz is a Sales & Marketing pro who is unnaturally obsessed with good beer.  Contact him at beersnobber@yahoo.com