Old Town Yard


Brewer's Notes:

Old Town Yard is a beer conceived of and brewed by Goose Island brewers Gavin and John. Inspired by travels and time spent brewing in Germany the brewers decided to craft their interpretation of the classic Helles style. The resulting beer is a bright golden lager with a delicate malt sweetness, grassy Noble hop character, and a crisp refreshing body.



Recipe Information:
Style: Helles
Suggested Glass: Willi
Alcohol by Volume: 4.3%
International Bitterness Units: 15.7
Color: Corn Silk
Hops: Hersbrucker, Hallertau Mittelfrueh
Malts: Pilsen

Malt:

Gavin and John used 100% Pilsen malt from Best Malz’s
Wallertheim malting plant in Germany. The barley varieties
that make up their Pilsen malt are Breamar, Marthe, and
Quench grown in the Rheinland-Pflalz region. Best Malz uses
the Lausmannstrasse malting system and low temperature
kilning for superior quality and unmatched flavor.


Hops:

The brewers used German Hersbrucker pellets in the kettle and
whole flower Hallertau Mittelfrueh in the whirlpool. We originally
arranged to buy the last whole flower Hallertau left in the USA.
When it came time to take delivery, we got a panicked call from
our hop broker saying the hops were no longer in inventory. We
turned to German hop expert Willy Buholzer who dispatched Wilhelm
Reith, a 75 year old hop farmer and expert to hand pick the best
Hallertau Mittelfrueh hops at the hop plant in St. Johann. These
hand selected hops were packaged and sent by Lufthansa jet for
brewing in Chicago two days later.


Yeast:

Old Town Yard is fermented with a traditional Munich lager yeast
that produces very little Diacetyl, but a nice bouquet of esters and
a pleasant sulfur note.


Availability:
February-March, Chicago Only
Draft: 1/6 Barrels

About the Fulton & Wood limited release draft series:
This series is the product of separate, small innovation
groups made up of Goose Island brewers. Each team
of brewers is given full creative license to brew whatever
they dream up and share it with the city of Chicago.
Brewed in small batches and served on draft only in
Chicago each new release will honor, explore, or bend
the traditions of brewing.