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Goose Island Girls’ Night Out & Giveaway!

July 18, 2014

If there’s one thing I love more than drinking beer, it’s cooking with beer. So you can imagine how excited I was to be invited to the Goose Island Girls’ Night Out event for their Migration Week in Charleston! The event was held at Charleston Cooks! in Charleston and featured an “interactive cooking demonstration complete with Goose Island beer pairings.” Uh, yes please!

You had me at "Cheers!"

You had me at “Cheers!”

Lily and I arrived at Charleston Cooks! and were super pumped to meet all of the reps from Goose Island, as well as Jesse Valenciana, one of the cofounders & authors of the cookbook “ManBQue.” I wish he would’ve had his cookbook there so I could’ve bought an autographed copy or two. I know some “mans” who would definitely like this book. Although not as cool as a cookbook, we did get these beautiful branded beer glasses, which we sampled their vintage ales out of.

I'm a fancy beer drinker now!

I’m a fancy beer drinker now!

After everyone settled in, we learned that we’d be preparing a number of different recipes, each featuring one of the awesome Goose Island beers we were also going to be tasting that night. Lily and I volunteered to be in charge of the “Breakfast Beer Cheese,” which featured honey, manchego cheese, mustard, and Goose Island’s Matilda ale.

Beer + cheese = Happiness

Beer + cheese = Happiness

We served it with fresh sliced baguette, and it was absolutely delicious.

Also bread.

Also bread.

The main course of the evening was a “Aged Cheddar and Apple Stuffed chicken Breasts Braise in 312 Lager.”

Apple and cheddar is one of those flavors that shouldn't taste good together, but is actually quite yummy.

Apple and cheddar is one of those flavors that shouldn’t taste good together, but is actually quite yummy.

The chicken was pounded out super thin, stuffed with caramelized, chopped apple and shredded cheddar cheese, and then rolled up and braised in Goose Island’s 312 lager. Charleston Cooks! provided these cool rubber things that we used to roll up the chicken, and I was really tempted to buy some after the class.

But I make enough of a mess as it is just using toothpicks.

But I make enough of a mess as it is just using toothpicks.

The chicken was absolutely delicious, and this is definitely a recipe I’d make again.

Mmmm, so good.

Mmmm, so good.

The two boys in the class were in charge of the “Beer Batter Onion Rings with Sriracha Ketchup,” which were done tempura-style and were totally delish. I’m obsessed with sriracha ketchup. It might just be my next go-to condiment. I would have been super intimidated to use the fryer (even though I’ve used one before), so I’m glad the guys volunteered to handle it. And what a great job they did!

Those bubbles do not look warm and inviting, but scary and full of regret.

Those bubbles do not look warm and inviting, but scary and full of regret.

The other side dish for the evening was the “Lemon Ale Risotto with Thyme and Asparagus,” which was made with the Goose Island Sofie ale, and featured arborio rice, fresh lemon zest, and parmesan cheese.

I'll eat pretty much anything with lemon zest on it.

I’ll eat pretty much anything with lemon zest on it.

It was absolutely divine. I kind of wish we’d helped with this one because I’ve never made a risotto before, but Lily didn’t really want to try and sharpen our knife skills (get it?) in front of all of these strangers.

Although in retrospect, it doesn't actually seem that intense.

Although in retrospect, it doesn’t actually seem that intense.

Everything came together wonderfully, and even though each of the dishes had its own distinct flavor profile, they all complemented each other really well. I left feeling very satisfied indeed.

If not craving slightly more vegetables.

If not craving slightly more vegetables.

For dessert, we tried the decadent “Bourbon County Stout Tart with Oreo Cookie Crust.” I’ll let that sink in with you for a second. Yep.

Few ingredients, but full of flavor.

Few ingredients, but full of flavor.

It was damn good. I’m glad they only had enough for each of us to only eat 1, because I definitely could’ve devoured an entire tray.

The stout alone was sweet enough to be considered dessert.

The stout alone was sweet enough to be considered dessert.

We also got to taste all of the beers separately. Although I’m no beer connoisseur, I really liked all 4 of the beers (Sofie, Matilda, 312, and Honker’s Ale) that we sampled at the cooking event. After the event was over, Lily and I went around town to some of the other bars the Goose Island reps were visiting that night and got to try some of their limited edition and rare beers that they were sampling. Some of these I liked, and some of them were not my favorite, but I really enjoyed experiencing them and hanging out with all the reps. It was a very fun evening.

You could say that we "migrated" from bar to bar!

You could say that we “migrated” from bar to bar!

This is one of the more unique events I’ve had the pleasure of attending, and I want to thank Goose Island for letting me be a part of it. Go out and try at least the Honker’s Ale if you’ve never had it before! As a big thanks to all of you, I scored an extra t-shirt and a copy of the “ManBQue” cookbook to give away to you fine folks! To enter, simply leave a comment below with the name of your favorite Goose Island Beer. Earn extra points by following me on Facebook & Twitter. Giveaway ends 7/27 at 11:59 pm. Good luck!

Best of luck!

Best of luck!

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  • Katie Perkinson July 18, 2014 at 10:04 am

    Perk likes their IPA!

  • Kayla July 18, 2014 at 3:56 pm

    Do out of state entries count? 🙂 I’ll go with Sofie as best GI beer, but I’d love to try the bourbon county stout!

  • kristen mcclary July 18, 2014 at 9:25 pm

    Goose Island Sofie ale is my pick

  • meredith July 19, 2014 at 9:41 pm

    I like the Honker’s Ale

  • Austin Baroudi July 20, 2014 at 2:07 pm

    Haven’t had the chance to try Goose Island beer yet.

  • Mihaela Day July 21, 2014 at 2:50 pm

    I love the Honker’s Ale

  • Manbque Cookbook and Goose Island T-shirt Giveaway - Giveaway Promote July 21, 2014 at 3:25 pm

    […] Enter this Giveaway at Queen of the Food Age […]

  • Victoria July 21, 2014 at 10:10 pm

    I really like its Endless IPA!

  • Rosanne July 22, 2014 at 12:06 am

    Urban Pale Ale

  • Nicole Sender July 22, 2014 at 1:52 am

    Goose Island Ten Hill Pale Ale is great!

  • melanie Borhi July 22, 2014 at 4:56 am

    Urban pale ale!

  • michelle k. July 22, 2014 at 11:04 am

    My favorite is India Pale Ale

  • beth July 22, 2014 at 11:16 am

    India Pale Ale

  • Marlene V. (Enelram) July 22, 2014 at 12:04 pm

    I really like the INDIA PALE ALE

  • Patti Panuccio July 22, 2014 at 1:03 pm

    First time I’ve heard about it. I want to try all of it.

  • Margie July 22, 2014 at 2:25 pm

    I like the Pale ale

  • Sandi Tymchuk July 22, 2014 at 5:20 pm

    I don’t drink beer, but my husband likes India Pale Ale.

  • roger simmons July 22, 2014 at 8:35 pm

    Ive never tried their beer

  • Chic Southern Charm July 22, 2014 at 10:38 pm

    I like the Sofie 🙂

  • Casandra July 22, 2014 at 11:03 pm

    I’m really partial to the IPA…mainly because I’m into super hoppy beer right now. I love all of ’em though!

  • beth shepherd July 22, 2014 at 11:04 pm

    Urban Pale Ale

  • Britnee July 22, 2014 at 11:35 pm

    Urban Pale Ale is my favorite!

  • Jennifer Reed July 23, 2014 at 11:00 am

    I have not been fortunate enough to try any of the Goose Island Beers yet however I think I would love the Endless IPA variety. The description of it having a bright note of fresh oranges and other citrus fruit with a mild body that is crisp on the palate sounds wonderful.

  • Kristen July 24, 2014 at 1:27 am

    Our favorite is the IPA

  • Jessibeth Vicenty July 24, 2014 at 11:01 am

    I have never heard of this beer. Now I’m really interested on it.

  • Wanda Bergman July 24, 2014 at 4:25 pm

    Honker’s Ale

  • nicole July 24, 2014 at 5:58 pm

    honker’s ale is only one i’ve tried!

  • Natalie Brown July 24, 2014 at 7:50 pm

    I’ve never tried any of their beer before but the Harvest Ale sounds tasty! This is a cool cookbook too. My husband would love it!

  • Tyger Young July 25, 2014 at 3:14 am

    gotta stick with the honkers!

  • Stephanie Galbraith July 25, 2014 at 8:28 pm

    I have never tried Goose Island Beer. I would probably try out a blonde or a hefeweizen if they have them.

  • liz l July 26, 2014 at 12:34 am

    Never tasted but hubby says they sound yummy

  • Lorena Keech July 26, 2014 at 4:31 pm

    I’ve never had their beer, but I love stouts so I’d like to try the stout first.

  • Kristen Patton July 27, 2014 at 8:44 am

    Haven’t tried any but my husband would love their IPA

  • Eric Rathbun July 27, 2014 at 2:13 pm

    I’ve only had the Ten Hills Pale Ale and it was delicious

  • Jaime July 27, 2014 at 2:52 pm

    I have never tried their products

  • Karen T Gonyea July 27, 2014 at 6:57 pm

    I haven’t tried any yet, but I’m a big fan of IPA’s 🙂

  • Laurie Emerson July 27, 2014 at 10:06 pm

    My favorite Goose Island Beer is their India Pale Ale.