amartin1979

Please be true. Please!

BigJC

Maybe I'm splitting hairs here but 312 is brewed in New York and Colorado now. Still an improvement over what is currently served onboard.

astroflyer

Microbrewery or not, it's still a big step up.
Rumor has it that they plan to introduce "versions" of this beer in other markets where the area code is updated from 312 to the local area code without changing the product. Clever, huh?

Duke787

Huge improvement - it's a shame they waited until it was not longer brewed in Chicago to start offering it

I'm flying my first United flight in forever next week at the tail-end of an award trip (in Y due to no F space too ) so I'll see if it's catered on the YYZ - IAD UAX flight as early as next week (assuming I'm still capable of drinking alcohol after my MUC - YYZ flight in F )

vsevolod4

It's funny and just a bit sad UA would pick Goose Island in order to upgrade its brand image.

Because at the same time, Goose Island, under its ownership by megaconglomerate AnheuserBuschInBev is experiencing a downgrade of its brand image, as it gets overproduced and overdistributed.

Now, only about 15% of the "312" beer is actually manufactured in the Goose Island (Chicago) brewery; the rest comes from two Budweiser factories in Fort Collins, Colorado and Baldwinsville, NY. 75% of Honkers is still produced in Chicago and about 40% of the IPA. The premium end (Matilda, the lovely Lolita and the like) is still produced at the source, and have not suffered any quality issues.

I have nothing against Goose Island for selling out -- after all the owners got $38 million (good for them!!), the brand got national distribution, the employees got better pay and higher safety, and their parent company relationship gives them access to any malt and any hops in the world which previously might have been a challenge. And Goose Island is still a proper (and better than average) "craft" brewery and has not become a complete fake front for a macrobrewery (such as Blue Moon, Shock Top or Redd's). However, to the extent that one is intrigued by artisanally produced, regional, family owned craft breweries, this is not one any more.

gobluetwo

GI is a significant improvement over Bud Light and Heineken, imo, regardless of one's feelings on the "craft" status or perceived downgrade in quality relative to where GI started.

Not really a pale ale/bitter/IPA guy, so don't really care for Honkers by that criterion alone, but do enjoy the 312 wheat ale. Matilda is nice, as is the specially brewed Marisol, which can be had at Tortas Frontera in ORD.

WhyPayRent

...So is this a joke then...?

And I think they are going to have problems with that. There are quite a few beers that are named after their area code already. 512 Brewing in Austin comes to mind.

waxearwings

Waiting for the other chips to fall....

enviroian

I welcome the addition of a great beer like this. However 7 beers being stocked seems awful silly. Also I haven't seen these beers in cans ever so I don't know how UA is going to stock bottles (or perhaps they are going to start now)

Duke787

They make them in cans (at least I know for a fact 312 is in cans) - pretty much a direct result of the sale to Anheuser Busch (Magic Hat, my go to, also is available these days in a can which happened after it got sold to FIFCO a couple years ago)

sbm12

Sam Adams makes cans, too, though they're still independent.



That got them back on to JetBlue flights after an absence directly attributed to lack of cans.

mgcsinc

Cans are all the rage among the fancy beer people.

oskidunker

My guess is United is giving them exosurer in exchange for a price less than it cost them to produce it.

CrazedZooChimp

Not owned by Fritz Maytag anymore though, he sold it to the former owners of Skyy Vodka (who sold that off before) a few years ago. Or at least the investment group headed by them based near SF. Still, more or less independent (in that it's not owned by one of the giant brewers).

http://www.inc.com/news/articles/201...y-griffin.html

And whether or not GI is owned by InBev, this is still a big improvement. Finally might get beer on a UA flight.

318i