Goose Island Honkers Ale 6Pk Cans

Goose Island Honkers Ale 6Pk Cans is an English-style bitter brewed in Chicago, Illinois, packaged as a 6-pack of 12 oz cans at 4.3% ABV. First brewed in 1988 at Goose Island's Clybourn Brewpub, Honkers Ale holds the distinction of being the very first beer the brewery ever produced, making it a foundational piece of Chicago's craft beer identity.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.3%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois, USA  |  Style: English-Style Bitter  |  IBU: 30  |  Brewery: Goose Island Beer Company

Production & Heritage

Goose Island Beer Company was founded by John Hall in 1988 on North Clybourn Avenue in Chicago, inspired by his travels through the English pub scene and a desire to bring that tradition stateside. Honkers Ale was the brewery's inaugural release — an English bitter built on a four-malt grain bill of 2-Row, Caramel, Wheat, and Roasted Barley malts, hopped with Styrian Goldings and East Kent Golding varieties. The brewery was acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2011, though Honkers Ale has remained a cornerstone of the lineup, staying true to the balanced, sessionable profile Hall originally envisioned.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Caramel malt and toasted grain form the backbone, layered with peachy fruit, grapefruit zest, and a subtle woody hop character. A slight note of Naval orange emerges as the beer warms.

Taste: The palate opens with bready malt sweetness that moves into caramel and a touch of butterscotch at mid-palate. Nutty undertones mingle with apple and orange notes before citrusy, floral Golding hops rise through the finish with a gentle spice. At 30 IBUs, the bitterness is restrained — enough to balance the malt without overwhelming it.

Finish: Medium-short and clean, with lingering citrus peel and bready grain. A light woody tartness sweeps through at the end, leaving the palate refreshed and ready for the next sip.

How to Drink Honkers Ale

Honkers Ale drinks best at cellar temperature, around 50–55°F, which allows the malt complexity and hop aromatics to fully develop — pulling it from the fridge 10 minutes before pouring makes a noticeable difference. Pour into a traditional English pint glass or nonic to appreciate the coppery amber color and off-white head. Its moderate bitterness and sessionable 4.3% ABV make it a natural candidate for extended drinking sessions alongside a meal or on its own.

Best For

• Introducing someone to English-style bitters through an accessible American-brewed example
• Pairing with a weekend cookout or backyard gathering where session-strength beer is ideal
• Stocking the fridge for football Sundays or casual group settings
• Gifting a Chicago beer enthusiast looking to revisit the city's craft roots

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Honkers Ale taste like? Honkers Ale delivers bready caramel malt, subtle butterscotch, and nutty depth balanced by citrusy, floral Golding hops with a clean, lightly tart finish. It closely mirrors a traditional English bitter — malt-forward, balanced, and highly drinkable.

How does Honkers Ale compare to Fuller's London Pride? Both are English-style bitters with caramel malt backbones and floral hop profiles, but Honkers Ale is lighter-bodied at 4.3% ABV compared to London Pride's 4.7%, and its use of Wheat and Roasted Barley malts gives it a slightly grainier, drier quality. Fuller's tends toward a richer, more toffee-driven palate owing to its all-English malt bill and proprietary yeast strain.

Is Honkers Ale good for beginners? Absolutely — its low ABV, gentle bitterness of 30 IBUs, and approachable malt sweetness make it one of the most accessible entry points into English-style ales for drinkers exploring beyond lagers.

Where is Honkers Ale made? Honkers Ale is brewed by Goose Island Beer Company, originally founded on North Clybourn Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, in 1988. Since Anheuser-Busch InBev's acquisition in 2011, production has expanded beyond the original Chicago brewpub.

What foods pair well with Honkers Ale? Roast chicken or turkey benefits from the ale's caramel sweetness and hop-driven cut. Sharp cheddar or aged Gruyère complement the nutty, bready malt. Fish and chips mirror the beer's English bitter roots. Grilled sausages play well against the subtle spice notes. Apple pie or fruit crumble echoes the beer's fruity, caramel character.

What sizes does Honkers Ale come in? Honkers Ale is commonly available in 6-packs of 12 oz cans, though availability of other formats may vary by market and season.

Is Honkers Ale worth the price? Honkers Ale positions as an everyday, session-priced ale — it sits firmly in the value tier of craft beer and delivers complexity well above its price point, particularly for drinkers who appreciate malt-driven, lower-ABV styles.

Why Honkers Ale?

Honkers Ale holds a singular place in American craft brewing as the beer that launched Goose Island in 1988. Its four-malt grain bill and traditional Golding hop pairing produce a faithful interpretation of the English bitter that few American breweries have matched for balance and drinkability over multiple decades. At 4.3% ABV, it occupies an increasingly rare space — a genuinely sessionable ale with enough malt depth to reward attentive drinking. For anyone looking for a well-made, historically significant bitter that doesn't demand a premium price, Honkers Ale remains one of the most reliable options available in the American market.