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Goose Island goes big and tropical with new beer release

A beer bursting with tropical goodness

By Mark Stock Jan 8, 2026 9:55 AM

Goose Island Big lineup. — Goose Island

The craft beer world seems to be going one way or the other these days. One branch is opting for lighter or non-alcoholic beers. The other is adopting the go big or go home philosophy.

Many, of course, are accommodating both sides of the coin. Esteemed midwest outfit Goose Island is one of those brands, behind one of the best session IPAs out there. The brewery’s newest release is a high-octane number available in an assortment of intriguing flavors.

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Say hello to the Big Hazy Pineapple Beer Hug, a 9.9% ABV IPA with big tropical notes. It joins a few other flavors in the Big Hazy family, including juicy, mango, and tropical. The beer is available in six-packs as well as oversized 19.2-ounce cans in retailers from coast to coast.

The beer hug name is clever and the brand has fully embraced the angle with a cool-as-a-cucumber furry friend sporting sunglasses on the cans. It’s yet another development from a producer known for everything from barrel-aged beers to wheat ales.

If you’re engaging in Dry January, don’t worry, as you can crack one of these next month. And if you’re not, consider the beer on a chilly winter evening. The extra weight and tropical notes will evoke something faraway and sun-kissed.

Goose Island Beer Co. was born in 1988 in Chicago. It’s one of the longest standing craft producers in the U.S. and has become especially synonymous with coveted barrel-aged beers, released annually to wide acclaim. Like Sierra Nevada, the brand has grown substantially over the years without losing sights of its crafty roots.

Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since… Read Full Bio

Topics

Liquor, Beer, Wine & Drinks

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