Goose Island Brews Limited-Edition ‘Petite Matilda Belgian Style Session Ale’

CHICAGO, Ill. — Goose Island Beer Co. is partnering with award-winning Chicago chef and restaurateur Paul Kahan to create a special beer that honors tradition, complements food and proves to be super sessionable. The Windy City is in for a treat — Petite Matilda Belgian Style Session Ale debuts just as the 26th Annual James Beard Awards arrives in town.

A trip Chef Kahan took to Belgium with friends sparked the idea for Petite Matilda. There, Kahan first tasted Petite Orval — an experience he still remembers. He and former Goose Island Brewmaster, Greg Hall, toured one of the oldest Trappist breweries, drank Orval and its unassuming lower-alcohol version, which the monks made for themselves in limited quantities. Those unexpected, flavorful characteristics of Petite Orval inspired Petite Matilda.

“Paul Kahan has been a friend of Goose Island Beer Company for years. When it comes to beer and food, his appreciation and talent are some of the reasons Chicago’s culinary scene is so amazing,” says Ken Stout, Goose Island President and General Manager. “We all love this beer and are super excited to share it with the city at a time when all of the best chefs are coming to town.”

The concept of creating a more easy-drinking beer to enjoy throughout a meal resonated with Goose Island’s brewers and Chef Kahan, so they decided to create their own with one of Kahan’s favorite Goose Island beers. “Brewer and Innovation Manager Mike Siegel, Big Star’s Beverage Director Laurent Lebec and I set out to capture everything that we love about Matilda, but in a super sessionable package,” Chef Kahan explains. “As Matilda takes its inspiration from Orval, we followed suit by crafting a beer inspired by Petite Orval, which is served only at the brewery in Belgium.”