The team behind the Goose Island Beer Company based in Chicago has paid a visit to the Bury St Edmunds brewery of Greene King.

Under a deal signed with AB InBev UK last July, Greene King has exclusive rights to distribute Goose island beers in England and Wales. Three of its beers, Goose Island IPA, Goose Island Honkers Ale and Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale, are now available in a number of Greene King pubs, with the IPA available on draught for the first time ever in the UK.

As part of a whistlestop tour of the UK, also including visits to a number of Greene King pubs in London and the South East, a party including Goose Island brewmaster Brett Porter and brewery innovation manager Mike Siegel were shown around the Greene King brewery in Westgate Street, Bury, by the company’s own master brewer, John Bexon.

Brett Porter said: “We have had a brilliant time in the UK and we could not be happier to have Greene King distributing our beers on these shores. We look forward to returning the favour very soon by welcoming some of the great Greene King team to Chicago.”

John Bexon added: “It was a pleasure to welcome Brett, Mike and the team to our historic brewery and to Bury St Edmunds. Interest in American craft beer has never been greater in the UK and we look forward to boosting interest further by distributing Goose Island’s fantastic ales.”

Greene King is a member of the EADT/EDP Top100 listing of the 100 largest companies in Suffolk and Norfolk.