Lost Palate: A Tribute to the Flavors That Were Never Lost

Jonny Coffman and the team of Goose Island supporters who joined him at the 2019 Cancer Survivors' Celebration Walk & 5K

For Jonny Coffman, losing his beard was an unwelcome side effect of cancer treatment at the Lurie Cancer Center. But he looks back on losing his ability to taste “as the worst part of all. I almost completely lost my palate,” he recalls. “Eventually, I discovered through trial and error that mangoes and oats with cinnamon were the only flavors I could still taste.”

The Goose Island Beer Company Brand Ambassador worked with his colleagues to highlight those same flavors in their first hazy IPA, Lost Palate. In addition to sharing the delicious new brew with beer lovers, Jonny and the team at Goose Island wanted to thank his care team at the Lurie Cancer Center and Northwestern Medicine -- including oncologist Sunandana Chandra, MD, radiation therapist, Timothy Kruser, MD, and head and neck surgeon, Jose Dutra, MD –and to make a difference for other patients by supporting our efforts.

The first few limited-edition batches sold out quickly. Now, it’s available on draft and also in cans at Goose Island’s Fulton Street Taproom in Chicago, and they’re contributing a portion of the proceeds to advance research and innovative cancer care at the Lurie Cancer Center. ”I’m happy to say I’m cancer-free,” said Coffman. “This beer pays tribute to the flavors that were never lost.”