Goose Island is offering free beer depending on who wins the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon — and it’s a big catch.

The popular Chicago-based brewery will offer free beer, sort of, to the city, suburbs “and beyond” if the winner of the 2025 race is from Chicago.

“The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is one of the city’s biggest sporting events, with 53,000 runners competing and nearly 1.7 million spectators lining the streets to cheer them on. Even though most of its participants are natives of the Windy City, the 26.2 mile race has been dominated by outsiders…a Chicagoan has NEVER won the Chicago Marathon since its founding in 1977,” the company wrote on its website. “Goose Island Beer Co. is cheering on the Chicago locals this year!”

The company said if a Chicagoan “in any of the professional subgroups” wins the race “Chicagoland and beyond gets a beer on Goose Island.”

There’s one important note, however. The prize isn’t actually beer, but a $5 Venmo or PayPal prize.

So how will it work?

If a Chicagoan wins the Oct. 12 race, the promotion will begin.

“Professional subgroups” can include anyone from the men’s professional runner field, the women’s professional runner field, the men’s professional wheelchair group or the women’s profession wheelchair group. The winner must “reside in city limits.”

Once the winner crosses the finish line, Goose Island will then open up a “submission form,” which will be available until 11:59 p.m. CT on Oct. 15, “or while supplies last, whichever occurs first.”

The first 8,520 entries “whose submissions are verified,” will then receive a $5 Venmo or PayPal payment.

Who you should be rooting for?

Of the top elite lineup for all subgroups, it appears none actually reside in Chicago, so the chances of a Chicagoan winning the race may be slim.

But a prize like this on the line could be just what Chicago needs to make history and do what has never been done before.

The 2025 Chicago Marathon steps off Oct. 12. If you’re looking to cheer for free beer in person, here’s a guide. Or if you prefer to root from your home, you can stream the entire race live here.