Bourbon County Stout by Goose Island

Beer specs

Beer details: Rating: 90; Bourbon County Stout; Brewery: Goose Island · Chicago, IL; Variety: Ale · American Ale · American Double / Imperial Stout; Alcohol: ABV 11.00% / ABW 9.00%; IBU: 60; Preferred vessel: Snifter; Color: Full Black (Imperial stout) (70 SRM); Added by bainard; Last updated by Phil Dokas

A gigantic imperial stout aged 100 days in Heaven Hill barrels. One of the first barrel-aged beers to gain notoriety.

Smooth, Sweet, Chocolate, Smoky

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Reviews

Review by bainard

Rating: 96

bainard

drank this beer from a Snifter in Chicago, IL

Jan. 13th, 2009 at 9:33 p.m.

Comment:
This beer, especially the 2005 vintage, is one of the best things I’ve ever tasted. I take off one point only because the 2006 version was a drop-off from the first bottled version. Subsequent vintages have been stellar, per normal.

Characteristics: black hole challenging complex dark chocolate vanilla viscous
Review by nickd

Rating: 97

nickd

drank this beer from a Snifter in Chicago, IL

Jan. 13th, 2009 at 9:44 p.m.

Comment:
I’m not going to fault previous vintages for being a bit immature in the bottle. It’s an honor to make this my first review for my site, one of the best beers I’ve had, near-unassailably flawless.

An unbelievable array of flavors: smoke, vanilla, bourbon, chocolate, dark fruit lingering in the finish of many vintages (especially older ones).

This beer is not for everybody - it’s too huge and overwhelmingly full-bodied for some of my friends - but in the 13% stout category, it’s about as close to flawless as you can get.

I’ve had every vintage since 02.

Characteristics: black bourbon chocolate smoke vanilla
Review by nmcfarl

Rating: 95

nmcfarl

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Portland, OR

Jan. 14th, 2009 at 5:37 p.m.

Comment:

Characteristics: bourbon carmel smoke viscous
Review by Mark Eagleton

Rating: 77

Mark Eagleton

drank this beer from a Snifter in Woodland, CA

Jan. 14th, 2009 at 8:33 p.m.

Comment:
I think this is the biggest beer I have ever tasted. I love huge beers, but this one has a little too much going on for me. I found it to be overly sweet and syrupy. On the other hand, the bourbon, smoke, coffee, and dark chocolate flavors seemed to be heavily competing with each other for attention. Normally that might suggest good balance, but it is so potent that it was too difficult for me to sort out. Perhaps it just needed a stir.

The 12 oz. bottle is too big of a container for this beer. It should be consumed in servings of 9 or 6 oz.. Smaller bottles would also reduce the price point. I paid $19.99 for four 12 oz. bottles.

I say this as a huge fan of Russian Imperial Stouts, and I still highly recommend tasting this beer. Be sure to split it with a friend.

Characteristics: bourbon coffee dark chocolate smoke
Review by sixwing

Rating: 87

sixwing

drank this beer from a Other in Los Angeles, CA

Jan. 15th, 2009 at 8:27 p.m.

Comment:
This beer is a serious head-turner… might just leave your head spinning, too. A beautiful round flavor profile, with a nicely integrated bourbon spirit, this is a dark dream in a glass.

Characteristics: black bourbon dark elegant intense strong
Review by ALUCARD

Rating: 95

ALUCARD

drank this beer from a Goblet in Chicago, IL

Jan. 21st, 2009 at 8:44 a.m.

Comment:
Unfairly delicious. Huge, massive, unrelenting; the “Dopesmoker” of beers. I don’t even want to describe it too much because then I’ll want one and they only sell them in the god damn Midwest. Still the only beer I’ve ever traded for. If you don’t enjoy it, you have a problem medicine cannot solve.

Characteristics:
Review by Nick Nunns

Rating: 94

Nick Nunns

drank this beer from a Goblet in Denver, CO

Jan. 21st, 2009 at 10:36 a.m.

Comment:
Unbelievable beer. Pours akin to tar, tastes like distilled magic. If Norse gods were around today they’d have replaced their stores of mead.

Characteristics:
Review by Dan Reedy

Rating: 90

Dan Reedy

drank this beer from a Pint glass

Jan. 23rd, 2009 at 2 p.m.

Comment:

Characteristics:
Review by kylejlarson

Rating: 93

kylejlarson

drank this beer from a Snifter in Minneapolis, MN

Jan. 25th, 2009 at 2:25 p.m.

Comment:
2007 edition. Fills the glass with blackness and very little tan head. Smell is roasted coffee, bourbon, vanilla, and happiness.

The taste still makes me smile like a tourist even though I’m just back visiting again. The alcohol is there but is nicely wrapped with dark chocolate, bourbon, and molasses.

Mouthfeel is rich and silky. Drinkability is excellent, but its definitely a sipper; its got more flavor than fits between my jaws. This beer has major bourbon/alcohol bite to it and is well worth aging for a year if you can stand the wait.

Characteristics: bourbon chocolate molasses
Review by hey_phatalbert

Rating: 89

hey_phatalbert

drank this beer from a Tulip

March 12th, 2009 at 9:47 a.m.

Comment:
Wow, the bourbon influence lingers on the pallet e and you can feel it in the nose. Dark as night with a nice head and lace

Characteristics: alcohol finish dark smooth
Review by Noodlefrenzy

Rating: 75

Noodlefrenzy

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Seattle, WA

April 8th, 2009 at 9:41 p.m.

Comment:
I freely admit, this beer is too much for me. Reminds me (quite a bit) of Sam Adams Triple Bock, for those who’ve had that. For those who haven’t: it pours out slow, because it’s syrupy. It is sweet, almost cloyingly so, but beyond that you can taste an array of flavors: bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, malt.

If this is the type of beer you’re into, you’ll definitely be into it - it is executed well. But for me, if I go for an overpowering flavor, it’s usually on the hoppy end of the spectrum.

(Note: This was the 2008, un-aged, consumed at fridge temperature)

Characteristics: bourbon chocolate malt smoke sweet syrupy vanilla
Review by M@

Rating: 91

M@

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Washington, DC

June 2nd, 2009 at 1:31 p.m.

Comment:
Pours thick black with no head. There some slight carbonation, but it goes away quickly.

smells of malts, dark fruit, caramel, and wood. I detect some bourbon in there as well.

taste is instantly warming and goes up to alcohol heat and finishes burnt brown sugar sweet with the warmth of the alcohol. very unique.

mouthfeel is very syrupy and think.

Characteristics: alcohol bourbon burned caramel malty molasses sweet
Review by Keith

Rating: 91

Keith

drank this beer from a Snifter in Seattle, WA

June 2nd, 2009 at 8:25 p.m.

Comment:
Drinking the 2008 version.

This is a very sexy looking brew. Pours oily and inky black, looks very smooth coming out of the bottle. Has a thin dark tan head. Oh my god. This is some good stuff!! Sort of sweet, but with a really interesting flavor. You can certainly taste the bourbon, but I find it really appealing. It’s, wow, hard to describe. Tasty, sweet, sort of coffee, actually reminds me of Kahlua a bit, but in a good way. This is a yummy brew. Has a real nice smooth and oily mouthfeel as well.

Characteristics: coffee oily roasted smooth sweet
Review by nilok

Rating: 90

nilok

drank this beer from a Bottle in Seattle, WA

Aug. 13th, 2009 at 4:38 p.m.

Comment:
This has a tangy, sweet taste to it which really does taste like a good Kentucky bourbon was added to deep, dark, creamy stout. It has to be sipped, but if you relax and sip it, it is very tasty.

Characteristics: creamy smooth sweet tangy