Goose Island Bourbon County Stout

Brewed by Goose Island Beer Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Chicago, Illinois USA

Sampled at friend’s beer tasting. Pours a black oil color with a deep tan head. Aroma is dark chocolates, vanilla, oak, coffee, caramel. Flavor is sweet, but with notes of bitter dark chocolates. Finish is smooth, and alcohol isn’t that noticeable, at least not at the amount I consumed. A wonderful, brew that could only have been better had it been served with a cigar on the side.

Bomber. Bottled on: 10/16/09. Different label than that in the picture. A jet-black pour with an average-sized mocha head on top. A powerfully rich aroma of dark chocolate, vanilla extract, caramel, roasted coffee, and burnt oak. Full-bodied and sticky. The flavor starts off super-sweet with loads of caramel, sweet chocolate, and vanilla beans. Burnt toffee, vanilla extract, and an oaky quality follow. A semi-bittering finish reminiscent of the last few sips of a cup of coffee that has long since gone cold. Good stout.

dark fruits, malty extremely sweet, lacks hop balance on the finish. Interestingly I just finished a glass of the Creme Brulee, and this is WAY sweeter and over the top.

2008 Vintage (10/21/08) Thick, black, and oily liquid. Disappointingly though, there is no head to speak of, even with a hard pour. No real lacing, either. I swirled it to check it’s ’legs’ though. Hell, it’s wearing a skirt! Most impressive. Smell is over-the-top boozey. Bourbon notes are ever-so present. Smokey oak and hints of sweet vanilla. Hints of chocolate. Big overripe dark fruits. This reminds me of fresh S.A. Triple Bock. Wow. Bourbon warmth comes through prominently. Syrupy dark fruit flavors. Chocolate notes mingle with big vanilla flavor. Big malty backbone. Smokey oak flavor. Caramelized brown sugar. F***ing complex flavor pallette! For all of the bourbon-like warmth that is here, combined with the 13% ABV, I find the alcohol to be remarkably well hidden. Mouthfeel is phenomenal! For as big as this beer is, this is one smooth easy drinking bastard. Big, thick, chewey and oily, yet smooth and light on the tongue, at the same time. Amazing. I would like to drink these, one after the other, over an evening. When the alcohol eventually knocks me out, I’d like to wake up and continue on doing the same thing...for like a week. Damn, it’s good. This was so totally worth the wait and the effort. Worthy of seeking out.

As my friend Dean says, "I’ll drink the shit outta that one." Big bourbon, chocolate, light smoke and some oak. Lightly sweet. Just a beautiful mixture that comes together so well. One of my favorites, and it’s readily available these days. Gotta love it.

12oz of 2008 vintage - Two stroke oil pour, no fizz or head, oily mouthfeel. It had the good roasted marshmallow start and bitter hops finish, but there was a peanut brittle middle that I didn’t appreciate. Good not great.

Pours black with a light brown/tan head which quickly diminishes. Smells like bourbon and chocolate...what a great combo! Lots of chocolate and bourbon but the alcohol isn’t so overpowering that it takes away from the sweetness...perfectly blended together. Great feel in the mouth...like a chocolate milkshake with alcohol! A couple of these and I’d be feeling pretty good although I will say it’s an easy-to-drink stout, IMO.

bottle thanks to Daknole, pours thick black with a medium dark tan head. Aroma is very chocolatey with some oak, oats, and bourbon tones. Flavors start with a strong punch of roasted malt and cocoa. Really sweet and rich but balanced in a finish of bourbon and alcohol with light notes of wood. Really well done, and nicely balanced. The heat is a nice welcome and doesn’t overpower anything but rather sits along side some wonderful dark malt and chocolate flavors. Good stuff!