Goose Island Bourbon County Stout

2008 bottle. Nose hits you right out of the bottle with sweet and charred notes. The pour is coal black with a fairly small, light brown-dark caramel color, fizzy-frothy head which is mostly diminishing and leaves minimal lace. Finally the nose... certianly potent but not quite complex enough yet; lots of charred oak, vanilla, light bourbon notes, blackstrap molasses, light candied currants, hints at anise and chocolate chip cookies. Flavor is amazing; sweet, rich, dessert-like, and robust, still a bit young. Notes of black strap molasses, lots of candied currants, burnt caramel, sweet vanilla bean, and chocolate chip cookies start the flavor progression but they are immediately followed by lots charred/scorched oak, light anise, a hefty amount of bourbon warmth, light notes of dark roast coffee, and some floral hops moving into the finish. Palate is too carbonated being lively but the full body and the velvety, chewy, nearly oily texture made up for it a bit; more than moderate warmth. Finishes only average length with sweet notes diminishing leaving bourbon, some roast, and light floral hop notes. Lots of mixed emotions in this one; a perfect flavor with so many nice, complementing things going on. However, the forced carbonation hurt the head and the palate, which could have great, the finish died out a bit too quickly, the warmth was nice for a bourbon imperial stout but was a bit too young, and the nose could have been great with a bit more time in the cellar. So, I guess for now I am just going to applaud the flavor in all its complexity and desert-like richness and cellar some bottles; we’ll see what happens in some time.

12 oz bottle. Very surprised from this twist-off bottle of beer. The beer poured very thick and dark with a dark tan head. I immediately noticed the aroma of bourbon, vanilla, and oak. I enjoyed the aroma so much I almost didnt want to drink it. Once I got around to it, the taste was just as nice. Very sweet and the taste of bourbon and oak finished it off. Very good Imperial Stout. This beer is one of the best I have had.

Big beer. oaky aromas and a smooth acidic palate. Long finish.Almost dill like, probably from the bourbon wood? I like it.

on tap @ Ginger Man NYC. Poured dark black with thin head. Definite bourbon aroma over coffee. Flavour was deep sweet alc and chocolate with a faint fruit and coffee finish. Very good sipper. Kind of remined me of those Jack Daniels chocolates you get around xmas with the booze in them...

Bottle courtesy of jerrymorrison. Bottled 10/21/08. 13% Abv. Pours a pitch black color with a thin brown head that fades but a couple of swirls brings it back. I gladly spent a lot of time on the aroma, oak, pine, bourbon, sherry, even some dark fruit behind all of that, wonderful scent. Lots of oak, vanilla, bourbon and rum flavors, a little roasty but not a lot of that as the oak and bourbon shine, with some piney hops and hint of dark chocolate. There is an alcohol bite but it’s a controlled burn that’s soothing and very warm. What an amazing beer. Perfect evening sipper. Thanks again Jerry!

12 oz bottle. Trying to remember what this was like, but it was special enough I think I can remember it. Forewarning: I don’t like bourbon. Pours a jet black with a large tan head that lasts. Smells of lots of bourbon (extremely bourbon), and some vanilla (nothing compared to the bourbon). Tastes of straight bourbon, not even like a beer, more like drinking bourbon. It was interesting, as I knew it was a beer, but it was so extreme that I had to think that to drink it all. Surprisingly smooth though. A beer to have, definitely

Appearance...It’s a goddam Imperial stout. Clarity? who gives a shit? Black?...check. Long-lasting tan head?...check. Aroma...Clean bourbon oak. Lots of vanilla, but nothing is really over-the-top...and I mean that in a positive light. Ever so light presence of the soy-like autolysis, but actually not offensive. There is some dark fruit, but it’s in the background. The chocolate is nice and there is no roast to speak of. Flavor...This is all about balance. There is really nothing out of place at all. just oh-so-smooth chocolate, vanilla and bourbon in nice tight package. Palate...Does a beer of this strength get much smoother. Rich creamy body, but never cloying. Just beautiful. O.I. ..... Quite simply, the finest execution of a 12%+ beer that I have had. Just so smooth and drinkable. Everything in balance, and nothing making my jaw hurt or making me hold back from taking a good haul. If I can’t take a good haul...there’s something wrong. I just wish I could re-rate all of my other 1002 ratings to be in-line with a beer this good.

APPEARANCE: Pours a obsidian black color with a medium brown head that dissipates a slowly. Not much lacing. SMELL: Bourbon, oak, chocolate, molasses. Hints of leather. TASTE: Wow, that is an intense beer! Bourbon, molasses, caramel. Definitely on the sweet side but has a slight alcohol burn. Finishes with a slight smoky flavor MOUTHFEEL FULL body beer with a syrupy texture. Light fizzy carbonation. DRINKABILITY: This is a sipping beer. I split a 12 ounce beer with a friend and that was plenty. I would probably give this beer a C based on drinkability but you have to give it an A for complexity and uniqueness. NOTES: BBCSD-0812-Geoff