Goose Island Bourbon County Stout

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

09.29.05 GABF Why in the world did they have the bottles of this stuff buried in a tub of ice? Well, it’s black as can be, even in the tiny GABF tasting cup, and I get little to zero head on the multiple pours. Great nose melds bourbon and oak nicely with chocolate and tobacco. I don’t get the smoke notes that many talked about, but there seems to be a dry, earthy quality to it that could be the wood or could be the barrel’s pitch. Either way, it’s complimentary and nice. A sure bitterness pervades mixing bitter roast and woody hops. Long and roasty finish could be more bitter, but there’s a sweet coating, like the exhale of a flavored pipe tobacco. Very nice.

bottle, 10000 mile motor oil color, head is slight and tan, vinous, dried fruit nose, flavor of bourbon whiskey, intense, thick dark chocolate, white pepper, alcohol and sugar, finish is very even handed and makes this very hard to put down

My rating no. 1360, bottle obtained from porterhouse - thanks, Kevin! Bottled 8/16/05, drunk 9/30/07, fill line is high, right up on the crown. OMG huuuuge syrupy, medicinal chocolate and bourbon nose, loads and loads of non-roasted malt filling the room. Lesser notes of vanilla and wood, a touch of soy with some alcohol leaking in. Bourbon tends to dominate the other notes. Silky, soul-sucking black pour, opaque pitch resting body with a lacing, rocky, and tiny-bubbled dark brown head - gorgeous, dense stuff! Flavors only intensify with warmth. Taste is fat malt and predominately sweet bourbon, light wood to compliment and vanilla that sticks to the teeth and gums. Chocolate and light notes of roast. Touch of sweet burn (as the charred innards of a barrel might taste). Obesely thick body, very smooth, syrupy with slight pricking in the beginning and at the end. A long, really pleasant warming that settles in and wraps around you like a familiar blanket. I suppose this goes under ’straightforward’ rather than ’complex’, but the designation’s not used pejoratively. Definitely a sipper (a bit of a kick to the face at times). Rich, relaxing, and - most importantly - a lot of fun!

Have to wonder if the roast was much stronger when this was fresh and just died over the last two years, or if this is the finished version.

GABF 2005. Deep dark brown body with a lush, velvety tan head. Aroma of sweet chocolate syrup, fudge, molasses, and moderate bourbon. Flavor has a nice blend of chocolate, toasty raisins and figs, and noticeable but not overpowering bourbon. This is a nice bourbon stout that hits the notes I like.

Brown body so dark its almost black with faint brown head. Wonderful bourbon nose with an alcohol tinge to it. Creamy mouth feel with a buscuitty bourbon flavor. Tail finish has some faint coffee hint to it. Lingers for minutes.

Re-rate based on 3 July 2006 bottling. badnewsbeers shared this more recent vintage with me, and I was blown away. Thicker with a more complex flavor profile than the previous vintage I tried, offering huge prunes, plum, and soy, with big charred roasted malts and more subtle oak and bourbon notes than I remember from the original bottling. The 2006 vintage still has the hot alcohol finish, but everything else seems bolder and better crafted. Outstanding.

Previous review: Deep opaque charcoal brown/black body, thin/medium ochre head. Strong oak and vanilla aroma with chocolate, soy, and roasted malts in the background. Flavor started out with dominant oak/vanilla, but there was enough roast and chocolate backing the barrel flavors to provide crucial balance. Coffee and a touch of soy rounded out the flavor profile. Pretty full-bodied and a bit sticky with a burnt aftertaste as well as alcohol notes. Very good. Thanks JCW! (Numbers: 8-4-8-4-16).

Chocolate and beef bouillon (I know, but that is what I smell). Deep black with a fluffed up mocha head. THICK dark chocolate, espresso and bourbon syrup. Great for pancakes! Something like this really could go awry, but it actually comes together impressively. <P> After trying this multiple additional times my appreciation has become love. It is now one of my favorites.

(bottle - 12 oz - 2008 vintage) Dark oil black pour with a thin layer of tan foam. Aroma is huge! Tons of oak and bourbon notes with some roasted malts, chocolate, and caramel. Incredibly inviting. Flavor is just as powerful. Lots of oak and bourbon give way to a smooth and very sweet middle of caramel and vanilla. Some light buttery and roasted notes finish it off. Alcohol is very well hidden. Outstanding beer and a great way to finish the tasting we did tonight. Well deserving of the second perfect score I’ve given out.