Goose Island Bourbon County Stout

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

(Bottled on 8/16/05 via trade with <A HREF=http://www.ratebeer.com/ViewUser.asp?UserID=2 target=blank>OhioDad, thanks Scott!, cellared for 10 mos. after trade) Hot and sweet, lots of bourbon, chocolate and vanilla...Pours very dark brown but not opaque. Not particularly thick-looking. Very thin brown head quickly melts to a thin ring around edge. Strong nose of vanilla and bourbon. Chocolate and coffee round out aroma. Mouthfeel is smooth but pretty sticky and syrupy. Medium-full. Flavor is strong bourbon and oaky vanilla, followed by dark chocolate. Also has notes of roasted coffee, sweet tobacco and raisins. Overall very port-like. Pretty hot from start to finish (i.e., alcohol not well-hidden). Definite buzz factor. An intense and fairly complex brew but doesn’t quite live up to expectations for me. Flavorful but too port-like and hot for me to call it a really great beer.

Come to think of it, I’ve held on to this bottle for a while, and I cannot remember who gave it to me. I know I didn’t acquire it myself. Oh well, my thanks are with you, whoever you are. Pours jet black and thick, as expected, with a small brown head that dissipated quickly. Aroma of butter and bourbon, some dark chocolate, a bit of grassy hops. Flavor is complex, with the first thing I notice being that this beer is sweeter than most imperials... which is probably why I’m enjoying it more. There’s lots of complexity, with a bit of bourbon whiskey dryness, some rich dark chocolate, perhaps the smallest touch of fruitiness. The alcohol dryness has a bit of smokiness to it. NIce combination of standard stout flavors with the dry complexity of harder liquor. Body feels pretty full, but still shy of Kalamazoo or Three Floyds imperial stouts. A bit of fruity chocolaty sweetness stays with you... a nice change from the bitter finish accompanying most imperials. One thing I enjoy about imperials is the surprising amount of variety that can be found in their flavor composition. I can see some imperial fans not liking the lack of coffee flavors or the surprising sweetness, but I find this to be an excellent dessert stout. If only I didn’t open it before dinnertime...

This bottle somehow ended up in my cooler at a local tasting, thanks hellbilly! Pours a thick dark black with a small tan head that eventually fights it way to the top. Big aroma of roasted malt, coffee, cocoa, vanilla, bourbon and alcohol. Flavor is much the same, with the addition of dark fruit. Thick and creamy on the palate. A bit of an alcohol burn on the otherwise sweet, sticky finish. A fantastic brew!

A very good example of the barrel-aged style for beer. Pours with a tan head. Aroma is strong coffee, nuts, and a grassy hoppiness. A somewhat bitter taste but not enough to take you off eatin grass. I have found that a "Cohiba"cigar is a good fit.

Had this one bottled at our Kentucky Derby party 2008, and a big thanks to Arnie for the four-pack!! Impossibly dark brown pour, completely opaque, with a thick but rapidly dissipating medium brown head. Possibly the darkest head ever. Also, possibly the more intense nose. Dark chocolate malts, apricot and plum, combined with merlot in the nose. Very potent flavor too, but extremely smooth. Fine bitter chocolate, raisin, cocoa powder, sweet strong coffee with a fine, high-proof bourbon note tying it all together. Very, very strong alcohol presence in the finish. Very sippable, but not highly drinkable. I don’t typically care for beers this intense and strong, and while this one did not disappoint, I am not a huge fan of this style. I do appreciate the sentiment, though.

12 oz. bottle from asteele8. Black with a small tan head settling to a thin ring. unmistakeable oak aroma is a backdrop for dark chocolate, roated coffee, and hints of dark cherry and smoke. Mouthfeel is thick and chewy with very light carboantion and a bit of oiliness. Sweetness of burnt caramel is countered by a big bitter character with a spicy base. Finish is long and dry.

bottle thanks to cavie. poured black with a copper head. when swirled the beer stained the glass brown. aroma was fusel, soy, bourbon, caramel, and dark roast. flavor was bourbon, caramel, dark roast, and alcohol. body was incredibly smooth and slick. very nicely done.

Bottle packaged on 10/12/07. Pours jet black with a thin, creamy mocha head that diminishes to a ring clinging to the edge of the glass. A swirling single layer of tiny bubbles creates a morphing "island" in the center of the glass. The nose on this beer is huge: bourbon, vanilla, oak, chocolate, plums and potent alcohol. Full-bodied and slick with tongue prickling carbonation and significant alcohol warmth. The flavor is bourbon forward and fairly hot at this time. Also present are vanilla, chocolate and plum notes along with a woody vinous quality. This is a really nice beer as it is, but I have to think that this will mellow nicely with time. The possibility of toning down the alcohol note and allowing time for the flavors to better integrate compels me to sit on my remaining 3 bottles. I’ll re-rate one in about a year.