Bourbon County Brand Stout - Goose Island Beer Co.

schnarr84

Alberta (Canada)

4.98/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I dont even think i can do this beer justice. received in a trade with Skrip (thanks!!)
12 oz into snifter at about 50F.

Could smell the bourbon as soon as I cracked the bottle. so many sweet dark fruits on the nose. taste is roasted malts and pure amazingness overall. so complex and it is evolving as it warms up slightly. I could literally drink this beer in 3 drinks but im forcing myself to sip it over an hour to get the full effect. this is different as each sip goes on. i feel like if i never had another beer again in my life, i had the best there is and i could be happy with that.

the only thing i think that could be improved on this beer is a bit more head retention. that being said, i realize it doesnt have much because it is a 15% stout, but i had to find something it lacked... and if that was all it lacked, this beer certainly lived up to its hype.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 05:06:06 | More by schnarr84

CuBuffsaNut88

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Goose Island's barrel aged brews are always top notch and this is certainly no exception. Smells slightly boozy with a roasted chocolate aroma, a great balance. Pours dark black with a thin head that disappears into a dark colored collar. The taste is well balance. You can certainly taste the bourbon but it is no overwhelming, there is a lot going on in this glass that makes everything blend just right. It is heavy in the mouth but goes down smooth. Definitely a beer drinkers beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 00:56:27 | More by CuBuffsaNut88

Kunstman

Wisconsin

4.69/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Found 24 bottles (1/2 of them 2009 & 1/2 2010) for sale at a liquor store Friday before last. I nearly died of excitement! Certainly my greatest find yet. $156 later, I was a very happy man. Enjoying a 2010 (bottled 10/15/2010) served from bottle to pint glass.

A: Pours like oil from bottle with formation of a thin tan head with less retention than I would have expected. Let's say 74 degrees SRM. Almost no lacing.

S: Bourbon, alcohol and slight roastiness that is not overwhelming. The three play together very well.

T: Again, an EXCELLENT balance of bourbon and roasted malt with an alcohol bite that gives way to just a bit of that 'post shot' salivation. I had one of the 2009's I bought last week, but besides that, I have never had the pleasure of this beer before. However, I imagine that the 2 1/2 years of aging beyond the initial barrel aging helped to achieve the level of smoothness that I am currently experiencing. The sweetness of the malt and bourbon start it off and continue throughout while the tanginess of the alcohol and bourbon play the sides and back end of the palate. The aftertaste is slight bourbon. Taste is exactly what I was hoping for.

M: Solid, thick body that I would expect with from an Imperial Stout with just enough carbonation. Wonderful.

O: The best bourbon barrel aged Stout I have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 02:44:43 | More by Kunstman

Resuin

Massachusetts

4.73/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a 355 mL bottle into a Teku Glass. This is a 2012 version and was bottled about 6 months ago as of this review.

Appearance: Pours a jet-black and leaves behind a finger of dark tan head. Nice looking stout.

Smell: Dark chocolate dominates in an excellent way. Also plums, raisins, figs, coffee, bourbon and some alcohol. Mouth watering aroma.

Taste: Chocolate up front with a very nice blend of bourbon and dark fruits adding complexity. Definitely some oak as well, followed by caramel and molasses. Really delicious and balanced. Some alcohol is definitely detectable and it only helps the flavor.

Mouth-feel: Medium to heavy bodied, light carbonation detected. Surprisingly smooth for the ABV and flavor profile.

Overall: This is a really great imperial stout, and it somehow manages to blend 15% alcohol in and make this one taste even better. The explosion of flavors, smooth mouth-feel and medium-heavy body contribute to make this a fantastic stout. I love this "fresh" and would be interested to try it with some age on it.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 23:19:22 | More by Resuin

JonaGold

Minnesota

4.86/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

I was gifted a 4 pack of this beer some time ago and I must say, it was a very, very nice gift.

I'm not typically a high gravity person- anything over 10% I usually don't bother with, but this has really opened the door to that realm for me. I do love Imperial Stouts and exceptionally dark beers though, which is what prompted this as a gift. I had tried something in this class many years ago, but was either not in a place to truly appreciate it, or it simply wasn't crafted to the level of Bourbon County. My overall impression rapidly changed from "wow this is strong" to "if this is what these strong beers are about, I'm going to have to try them all!"

I will start by saying that it is indeed dark. I poured it into one of my snifters, per the instructions on the bottle. This beer is black as night, with a rich brown head that is slight, and disappears quickly. This beer is gorgeous and made my mouth water just looking at it, but I do prefer the head to stick around. Oddly, I didn't seem to mind its departure on this brew. The lacing on the glass when swirling was faint, not as much as I expected given the strong bourbon aroma that accompanied the pour.

The scent is not just bourbon. You can almost smell the wood of the barrel, and it has a smoky quality. This immediately prompted me to use a splash in a steak marinade as well, and let me tell you, the results were amazing. I also poured a small amount in an aluminum can, maybe 2-3 ounces, added enough water to fill the can halfway and then made a beer can chicken, also using a splash of this beer in the rub. Again, the smokey bourbon richness made the bird absolutely succulent. If you really don't like this beer for it's sipping quality, by all means, use it as an ingredient for your dinner and you will not be disappointed!

Back to the beer as a drink...

The flavor and feel can only be described as rich. The combination of bourbon with a thick malty Imperial stout is heavenly. It should be noted that this is a sipping beer. But as sipping beers go, this one excels. The alcohol artifacts aren't overpowering, even though they aren't discrete. I would describe it as a confident presence. The imperial stout isn't lost in it either. The feel in the mouth is thick and heavy, as the Imperial nature flexes its authority with the beer. That stout quality stays settled as a well balanced foundation to the bourbon flavor, nicely keeping this beer a beer.

Beer seems like too common a word for Bourbon County though, as this stuff is anything but common.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 17:33:28 | More by JonaGold

VsTheWorld1121

Massachusetts

4.74/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

I had the privilege to try BCBCS at the ACBF last year, but I was finally able to get my hands on a couple four packs of regular BCBS tonight.

Appearance - Hard pour into a snifter at fridge temp (about 40 degrees) creates a small head which fades to nothingness within ten seconds leaving only pitch black opacity with barely any lacing. I hear 15% will do that.

Smell - Faint bourbon, not as strong as other BBA beers I've tried. Dark fruits, hints of vanilla.

Taste - Amazing, everything I'd hoped it would be. Definitely boozy, but not 15% boozy. Quick small sips have a bit of burn, but this is definitely a slow sipping beer. Sip, swirl it in your mouth, let every part of the taste hit every part of your mouth. Very little on the front of the tongue, but the back of the tongue and the aftertaste hit like a truck. Like the smell, not as much bourbon as one would expect in a beer like this. More vanilla when it's colder, but as it warms the bourbon taste really comes through in the back. The coffee version beats this one out in my book only because I'm a coffee fanatic and prefer coffee stouts to all others.

Mouthfeel - As thick and chewy as the appearance would indicate. It coats the inside of your mouth and doesn't go away. Not that you would want it to.

Overall - Buy this beer any time you get the chance. Whether you're a seasoned beer geek, a newbie to craft beer, or even just a bourbon drinker, you can't go wrong with BCBS. Can't wait to see how this one ages. One four pack for this year, one four pack to age and split over the next 4 years.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 00:35:45 | More by VsTheWorld1121

ironchefmiyagi13

New York

4.7/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Been sipping on this for almost 2 hours and it is JUST NOW mellowing a bit. It is definitely a sipper; like having a 12 oz pour of a quality bourbon. Certainly a little harsh with the alcohol but in the end worth it. Glad I still have a 4-pack to taste over the year to see how it progresses.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 04:23:16 | More by ironchefmiyagi13

sjverla

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Nose: Dark chocolate, alcohol, some vanilla. Slightly burnt, very roasty. It smells enormous and belies the 15% abv.

Appearance: Jet-black, no light penetration. Bourbon-colored fizz kicks up and disappears, but there's no real head to speak of.

Taste: Sweet and vanilla at first. Milk and dark chocolate. Bourbon on the back end of the favor with heat in the throat. Mouthfeel is rich and smooth.

Overall: Very good, but overhyped. Not the perfection I was hoping for. We'll see what a few years does for it.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 22:35:08 | More by sjverla

cw577enfield

Virginia

4.53/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

What an outstanding beer! Being a bourbon man, I was hoping for something great from this one. Needless to say, it did the job. It's BCBS '12:

A: It looks exactly like motor oil, pitch black, and somewhat thick. Not much of a head.

S: The first thing I got was bourbon, whew! Powerful scent and it continues to give off that bourbon smell all the way down to the last drop.

T: What jumps out is the booziness of this beer and I love it! It's not afraid to show its face when you first dive into it. It's a sipping beer and I would pity any fool who decides to chug this one.

M: Very smooth and silky, and somewhat syrupy. Can detect bit of heat from it but that's due to the booziness...

Overall, it's an amazing beer and really stands out on its own. Good thing I have other four BCBS '12 bottles so I can see what time will do to these beers in terms of taste.

Grab one if you have a chance!

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 19:44:52 | More by cw577enfield

YieldToNothing

New York

4.34/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

bottle into a tulip

pours a jet black with no head
smell annihilates you with bourbon....in a good way
bourbon is definitely present in the taste. this beer has zero desire to hide the booziness.
i dig it, definitely a must try, but not the kind of style i gravitate towards.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 05:37:33 | More by YieldToNothing

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

4.68/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Finally got to try this one - cheers as always to daryk77 for sharing this one.

2012 edition, poured into a wine glass. First brew of a tasting evening, review from notes.

Pitch black, with some hefty viscosity. Mocha head that recedes into a very thin ring. Typical for the style and brews this potent.

Nose is terrific, with the vanilla taking real centre stage here. Also a bit of oak, sugar, coffee, chocolate. Fanfreakingtasting.

Tasty, tasty stuff. The vanilla gets strong billing again, but the sugar, caramel, chocolate and coffee also get their turn alongside a mild oakiness. And oh yes, there is bourbon. Can't forget that.

Surprisingly mild for a 15%er, as this is something I can drink with real ease. Thick, syrupy, but not overly hot.

Definitely worth the attention it gets. Comparing this brew to others of the style/hype/etc, I rate this one pretty high because it is quite balanced, not overly hot, and the bourbon/oak component is far more subtle than in others. It feels like an 11 or 12% brew, not something in the 15 and up range. Damned good stuff, sir.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 17:08:26 | More by JohnnyBarman

williamjbauer

West Virginia

4.81/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Had this first BCBS thanks to boilerfood. Shared with Eric. 2012 vintage. 12 oz.

Motor oil black with 1 finger dark brown head with minimal lacing

Vanilla, oak, bourbon, chocolate, bliss aroma notes.

Big chocolate coffee body, with warming vanilla and bourbon warmth, oaky, a little smoke with a creamy chewy mouthfeel and a lot of warming alcohol, no carbonation.

Amazing beer. I could drinking this any day. Hope I can get better access to this with no effect on quality after the distribution increases.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 16:09:52 | More by williamjbauer

gueuzedreg

Colorado

4.8/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

2008 12oz into a pint (thanks Oliver!)

Jet black, thick syrup, aged perfectly. This beer aged for five years is so far in advance of any bourbon forward brew that I have had ever. This is my first Goose Island, and I am impressed. I don't get much of the midwest incredible BA stouts in CO, I figured we would, but no. Incredible, perfect smell and mouthfeel. Taste is not far behind. One of my favorite beers. I will be looking for this one soon. And this is not even the RARE, but I can imagine back in 2008 things were a little more refined.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 00:35:15 | More by gueuzedreg

Ell

Alabama

4.83/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Wow. This one is for real.

A: Dark as the devil's heart. Seriously dark. Nice head formation for a beer of this alcohol level (15%)

S: Boozy delicious. Bourbon all over the nose in the best possible way. Great aroma wafting from the glass.

T: BANG! This is in your face and means to stay there. It's huge, but only a little hot from alcohol. Amazing that there's as much alcohol in this beer as there is and so little sting.

M: Silky smoky great. Pure, unadulterated bliss. This is an amazing beer.

If I had all of them in the world, it would not be enough. Maybe the best beer I've ever had. Hits all the notes this style should.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 15:22:34 | More by Ell

4amepiphany

Illinois

4.74/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Wow. I keep picking up as many packs I can. If not to trade, I'd be happy having a whole stash to myself and whoever wants to partake in a drink. Heavy bourbon notes. Wonderful, chewy, oily.. I compare all stouts' mouthfeels to this one. (The Baudoinia variant is just a little better to me though, less heat, more subdued and balanced taste, with the thickness I like) Pitch black in color, modest head and carbonation. I'm grateful it comes from my city. Thanks, GI.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 06:19:02 | More by 4amepiphany

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.58/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

355ml bottles both 2011 and 20012 into tasters Cheers Matt for bringing them

A not completely black but leaves color on the glass after a swirl and the beer has legs, really distinct wine like legs, not head or lace but it looks like a slow boiling glass of of motor oil

S bourbon and rum soaked raisin, bakers chocolate, molasses, soy, a little booze but very well concealed all things considered, wood and tobacco on the 2011 but not so much on the 12, sexy as all hell, leather and fudge as it warms

T new versions chocolate notes are lighter and the 2011 is fudge in glass, where's the booze hiding?

M thick and syrupy, silky and somehow gritty on the gums, slight heat but It's hidden well, the barrels heavy on the finish

O I could drink myself stupid with this and It's been a while since I've had a beer this this good

beer living up to its hype it? It happened today

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 05:33:00 | More by wordemupg

Tmolaskey

New York

4.66/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Im definitely one of those guys that has a hard time giving out the highest score on a scale system. That being said this beer comes pretty damn close. Definitely a sipper, this guy needs time to develop. I would recommend letting this beer stand at room temp for a little while before diving in. You really can tear apart some of those deeper chocolate/ fruit flavors after its had time to breath a bit. This beer was recommended by a customer and from his description I was really looking forward to trying it. In retrospect I feel like I should thank him the next time I see him, this stout totally lived up to everything he said it would be. You can pick up the aromas of this beer the second you crack the top and the carbonation exhales form the bottle. I got a strong woody/fudgeness going on right off the bat. The pour wasn't all that exciting,(not subtracting from this beer in anyway) a slight fizzy head that dissipated rather quickly to a slight brownish halo, which stuck around a while. Initialing I found the bourbon flavors most prominent, which was nice, I mean it for sure lives up to its name. The best part by far though was after about 20 minutes. That is when it warmed up and the real depth developed. The high alcohol content is alway there, but the balance between it, the strong woody/ bourbon tones, and the chocolately/fruity/stout characteristics really was spectacular. I can see why this beer has a real cult following. I would recommend it to anyone who challenges that beer cant equal the depth wine has to offer!

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 02:39:00 | More by Tmolaskey

NuclearRich

Connecticut

4.6/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Happy to find a 4pack locally! Poured into a snifter type glass.

A. Oil. Pitch black syrup. Not even a hint of color shining through. A small dark tan head forms, dissipating quickly into a fine collar with support from a slow cascade of carbonation that struggles to rise through the density. Eventually the head totally dissipates, leaving more of a clear coating rather than lace.

S. Reminds me more of a barleywine: sweet booze, prunish dark fruits,toffee, sherry. A slight metallic zing.

T. Layers of complexity. I can see why people love it. Big sweetness right away, dark fruit, a bite of booze, chocolate, roasty, toffee. A very nice roasty flavor lingers. Sherry as it warms, or perhaps more appropriately, bourbon.

M. Thick. It is interesting, the flavors that it keeps around: roasty, chocolate, a little bourbon barrel.

O. Very nice. Something I'll hold on to and I look forward to future tastings as well as how aging will change it.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 00:50:22 | More by NuclearRich

Flounder57

Massachusetts

4.55/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a goblet at the Union Brewhouse in Weymouth.

Appearance: This beer poured no head, but had a small ring of foam around the top. It is pitch black with some vision of bubbles coming up through the glass. Spotty lacing on the glass as the beer was drank.

Smell: Vanilla, oak, bourbon, spice, and boozy alcohol. The bourbon barrel covets all the traditional imperial stout flavors you traditionally look for. Still smells awesome.

Taste: so much more going on in this tasty beer. Same as above plus roasted coffee and chocolate. It really doesn't get any better than this.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, full bodied, low to medium carbonation, boozy alcohol, and warming to the body.

Overall: Awesome beer. I don't really need to say much more.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2013 04:00:01 | More by Flounder57

rickyleepotts

Arizona

4.66/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

It's been a while since I have had this beer, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I LOVE this beer, and I like pretty much everything this brewing company makes. Having had the Bourbon County Coffee Stout, this might not impress me as much as before… but I am sure it is good. Sheryl was mad it wasn't a bomber… but at 13%, I am not sure we could share a bomber and not be hammered!

When I was pouring this, I could smell the bourbon… and with the current trend in aging beers in bourbon barrels, I hope the brewing company that arguably started aging in barrels is able to surpass my expectations in BA (barrel aged) beers. Speaking of barrel aged beers, we have a few BA beers coming up including the Black Gold from Full Sail. Anyway, let's start drinking the Goose Island Bourbon County Stout. Cheers!

In the Glass: The beer is pitch black in a glass. It poured somewhat thick… think cough syrup. The head is thin, but a nice dark tan color. Not much lace, but who cares. I can smell the bourbon from here! I wonder what the first batch of this tasted like. I wonder if there are any bottles of the first batch still around. That would be a beer worth celebrating!

Nose: Like I said, I could smell the bourbon while I was pouring this. I can still smell it sitting in the glass. When I stick my nose in the glass, I am getting smacked with vanilla and booze. You can totally smell the 13% ABV here. I am getting some dark chocolate notes, too. It's booze, vanilla, THEN chocolate… in that order. Age will do wonders for this beer. I think we have one more bottle in the cellar. I might, after drinking this today, drink that in 4 or 5 years. It needs time to settle.

Flavor: Holy booze. That might as well be carbonated whiskey. OK, not quite as intense as a bourbon, but you taste the booze. There are also a lot of bubbles (served this cold) attacking your palate. My favorite part is the finish as it lingers for several minutes. The whiskey flavors are obvious, and if you don't like whiskey, I would suggest staying away from this. This is what a bourbon barrel aged beer SHOULD taste like. Breweries and brewmasters take note… this is a prime example of a BA beer.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is not as thick as I expected, and has more bubbles than I expected. But that's OK, because as it finishes you get some nice carbonation that settles to a drying heat. The whiskey really comes out toward the back of the palate. Even if you don't like barrel aged beers, you should try this just to see what other breweries are trying to replicate when aging a beer. This beer also gets me excited about the Firestone Walker Parabola that comes out in a few weeks. They use the best barrels in the world to age that beer.

Aftertaste: The aftertaste is immediately drying, and this is where the dark chocolate flavors come into play. It's not quite an Irish stout kind of dry, but close. After one or two swallows, the heat is still there… and reminds you of the 13% ABV this bottle packs. Every time I swallow, I am reminded of how good this beer is, and why I miss Chicago! Sure, they have the Bears and the Cubs and the Metro… but Chicago should be known for Goose Island!

I don't miss Indiana, but I miss being able to drive to the Windy City and drink this from the source. We had the Bourbon County Coffee Stout at the source, and that quickly became one of our favorite beers of all time. This one isn't far behind. Top 10, for sure! Bravo, Goose!

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 20:38:17 | More by rickyleepotts

iabeerbaron

Iowa

4.48/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

I will be letting a few four packs age and hopefully at some point I can put together a vertical tasting of this beer, but as I was sipping the last one, (about 2 weeks ago), and as it warmed, it might have been the best barrel-age I’ve tasted. The aroma of the vanilla shines through the longer this beer sits, and as I finished the last half of it, it started tasting like a liquid form of an almond joy candy bar. Anyone else get that flavor? Such a great beer to sit and sip on, especially on a cold winter night! The alcohol warms you up nicely but does not overpower the fantastic flavor of this wonderfully well-crafted brew. Cheers!

REVIEW

Style: Imperial Stout

ABV:15%

Purchased at: Hy-Vee

Pour: Viscous black pour, very thick.

Aroma: Bourbon sweetness, vanilla, coconut.

Flavor: Chocolate flavor, the bourbon is there, coconut is well. Liquid almond joy (that can get you drunk)

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 18:18:26 | More by iabeerbaron

BurgeoningBrewhead

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from 12oz brown bottle into stemmed tulip (stout glass). Pours oily brown-black, no light shows through. Fizzy dark brown half-finger head that dissipates like a soda. Smell is bourbon very strong, with sweet undertones. First sip and taste is...mind-shattering. Incredibly complex, the taste explodes in your mouth with bitter chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, coffee, everything. This is an experience in a bottle. Alcohol comes in at the end to finish with a nice burn, but still a lot less than you'd expect from 15%. Mouthfeel is slick and wet. A glorious beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 00:20:48 | More by BurgeoningBrewhead

zrbeer1579

Illinois

4.96/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

2012 Bourbon County Brand Stout

Poured into snifter

Appearance: Black as it can possibly be. No head, of course. Did get a small head but it dissipated very quickly. Gone before the blink of an eye. A thin dark mocha ring around the glass.

Aroma: Bourbon, bourbon, and bourbon. Vanilla, coconut, and some woody characteristic. Tiny bits of roasted and chocolate malts. Alcohol is perceived.

Taste: Very strong bourbon upfront. Coconut, vanilla, and a little woody. Middle is roasted chocolate malts with slight caramel. Subtle hints of bourbon compliments the middle well. But still, bourbon is strong throughout. Some espresso and toffee. There is a slight cloying sweetness. Surprisingly, alcohol is not as strong in the taste as I thought it would be. Quite subtle, to be honest. A nice bourbon lingering aftertaste with a slight roasted chocolate.

As it warms to room temperature, alcohol becomes much less noticeable. Malts become stronger as well. Thus, making the beer more enjoyable.

Mouthfeel: Thick and very smooth. Carbonation is under medium. There is alcohol warmings in the back and as it goes down. What can you expect with an abv of 15%? Feels oily, too.

Overall: I really enjoyed this beer. The bourbon is very rich. Certainly a sipper. You must like bourbon to truly enjoy this, especially since bourbon is the primary flavor. It makes me very excited to try the bottles that are currently aging. This is a must have BA stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 00:13:12 | More by zrbeer1579

JohnQVD

New York

4.71/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Dark, almost black with almost no head, just a thin wisp of light brown foam that leaves small bits behind that slowly drop back into the glass. Smell is heavy bourbon and cocoa. Taste is chocolate, bourbon and raisins with a boozy, bitter finish. Feel is heavy with a burst of light carbonation.

Overall, this is excellent and well balanced. It could use just a touch less bourbon and I'd consider it basically perfect.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2013 19:35:01 | More by JohnQVD

mikkianderson

Indiana

4.91/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A strong and robust stout that currently holds the place of favored stout for me. An acquired taste that may not be for those who do not appreciate a good bourbon! If you are lucky enough to find the stout in any package type I urge you to try this recent home run from Goose Island.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 22:05:43 | More by mikkianderson