Bourbon County Brand Stout - Goose Island Beer Co.

chi16brew

Illinois

4.58/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Review of 2012 BCBS on tap at Goose Island Brewpub.

A: Dark as night,black and wonderful with a brick-brown hue to the head.

S: Bourbon and malt at the forefront. Plenty of roast, some hints of burnt fruit.

T: Like the nose, does not disappoint on the bourbon. Lots of the bourbon with a bit of its heat but not overpowering like some other BA stouts. Loads of roasted malt, some bitterness of dark chocolate. Burnt fruit notes. Tasty.

M: This is exactly what a big stout should feel like. It coats the palate and stays for minutes.

O: A great beer, not the same balance that the 2011 had but it should age amazingly well. I see this being an extremely sought after vintage in 3-5 years.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2012 21:50:52 | More by chi16brew

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Sunset Bar and Grill in Allston. Surprisingly this has been on tap all week and it seems like hardly any one here has been drinking it. $10 for a 10oz serving in a snifter. Not sure if it is '11 or '12. The fact that none of the stores around here have '12 yet leads me to believe it's '11 however I would not be surprised if it were '12.

A- Dark black and thick, pretty much completely opaque except a very tiny bit around the edges were it is very slightly translucent. Out of the three that were ordered at our table only one had a slight mocha brown head that had decent retention while the other two had no head to speak of. Nice carbonation, definitely a little bit more then you get with your typical BB stout.

S- Lots of bourbon, chocolate malts, light roasted espresso, and some booze. Definitely above average aroma strength. The level of bourbon present however in my opinion makes it not the most appeasing smell- makes it smell like a bourbon bomb.

T- At first taste the bourbon is more subdued then the aroma and the chocolate and light espresso comes out nicely with the bourbon. The alcohol at 14.5% is nicely hidden and it finishes with a nice bourbon aftertaste that is balanced nicely with the other flavors. However the more I drank it, the stronger the bourbon presence seemed to become and the harder it became to drink (I wasn't the only one). This is why I couldn't rate it higher.

M- Definitely a little bit on the heavier side, some alcoholic burn but not much at all for being 14.5%, nice carbonation and overall definitely a fairly nice feel for a BB stout that is this high.

O- Rating beer is all about preference. For me I like Bourbon Barrel aged stouts that don't have too much of an overpowering bourbon taste. Instead I like a little bit lighter but still definitely noticeable bourbon presence that also lets the other qualities of the beer shine. At first I thought this beer had a lot of bourbon, but the other flavors (chocolate malts, light espresso, etc.) came out very nicely. However the more I drank it I felt that the bourbon presence came out a little bit too strongly, and dominated the taste a little bit too much.

I originally wanted to review this beer slightly higher, however by the time I was half way done with the glass I had trouble finishing the rest due to the strong bourbon presence. I feel like a bourbon lover would love this beer, however I think there is some other better BB stouts out there. I would like to revisit this one from the bottle sometime in the near future (which should be very soon).

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2012 03:48:41 | More by jaasen64

Gavage

New Jersey

4.93/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: black in color with a thin dark brown 1/2" head that broke apart quickly.

Smell: loads of roasted tones, dark chocolate, some coffee, vanilla, and bourbon come through to the nose.

Taste: deep roasted malt flavor with dark chocolate, vanilla, oak, soft coffee tones, and a very mild bourbon flavor. Alcohol is noticeable and warming. Bitterness is nicely balancing but not too impacting on other flavors.

Mouthfeel: heavy in body. Smooth from start to finish with some dryness late. Aftertaste is long lasting. There is a bit of a velvety feel on the tongue too.

Overall: this one was very smooth and dangerously easy to drink. Great balanced flavor and as it warms the flavors really come through. Great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-05-2012 17:36:03 | More by Gavage

rodkin

Missouri

4.48/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Deep black motor oil, with a small, light tan head. Minimal lacing.

Smell is big vanilla, barrel, bourbon, chocolate, coffee, roast bitterness, bit of caramel.

Taste is vanilla, bourbon, coffee, dark chocolate, nice warmth and big caramel on the finish. Really smooth, really delicious, I'm having trouble finding fault. Wish there was a 4.75 option. Hard to believe this is 14.5%. There's definitely some alcohol warmth, but I wouldn't have put it above 9 or 10% tops.

Mouthfeel is excellent. Nice, thick, creamy, coats the mouth.

This is superb. Really delicious, smooth, dangerously drinkable. Easily one of the top 5 stouts I've ever had.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2012 14:35:56 | More by rodkin

ummswimmin

New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've heard alot about this beer, and I am a big fan of barrel aging beers. Goose Island came to New Jersey a few months ago, and this was the one I was looking forward to.

The waitress warned me that this was a pallate buster. I should drink this one second. Good advice. The flavor, smell, and mouth coating presence easily caps off the night.

You get a ton of bourbon and coffee in each smell and taste. The richness just coats your mouth really well. I like the way this plays across the tongue.

No doubt this beer is overwhelming (in a good way). This is one of my favorite beers. I really need to find some for aging.

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2012 01:00:56 | More by ummswimmin

axeman9182

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap and served in snifter at the Cloverleaf Tavern.

Bourbon County Stout pours a solid black, with a wispy bit of mocha foam atop the beer. The aroma has equal waves of dark chocolate, vanilla, and bourbon crashing over my nose. I wish the latter was a little bit less intense than the former two though. The flavor profile is a bit more smooth and nuanced. Dark chocolate is intense up front, only to be met by bourbon, vanilla, and some spicy oak notes. Then, some subtle plum and fig dark fruits come in on the finish. The body is full and rich and creamy, everything I'd want from a big, barrel aged imperial stout. The low to middling carbonation completes the luxuriant mouthfeel. Bourbon County Stout is a superb beer, best described as a milkshake for adults. It's also the main reason I'm excited that Goose Island has come to NJ.

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2012 21:16:45 | More by axeman9182

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.48/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The 2012 version, on tap at Max's today.

The beer pours a blackish brown color with good head retention and lacing. That being said, just looking at this beer, it has the look of a beer that has seen considerable barrel aging. The nose, of course, is incredible, as I get considerable bourbon (natch), dark chocolate, light coffee and malt balls. The flavor profile is every bit as good, and replicates the nose very closely. The bourbon and dark chocolate seem to dominate, but I have no problem at all with that. Mouthfeel is fairly full, and the beer is a bit hot on the finish, but I think that's to be expected in a beer like this.

Completely over the top, with way too much bourbon character I suppose.... in other words, exactly what I'm looking for in an RIS. I would order this beer any time I see it on tap at a beer bar.

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2012 20:33:02 | More by johnmichaelsen

cradke

Texas

4.18/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Thick, black and viscous. A very nice fine head that sticks around for a while.

Smell: Sweet molasses. Lots of toffee. Some definite bourbon.

Taste: The taste is much more sweet than it was out of the bottle. With some time, more bourbon notes comes through. A very strong toffee and caramel taste develop. There is very little alcohol taste which is pretty impressive given its 14.5% ABV.

Mouthfeel: Viscous. Just a little carbonation coming through.

Overall: On tap, the BA sweetness tends to dominate a little bit too much for my taste. When I had it fresh out of the bottle, I felt the same way. Still, a fantastic beer, but I don't know if I would go so hard to seek it out on tap like I did before.

This scored a little bit lower than my review from a bottle with ~4 months of time on it. The heat didn't increase but the sweetness did.

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2012 02:24:57 | More by cradke

Titans77

Maryland

4.48/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at the Goose Island Tap Takeover at the Roasthouse Pub in Frederick MD.

A - Very very dark. Almost pitch black. I could tell that it wasn't as dark as most imperial stouts(Ten Fidy, Yeti, etc.) but was still above par for the course. Very dark mocha looking head.

S - Sweet chocolate and coffee malts give it the RIS backbone. Very sweet with little to no bourbon in the smell.

T - Chocolate/coffee malt BOMB with a nice overtone of bourbon flavoring. Not too overpowering and very nicely done. A bit of alcohol seeps through, but was expecting it at nearly 15%

M - Very thick and full bodied. Very easy to drink and coats the mouth with RIS goodness

O - A very good stout that I want to age when i get my hands on a bottle of it. It was spectacular on tap!

Bottle review on 11/2/12

A - 4.5 - Almost pitch black with mocha head. Darker than what I remember. VERY good looking RIS. Worthy of a 4.5

S - 4.5 - exactly as I remember it from when I had it on tap.

T - 5.0 - All the same flavors, but amplified. Exactly what I want from my RIS's. Coffee, Vanilla, Dark Chocolate, Dark Fruits. Taste is AMAZING

M - 4.5 - Exactly as described from tap offering.

0 - 4.5 - One of my top RIS's for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

07-18-2012 23:52:49 | More by Titans77

marlinsfan4

Maryland

3.35/5  rDev -26%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Was surprised to see this on tap at a local dive-bar in downtown Baltimore... only $6 and they gave you at least a 12 oz. pour at least (this is compared to a pint of Yuengling going for $5)... quite a steal. Maybe not the best beer to start the night... this one is a doozy and one of the stronger beers I've tried. Yes I know it's 14.5% ABV, but DFH's offerings of this alcohol seem to go down a lot smoother. Anyways... a thick beer reeking of bourbon taste, with a strong alcohol bite. Packs a punch and had some good taste, but just too boozy for my own opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2012 22:37:51 | More by marlinsfan4

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had a real nice review of this tap version written out, but the comp times out on me and I lost it. This is the cliff notes version. On Tap at City Tap House.

The look on this stout is black, it is really really black. a small amount of foam while the beer was coming to me, but it left by my first sip, leaving nothing but blackness. Smell is big and always the same, every time I have this beer. Rich dark roasted malt, rich bourbon with wood and some char, smoke. The dried fruit comes out with a lot of warming. The smell of Chicago is what I always say. Wow. this beer is big, and bigger from what I can see from the last time I have had it. Bourbon is the winner, vanilla from the oak, molasses out the ass, dried fruit with warming. Traces of smoke. All in all a big ass stout. The alcohol comes out kind of a bit and is felt. Drinking this ponied up at the bar is not the place for this if in big pours, but 4oz's yes. At the house a bottle I would dig on for two three hours or so. The body is big and full and rich and hot. Take your time with this and enjoy.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2012 03:33:44 | More by onix1agr

ProfPayne

Indiana

4.95/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Goose Island's Bourbon County Stout is one of my all time favorite beers.

I've had several vintages and have yet to be let down. When it gets up to 15% alcohol, it becomes almost a tad bit too thick and viscous for me, but I still love it. To me, this is the epitome of aging beer in wood. You absolutely get the bourbon character but it isn't overpowering. And, the beer is incredibly integrated. I buy bottles whenever I can, but I'll never forget my first experience, which was on tap at Brasserie V in Madison Wisconsin. It was love at first sip!

Serving type: on-tap

03-21-2012 21:31:52 | More by ProfPayne

codysjb

Florida

4.78/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at Amherst Brewing Company for their rare beer week. Had an 8oz pour of the 2010 on December 6th 2011.
A: Jet Black and no head (not sure if this is from a lack of head or the head being allowed to dissipate so that more beer could be poured in for a full pour).
S: Amazing, Oak and Bourbon are very present with a slight hint of caramel.
T: Lots of bourbon and a traditional stout taste.
M: Wow, here is where this beer really shines. The Bourbon flavors are there along with caramel, vanilla and it fills the palate. Simply Amazing.
O: One of the best beers I’ve ever had. 2009 version didn’t impress me but that could be because I hadn’t had as much experience with beer when I drank it in 2010. This one’s a year old and nothing short of amazing. A+

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2011 20:51:51 | More by codysjb

Aberration

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap during rare beer week at amherst brewing company

Very dark pour with a deep red meniscus on the glass, looks inviting but lacks any sort of lacing or head.

Smells like a subdued bourbon with roasted malts, slight oak, slight vanillin

Tastes like chocolate malts and bourbon, delicious but not all that complex. Not saying I wouldn't like to drink a ton of this but its still one tone.

Good mouthfeel very full bodied and silky but seems to lack carbonation. Alcohol is present on the tongue as the bourbon and roasted chocolate dances across my palate.

Delicious beer, I'd order it again anytime. Not necessarily the greatest bourbon barrel stout I've ever had but memorable and delicious

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2011 19:19:07 | More by Aberration

aorloski

Massachusetts

4.83/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

On tap at Sunset Grill in Boston

Appearance - Complete midnight black, no light shining through, incredibly minimal head that does not even bother sticking around through the duration. Big alcohol legs on this one

Smell - Exactly what you would expect, bourbon, coffee, sweet roasted malts, amazing vanilla qualities that hold all of them together.

Taste - Right up front you are welcomed with the smoothness of bourbon. Middle of the tongue lays way to more of a classic stout, roasted malts, deep dark milk chocolates and a touch of coffee in here as well. The finish is luscious and smooth, very balanced at 13 percent.

Mouthfeel - Like butter, chewy as hell and just coats your mouth, really amazing.

Overall - A very fine bourbon aged stout, not the best i have ever had but definitely up there. Would love to try this one with some age on it in the bottle. Oh wait, i just traded for a 2007 bottle, zing!

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2011 17:49:02 | More by aorloski

socon67

New York

4.22/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours syrupy thick with a black color that looks like liquid velvet. No lacing and minimal head. Just looks menacing.

S - Very pronounced scent of bourbon, vanilla, and chocolate. If someone could spike your Swiss Miss Cocoa, this would be the result.

T - The bourbon is pungent. For those that love boilermakers this is Nirvana. Behind that the beer has flavors of chocolate and hearty malt. This is like a meal. Easily a gift for the big stout lovers.

M - Its heavy, it doesn't care, and despite beign exceptionally balanced is a beast. So know that this is a sipper and not a meal compliment.

O - Loved this on draft, liked it alot in bottles. At least for now GI has not been screwed by the A-B takeover. For those who like bourbon or monster stouts this is a must try. Also a great curiosity beer for craft newbies.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2011 20:16:13 | More by socon67

LittleDon

Texas

4.58/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

10 oz. in a brandy snifter squeezed out of the last of the keg at Sunset Grill & Tap on 8/10/11.

Damn. One of the best beers I've had in a long time. Near perfect. Jet black with a dense creamy head. Very soft with low carbonation. Bourbon oaky aroma. Rich body. The flavor starts with a bourbon like quality and finishes with dried fruit and vanilla. The alcohol is very well disguised. If any negative can be said about it (and it's only a slight knock) is that it's a bit toward the sweet side. However, this makes it the perfect after dinner beverage.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2011 11:58:22 | More by LittleDon

mryuk

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at hop leaf poured in a snifter.

pours a dark brown with no head.

smell is mostly bourbon and sweet malts.

taste is extremely smooth and enjoyable for a 13% beer. much less bourbon than expected and lots of sweet malts.

mouth is thick with low but sufficient carbonation.

very enjoyable beer. stands up to my favorite of the type, the rasputin anniversary, but does not surpass. excellent beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2011 17:31:39 | More by mryuk

gigaknight

Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A- Opaque black pour in a tulip glass, 1/2 finger khaki head doesn't stick around long, but leaves a beautifully sparse halo of creamy foam around the edges.

S- Less bourbon than I expected, plenty of chocolate and toasted malt. It seems to need a little more warming to open up with more fragrant coffee notes. Black forest cake dominates the nose, almost no alcohol interference.

T- A flare of alcohol opens up the palate before rich chocolate and silky malt flavirs rush in. Vanilla and caramelly bourbon round out the finish. There's really more oak flavour here than bourbon, which is welcome for people like myself who aren't too keen on the sharpness and burn of bourbon. As it warms, more dried fruit flavors come through, namely dates and a little bit of dried prune.

M- Silky smooth through and through. Shockingly drinkable, but the finish is so long that it almost forces one to take a little extra time between sips. This is no problem, however, as I want these 12 ounces to last as long as possible.

O- All around happy drinking from Goose Island. This is a disarmingly accessible offering for even the meekest of stout lovers, pending a reasonable tolerance for alcohol and some oaky resonance.

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2011 21:37:45 | More by gigaknight

deebo

Minnesota

2.63/5  rDev -41.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A-Black as night with a tan foam that hangs on
S-Lots of complex aromas-strongest is bourbon, with some vanilla, and some alcohol sting
T-Too heavy on the bourbon/alcohol notes, makes this extremely difficult than give it much more than a sip. Chocolate is noted. A vapor like ethanol bite is also very present.
M-Extremely viscous, mouthfeel is very heavy, a touch slimy/oily
D-Obviously a sipper
O-Too much like a whiskey and not enough like an Imperial stout. I prefer Founders version. It seems like you have to be a whiskey drinker to really appreciate this one.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2011 01:57:33 | More by deebo

SkunkWorks

New York

4.53/5  rDev 0%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Tap and Barrel in Smithtown, NY, served in a tulip glass. Unsure as to what the vintage is but probably the most recent one.

Look: I have to give it a five. Black as night body with a one inch, dark brown as could possibly be, creamy head that retains for a few minutes before dwindling down to nothing. No lacing but the glass is stained from the beer. The existence of the head is what surprised me and how good looking it was gives this beer the ultimate look score.

Smell: bourbon, charred oak, roasted barley, alcohol, vanilla and dark brown sugar. Complex as it is in the bottle and just as inviting.

Taste: follows the nose with a big bourbon flavor, vanilla, charred oak, brown sugar and alcohol but its still fairly sweet. A lot going on and all of it is good.

Feel: full bodied, oily, slightly boozy, and just enough carbonation to remind you that this is actually a beer. Definitely a sipper, but that's to be expected from such a large stout.

Overall: this is the most flavorful Budweiser you'll ever have (sorry, had to make that joke). Goose Island claims this is the original spirit aged beer and I don't know if that's true, but this nonetheless is one of the better bourbon barrel aged beers out there. I would definitely give this a try if you can before Budweiser mucks with it. Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2011 14:44:29 | More by SkunkWorks

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.83/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at Rattle N Hum, into a snifter. 2008 vintage.

Pours pitch black, almost no head but an infintesimal collar prevails. Nose holds a retrained bourbon. Initially, nothing else is evident, but sitting on this for a bit some oak and vanilla comes through along with a mild, mild chocolate note. Taste drops a massive bourbon bomb on the palate, and hits with some alcohol right away; alcohol burns and tingles the tip of the nose. More chocolate and roast comes through, along with more oak and vanilla sweetness. Very complex integration between these flavours. Body is super full, sticky and very rich, but the flavour is so complex and layered. Outstanding.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2011 17:05:30 | More by liamt07

ThreeWiseMen

California

5/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I (Justin) drank this on tap July 29th, 2010 at Goose Island during an entire beer road trip. This was the last brewery we stopped at, and on the entire three week trip, the only time I got drunk. Why? Simply because this is the best beer I've ever had the pleasure of drinking. My notes go from sober to drunk really quickly. I recall wondering aloud if I should re-review all the beers I've ever given a "5" in, because clearly if 5 was bourbon county, then anything else was at best a 4.5. Here is my drunken review:

Dear Diary,

Today I had the best smelling...thing I have ever experienced. Let alone best smelling beer. To give this a 5.0 is an understatement and to say that.. well I assume it says alot. I'll let it speak for itself. I've had many beers in my time and nothing prepared me for it. At this moment in time there is nothing, I want more in life. I can't fathom a better beer. This is in ever possible way better than anything I have ever had. The smell is off the wall phenomenal. Natalia and Jason are telling me I've lost my mind... and I have. It's bourbon, but so much more. Coffee and Chocolate... but again, so much more. Figs and dark fruit... no it's more than that. The taste i sbold and rich... so damned rich. This is like your grandmother makes chocolate cake with bourbon then turns it into a beer. This is like all my favorite beers... taking their best parts.. and turning it into pure heaven: Abucus (Firestone) plus Black Tuesday (The bruery) plus Firestone 11. This beer has radically and irrevocably changed the way I review beers. Nothing comes close and as such I give this beer the obnoxious scores above. I didn't do an official review; instead I just kept ordering these things. No other beer has had this kind of impact..

The rest of the diary entry is smudged with what appears to be tears of pure joy and is illegible.

Even out of the bottle Bourbon County blows away the competition. On Tap and fresh.... I wish I could go back in time, beat the crap out of my past self, and steal all the beer I drank that day.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2011 07:40:16 | More by ThreeWiseMen

gabedivision

New York

4.72/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

*from notes*

Goose Island Bourbon County Stout 2009, served on tap at Cole's on Elmwood 3/12/11. Poured in to a 10oz goblet.

A- Vanilla, chocolate, sweet roatsted malts, a hint of cherries, smoked cherry wood and nuts. There is alot going on in this pungent brew, it smells amazing.

T- Big sweet malt bang, a true eye opener, mended with much of the flavors described in the smell though all the flavors seem to come up 100% distinct and individually, leaves the mouth with a smoked woody feeling begging for another sip, the 13% alcohol cannot even push its nose through all of this flavor.

M- Strong big bodied, yet smooth and creamy.

O- I say this alot but, this may have been the best beer I've ever had, though one goblet was more than enough to satisfy until the next time we meet.

Serving type: on-tap

03-19-2011 01:09:27 | More by gabedivision

EricCioe

Montana

4.23/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had three vintages, 08-10, of this on tap at a vertical at Binny's South Loop.

All three of these poured blacker than the blackest black (times infinity), but only the 08 had a hint of thin khaki head. These looked quite viscous swirling around in the glass. On the nose there are huge hits of coffee, vanilla, lots of chocolate, and a huge boozy aroma. The nose didn't seem to change much vintage to vintage. In the mouth these were huge. The chocolate was the big note up front, but the bourbon and vanilla made for a huge finish that lingered forever. The body is huge, very viscous, not exactly cloying, but it didn't seem to want to go away, either. As the beer got older, the finish got a bit rounder, with the 08 being the best and much less astringent than the 10 with the 09 somewhere between. This was a good beer, but it was so huge that I was ready to be done with it when I was.

I didn't like this as much as I thought I might, but it was a real treat to try all three side by side. I'll be buying this in the future, but this is definitely a bottle to split.

EDIT - Had an 07 bottle at a March 2012 tasting and it was incredible.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2011 04:05:18 | More by EricCioe