Bourbon County Brand Stout - Goose Island Beer Co.

Stoutfan23DJ

Illinois

4.93/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

355ml bottle, 15 abv, bottled on 08/23/2012-1754.
Poured down the center of a brandy snifter at 60 degrees.

Appearance: Pours one of the thickest looking bodies that you’ll ever see with a half a finger head that immediately resides into a dark brown lacing of head on top and around the glass. When you swirl it around it leaves the thickest brown lacing and legs you’ll ever see.

Aroma: I guarantee that you will start smelling it once you crack the top and pour it into a glass. A very strong aroma that lets you know that you’re now in for one hell of a beer and an amazing experience! Massive bourbon barrel characteristics come through, roasted malts, deep chocolate, roasted coffee, sweet caramel and dark dank fruit, and an interesting char/smoke quality. There is a presence of alcohol but it goes really well with all the intense flavors. Just a whiff will open your airways!

Taste: Massive bourbon, charred oak and vanilla characters immediately hit you. Loads of roasted malt, roasted coffee and slight bitter hops that contribute. Caramel, molasses, smoked peat malt flavors, sweet raisins, cherry, fig, and other fruits including some spiciness. Very big, bold, intense and complex brew. There is a big dark fruit quality that is much more prominent in this years’ vintage than in any other year vintage that I have had in the past. The dark chocolate/bourbon covered fruit qualities surprised me and really contributed to the overall complexity. I could go on and on with the specific flavors I’m getting through out and as it warms up.

Mouthfeel: The mouth feel is as thick and viscous just like a fine bourbon, and easily makes you want to take your time and sip on it for an hour or two. It went down relatively smooth and I just truly savored each sip. The carbonation is very minimal but is just right for a stout like this at 15%. The back of your throat and chest also get a warm burning sensation after each sip from the alcohol and the intensity of flavors.

Overall: This is one the finest barrel aged beers made today and is by far my favorite bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout! This is a beer that really blows me away every time and I would recommend this to anyone that has a palate for big imperial stouts and bourbon/whiskey barrel-aged beers. I will also suggest putting aside a few bottles and cellaring them for a few years down the road. They will age very well!

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 07:46:57 | More by Stoutfan23DJ

raynmoon

California

4.25/5  rDev -6.4%

06-19-2013 02:43:23 | More by raynmoon

tarheels4life23

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

06-19-2013 01:19:46 | More by tarheels4life23

Tyrus

California

4.75/5  rDev +4.6%

06-18-2013 23:09:06 | More by Tyrus

taylor714914

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -6.4%

06-18-2013 23:04:00 | More by taylor714914

Scalawags

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

06-18-2013 15:50:32 | More by Scalawags

TargaFlorio

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

06-18-2013 00:24:39 | More by TargaFlorio

beerjardin

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +4.6%

06-17-2013 06:34:20 | More by beerjardin

bcsbeer

Florida

4/5  rDev -11.9%

06-17-2013 04:49:09 | More by bcsbeer

Rocklobsterbrew

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

06-16-2013 18:20:35 | More by Rocklobsterbrew

ChrisYager39

Indiana

5/5  rDev +10.1%

06-16-2013 17:37:22 | More by ChrisYager39

crawfordcf

New York

5/5  rDev +10.1%

06-16-2013 13:08:06 | More by crawfordcf

Kopfschuss

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

06-16-2013 05:46:12 | More by Kopfschuss

stogirelli

Florida

4.25/5  rDev -6.4%

06-16-2013 01:07:49 | More by stogirelli

MNBeer1017

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

06-15-2013 15:07:32 | More by MNBeer1017

Jeremy_H

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

06-15-2013 12:23:18 | More by Jeremy_H

Michigan

Michigan

4.73/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

2012 Vintage. Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a 22oz snifter.

A-Pours a deep, slick, oily black. Very small mocha head that fades quickly. No light passing through.

S-Smoke, oak, barrel, bourbon. Nicely balanced. I'm not sensing much alcohol on the nose. Dark chocolate covered espresso beans. Vanilla, tobacco, touch of leather. maybe a bit of maple?

T- Wowza! Big, bold, badass stout. It doesn't really punch you in the face like some of these "extreme beers". I'm impressed by how balanced it is. It's simply delicious. Lingering aftertaste. Full of dark chocolate, malt, bourbon. It tastes like America. Masterfully masked alcohol (like america)

M-Light carbonation that opens the taste buds. Full mouthfeel. Not greasy or oily. It sits in your mouth.

O-I agree. It's one of the best stouts in the world. I could do cases of this

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 02:26:35 | More by Michigan

jtladner

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

06-15-2013 00:36:35 | More by jtladner

blt2646

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

06-14-2013 21:47:18 | More by blt2646

ACB

California

5/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I've had this beer twice now, and have a couple more in my refrigerator.

I have no idea what a "perfect beer" is, but I truly don't know what I can knock about it.

Out of the world of extremely potent Imperial Stouts, this is a giant.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 21:37:59 | More by ACB

VictorWisc

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +10.1%

06-14-2013 07:40:24 | More by VictorWisc

Ant4711

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

06-14-2013 03:24:15 | More by Ant4711

Canada_Dan

Illinois

4/5  rDev -11.9%

06-14-2013 01:37:31 | More by Canada_Dan

LostInTheFlood

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -11.9%

06-13-2013 20:30:47 | More by LostInTheFlood

CaptPajamaShark

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +4.6%

06-13-2013 18:51:25 | More by CaptPajamaShark