Bourbon County Brand Stout - Goose Island Beer Co.

kmcnair

California

3.55/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle, bottling date of 01/05/05.

Pours an extremely viscous motor oil black and makes a very tiny bit of tanned head, a swirl of the glass leaves legs of syrupy sweet stout.

Aroma is deep chocolate, caramel, toffee, soy sauce, alcohol and a very subtle woodsy vanilla from the oak.

Taste is very hot, alcohol isn't masked too well, medium bourbon notes, vanilla, rich roasted and burnt caramel flavors mingle with chocolate and coffee.

Very full bodied, velvety texture on the palate, hot warming alcohol that burns as it goes down and ultimately leads to a dry finish. Carbonation level is very low. Leaves a thick coating on the palate.

At nearly 1.5 years old, I'm guessing this bottle could be laid down for at least another 3 years before it will reach it's potential. It has a number of good things going on, but it is still way too hot. Would try again with much longer cellaring.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2006 07:08:26 | More by kmcnair

Rihup

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +4.6%

05-26-2013 03:01:16 | More by Rihup

bossmanbuzz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -11.9%

05-26-2013 02:17:38 | More by bossmanbuzz

girlbrew

District of Columbia

4.75/5  rDev +4.6%

05-26-2013 01:48:58 | More by girlbrew

Zbyler

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -11.9%

05-25-2013 20:10:17 | More by Zbyler

MaltyMates

New York

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

Grabbed a couple bottle of this at my local supermarket . I decided to split the bottle with my wife and was served from a glass.

Color: DARK - the color is as black as you can be as it should for this style.

Smell: The bourbon smell is apparent from the second you open the bottle, over the smell of the beer.

Taste: The taste is more balanced than the smell suggests and the bourbon becomes more of an afterthought. It is thick and the stout leans to the malty side.

Mouthfeel: The beer has a thick mouthfeel. The alcohol is there, but is much more masked then you would believe.

Overall a great beer - best paired with desserts.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 20:03:02 | More by MaltyMates

ajzy

Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +10.1%

05-25-2013 16:52:57 | More by ajzy

WKole81

Illinois

5/5  rDev +10.1%

05-25-2013 12:28:41 | More by WKole81

CoolEthan

California

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

05-25-2013 07:28:03 | More by CoolEthan

steevbr

Illinois

5/5  rDev +10.1%

05-24-2013 20:51:31 | More by steevbr

Grant35

California

5/5  rDev +10.1%

05-24-2013 08:18:38 | More by Grant35

cyrushire

Florida

4/5  rDev -11.9%

05-24-2013 06:26:09 | More by cyrushire

Hoozierdaddy

Illinois

5/5  rDev +10.1%

05-24-2013 05:18:29 | More by Hoozierdaddy

SwG237

New York

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

05-24-2013 03:51:55 | More by SwG237

BeerGardener

Nebraska

5/5  rDev +10.1%

05-24-2013 03:45:44 | More by BeerGardener

Tidesox28

Maine

5/5  rDev +10.1%

05-24-2013 02:16:52 | More by Tidesox28

kevanb

Illinois

4.61/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle, 2012 dated, poured into a Goose Island Bourbon County snifter.

The beer pours a deep, jet black color, touches of cola brown when struck by the light with a short, tightly packed caramel colored head that vanishes almost immediately that leaves no lace behind. The aroma is lovely, strong oaky bourbon, rich chocolate, light roasted coffee and barrel char and potent alcohol with some stone fruit and marshmallow character. On the tongue, rich toffee and bourbon creep out ever so smoothly before vanilla, thick chocolate and chewy oak captivate the palate. Alcohol, pitted fruit, marshmallow and light coffee roast tickle the tongue at the finish. The body is so velvety and smooth, low carbonation, but just enough to prop up the flavors and coat the mouth perfectly. The finish is so silky and easy and has a nice warming sensation as it goes down.

Verdict: There is a reason why this is the benchmark for all bourbon barrel aged stouts. It has such depth of flavor and wonderful balance and the alcohol, while prominent is so tame for hovering around 15.00%. This really is a beer that holds its own against any competitor in the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 02:11:27 | More by kevanb

Fetching

Indiana

5/5  rDev +10.1%

05-24-2013 00:16:10 | More by Fetching

Boston_Steve

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

05-23-2013 19:15:25 | More by Boston_Steve

Fargrow

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

05-23-2013 18:11:49 | More by Fargrow

tomholland

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +4.6%

05-23-2013 03:41:21 | More by tomholland

Stickler

Michigan

5/5  rDev +10.1%

05-23-2013 00:43:23 | More by Stickler

velcrogrip

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +4.6%

05-22-2013 18:31:05 | More by velcrogrip

kizyle

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

05-22-2013 13:25:13 | More by kizyle

MooSully

Kansas

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

05-22-2013 04:29:14 | More by MooSully