Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout - Goose Island Beer Co.

tjsdomer2

Illinois

4.39/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Comparing this to regular stout; here goes:

Appearance: Coffee black with excellent brown lacing.

Smell: Coffee, bourbon, and chocolate. Tons of chocolate. Not quite as fruity as regular.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Lots of oak with coffee and chocolate. Very roasty.

Overall: There's still something about the regular Bourbon County Stout I love. Still, I really like this.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2013 23:01:56 | More by tjsdomer2

macher0

Kentucky

4.94/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2012 Bottle to tulip

This was actually a side-by-side comparison with KBS. Shared with a friend.

A: Dark black with finger of bubbly amber head that retreats to an amber bubbly rim. Not much film after it settles. Not much lacing. Creamy appearance.

S: Moderately fragrant. Dark roasted malts. Bourbon/oak. Coco. Moderate booze.

T: Follows the nose (malts>bourbon/oak>coco). Very powerful taste. Slight bitterness with coco. Hints of vanilla and coffee. The coffee had fallen off a bit. Some booze, not overpowering.

M: My favorite aspect. As close to perfection as one could experience. Very silky smooth. Moderate carbonation. Full bodied. Very viscous.

O: This is definitely one of my favorite beers. It slightly hedged out the KBS, primarily because of the MF. It was silky to the point it gained a 5.0 MF - perfection. This beer is defiantly worth hassle.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 13:19:08 | More by macher0

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

4.43/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

On tap at a local fundraiser, the stout was a deep black color with a small mocha head. The aroma was quite boozy with notes of dark fruit and burnt malts in the aroma. On the initial taste one first notices the booze. After this, one notices a chalky texture filled with dark chocolate, cherry and chewy malts. The coffee seems fairly masked in the overall scope of the beer. In the aftertaste, the warming of the alcohol comes to the front. In addition, the burnt malts and chocolate continue to make an impression. While I enjoyed this one, I did not find myself as impressed as some people. Still, this is a way above average stout.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2013 02:40:15 | More by JohnnyHopps

dar482

New York

5/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The color is just black with little to no head.

The aroma is of sweet vanilla coffee. Just big and complex. You definitely get some bitter chocolate too, but the sugary sweetness really does come through to mask the bitterness of that chocolate. There's also spicy pepper in there too.

The flavor is so darn complex. It’s sweeter and smoother than BCBS. It coats the mouth nicely. The roasted malt, coffee, vanilla, and bitter chocolate hides the booze quite well. It does this job better than the BCBS with taming the booze and dealing with the sweetness because of the coffee bitterness. Then the finish has clearly some bourbon.

Then again, having for the third time on tap, it still is quite a "hot" beer. The alcohol quickly hit my nose set my back a bit in my seat. I would love to have a bottle of this and give it a year to die down.

The mouthfeel is like silk and luscious, but very sticky. The beer is almost like cough syrup with its thickness and big body.

It’s a wonderful sipping beer. This is one of the best stouts I've ever had.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2013 05:26:16 | More by dar482

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

4.46/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Been aging in my garage for quite some time. The alcohol content keeps holding me back. But since I'm doing a major purging of my collected junk now is the time to try/get rid of.
The pour was midnight black, thick like used oil and velevetty also. A small wispy head forms and leaves gentile lacing around the sniffer.
The thing I liked most in the aroma is that the coffee aroma smells like roasted beans as opposed to black coffee. Rich bourbon notes and sutle vanilla comes through along with deep roasted malts.
The taste coats my tongue with warming alcohol and slowly opens to reveal rich roasted coffee beans vanilla creames and intense roasted malts.
It drinks thick and velvetty smooth with plenty of warming alcohol. Sweet by dry and a tad bitter.
Took me all day to drink it but I did.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 01:24:40 | More by micromaniac129

Igotmypistola

California

4.96/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

The absolute gold standard for coffee stouts. I'd drink this instead of coffee for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Ink black, huge aroma. makes me dream of living on a south american coffee plantation.

I finished my glass an hour ago, and all i can taste is ROASTED coffee. stellar. perfection. done and done.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 06:29:46 | More by Igotmypistola

WiscoBrewsco

Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at Fox River House in Appleton, WI

Appearance - Poured a thick jet black. As black as any beer I have ever seen

Smell - What an amazing aroma. Such a thick smell of malts mixed with bourbon and chocolate first hit the nose but then the coffee takes over and what a smell it is. The coffee is so present and powerful you would think you were smelling a cup of coffee instead of beer.

Taste - Unbelievable usage of coffee in a stout. By far the best example I have ever seen of it. The malt bill is extremely complex and the bourbon and chocolate notes play well as underlying flavors but the coffee steals the show again as it mixes with every flavor seamlessly and creates a perfect blend of coffee, bourbon, chocolate and malts

Mouthfeel - This is the thickest stout I have ever had. It is chew-able in its thickness and it magnificent to drink

Overall - This is hands down the best stout I have ever had. The integration of the coffee mixed with the bourbon and chocolate on top of the outstanding mouthfeel, creates the single greatest stout drinking experience I have ever had. If you get a chance to have this, don't hesitate

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2013 23:07:36 | More by WiscoBrewsco

HoppedUp99

New Jersey

4.69/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Not a huge fan of the stouts but i was told i should try it boom mind blown its great! I picked up it for $19.99 in the 22oz best 20 bucks i ever spent . I grabbed it at shoprite wines and spirits in little falls and saw they had website for all there craft beers and they have tons at shopritewine.com most these top 250 are on there...

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 16:33:57 | More by HoppedUp99

joefuzz

New York

5/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2011 bottle
Pours jet black with a small ring of dark brown bubbles. Smells like a chocolate covered roasted marshmellow, with a slight alcohol presence. Taste starts off with some faded coffee and tons of chocolate and ends with a nice warming bit of bourbon barrel. Carbonation is soft and mouthfeel is on the thicker side. I have had this beer fresh and it was probably a 4.5 overall but with a few years on it an amazingly complex beer has devolped, glad I held onto this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2013 05:12:53 | More by joefuzz

SHerninko

Pennsylvania

4.59/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

From Craft Ale House - PA
S-poured from bomber bottles
A-Very dark, tan head, lacing
S-As it warms it goes from slight bitter coffee to a full, nice, fresh coffee smell
T-Base stout is there and creamy, but fresh coffee taste dominates once it warms up. Very good. Not bitter, not sweet, just all the qualities of a fresh cup of quality coffee. Very good and may be the best coffee I've had in terms of balance.
M-not as creamy as some other Goosse stout variations, but no complaints. Just about zero carbonation in mine.
O-Excellent coffee stout, top notch, seek it out!

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 13:42:37 | More by SHerninko

timc100

Illinois

4.7/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

La Tortuga

A: Pours a little lighter than the regular bourbon county. Leaves a very minimal, fizzing head that dissipates almost instantly. Looks like a heavy spirit swirling in the glass

S: A harmonious combination of flavors. They all work together really well - and the coffee is very forward, a little over played and dominate. Fresh heavy, dark roast oily acidic coffee beans. Has the aroma of a very big beer - the bourbon caramel booziness comes through, slighter oak and vanilla. Incredibly rich milk chocolate and bitter bakers chocolate. There is an interesting dark fruit note that comes in as it warms.

T: Huge taste - coats the mouth and lingers a long while. Big, bitter dark chocolate and heavily roasted coffee. There is a lot of sweetness to combat the bitterness - milk chocolate, vanilla, oak, slight hazelnut. The bourbon kicks at the end. Incredibly delicious beer

P: Great. Incredibly smooth - velvety full mouthfeel with soft-enough carbonation as to not notice it. Coats your mouth leaving almost a syrupy film, but it works because its such a big beer.

O: Fantastic beer all around. The coffee is strong in the aroma and could benefit with some age to balance things out - that is being critical. It's outstanding and better than the original

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 03:39:07 | More by timc100

Claytonbrewsby

Virginia

5/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer is awesome! If you love coffee and bourbon, this is your beer. The BCBCS is a strong one for sure. It's aroma is the perfect blend of black coffee and a good bourbon. Very thick, really sweet to the taste. Bourbon dominates the coffee in flavor but there's still enough there to make it the perfect combination.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 21:32:42 | More by Claytonbrewsby

Beerandboards

New Mexico

4.74/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Got to try this on tap during abq beer week at Billy's Long Bar

A - oily black, completely opaque, small ring of khaki foam.

S - boatloads of coffee, chocolate, more coffee, definitely some bourbon. Smells awesome,

T - incredible stout. Coffee and smooth bourbon lead, then dark and milk chocolate notes. Not incredibly complex, but awesome nonetheless.

M - super thick. Low carb. Rich, great.

O - best coffee beer I've had. All the flavors are huge, but still have balance.

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2013 14:10:06 | More by Beerandboards

Belgianbeerbunny

Illinois

4.99/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I got a keg of this dark beauty in my home bar. I am very lucky.

A - A 1/2 inch sandy-brown head. Receded quickly, leaving no lacing.

S - Wow. A shot of Bourbon in coffee.

T - A shot of Bourbon in coffee. The two flavors predominate and blend together perfectly like a cappuccino.

M - Milky, thick and silky.

O - Fabulous. I'm so thrilled that my hometown brewer can create a brew this rich and luscious.

Serving type: on-tap

04-25-2013 23:57:18 | More by Belgianbeerbunny

papat444

Quebec (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

***2010 Vintage***

Big thanks to Masterski for giving me my first taste of the Bourbon County line.

Poured from a 650ml. bottle, bottled 03/26/10.

Appearance: Very thick and dark black/brown body. 2 finger head that disappears pretty quickly but probably normal due to ABV.

Smell: Some of the best bourbon notes i've smelled in a beer. Wafts of vanilla atop bourbon, light on the oak, deep rich robust espresso, images of coffee beans. Unending.

Taste: A seamless intertwining of strong coffee, woody bourbon, alcoholic vanilla, and oak. After a few sips though, i'm left slightly wanting.

Mouthfeel: Very low carbonation, slick feel, remarkably smooth.

Overall: I understand the hype on this one. While i was expecting a bit more expansive flavor, this still is very good for me. Send more the other variants Alex ;)

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 13:26:04 | More by papat444

rodlavers

Pennsylvania

4.95/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Been looking forward to trying BCBCS for some time now, finally cracked one of my two bottles. This review is from my first experience with the beer, something I do not normally do. Hopefully this is not looked down upon.

Vintage 2012, poured into a snifter. Pours almost black, with a very thin dark mocha head. Thin layer dissipates rather quickly, leaving absolutely nothing behind. There is no "lacing" but the legs on this babe are incredible, staining the glass a caramel brown color.

Very sweet aromas are most obvious. Behind those I find typical BC smells of vanilla and caramel. Coffee plays a huge role as well, obviously.

Taste is infused with flavors of vanilla, roasted malt, light chocolate, and a decent dose of Intelligentsia coffee. It's delicious, to be sure. Plenty of bourbon as well, perhaps more so than BCBS, odd given slightly less ABV.

Feel is not quite as smooth, perhaps due to the coffee. I do get a bit of coffee texture/acidity on the end. It's excellent nonetheless. The lack of lacing/presence of "legs" renders this, much like the base variety, similar to a wine. It drinks slow, but well (I took the whole 22oz. down myself). Overall tough choice for me which I like better. Coffee and regular are the only two I've had. BCBCS is really sticky and sweet, with tons of sugar.

Very very good. Glad I am finally trying this. I have not had it fresh, so I am not sure where the coffee character should be, but if I believe the critics, fresher is better. I'd say coffee was less prominent than I anticipated. Overall, excellent beer. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 03:13:08 | More by rodlavers

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

4.63/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared by Liam. Vintage 2012

Jet black, ring of tan head, no lace and fairly thick bodied. Smell is a mix of roast and fresh coffee beans, bourbon, vanilla, oak and chocolate, big fudge cake notes as well, milky chocolate mixed with bakers, just outstanding. Taste is like the nose great mix of bourbon, coffee and roast, chocolate, fudge, vanilla, bitter coffee finish, oak in aftertaste with chocolate and coffee. Lightly carbonated, full chewy body, big thick mouth coating feel. Absolutely incredible stuff here, such a delight to drink, takes BA coffee stouts to a whole new level, very impressive stuff here.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 19:50:45 | More by peensteen

BobZ

Massachusetts

4.68/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

22oz Bottle 2012 Vintage (Bottled 11-12-12) poured into a Huna snifter.

Appearance: Deep dark brown pouring out with richness leaving only a small tan cap even after an aggressive pour. The beer hangs on the glass with legs like fine Cabernet.

Smell: As expected, bourbon first with mostly oaky vanilla in the nose then the coffee and malty chocolate coming through underneath.

Taste: Surprisingly the first flavors are not at all coffee forward to me, what announces itself first is the incredible oaky vanilla from the barrel, then the coffee, then the chocolate. All three flavors working together in excellent balance.

Mouthfeel: This finish on this beer is one attribute that sets it apart both from regular BCBS and other barrel aged stouts. It is exceptionally clean no coating or cloying aspects whatsoever. This is very pleasing given how creamy this beer taste on the palate.

Overall: My favorite Goose Island Beer to date, a truly excellent example of a bourbon barrel coffee stout.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 16:02:02 | More by BobZ

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.95/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bomber poured into a snifter
2012 Vintage. 14.3% ABV .Bottled 11-12-12
Review #450 and a birthday present to myself.

A- Pours like you expect from bourbon county. Black as they come. Intense alcohol legs. A smal brown head, very little retention. An intense looking beer.

S- A big bourbon leaks out of this beer. A massive sour mash note and a nice charred oak. A lot of roasted malts and a touch of caramel sweetness. Some vanilla, a touch of coffee bitterness and dryness. Sweet and syrupy liquid of the gods.

T- A big bitterness at first. A coffee bitterness and a roasted malt dryness to start things off. It turns very sweet and thick. A smooth roasted malt profile with a dry and semi smokeyness to it, a slight char from the barrel. A touch of vanilla and a bit of caramel. The bourbon is most present on the back end of this beer. A big grainy sour mash flavor with a touch of dark fruits as well. The coffee in this beer may have faded at tad over 5 months but is still present and compliments the beer very well. 14.3%, where?

M- Very much on the sweet side. A thick and syrupy concoction. Very warming on the way down. Bitter coffee aftertaste.

O- All in all, im very glad I saved this one several months to enjoy on my birthday. But having had it, I don't think my willpower will be the same next year. Having just had an extremely comparable beer, KBS, the other day, I can attest to this beers superiority all though they are both world class. This is the best in the business.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 23:57:26 | More by TwelveOunces

ThickNStout

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle from chanokokoro (thanks Brian!). Bottled 11/12/12. Served in a Three Floyds teku.

Pours oil black with a quarter finger capuccino head that leaves only a few cursory fleks of lace.

Smells very similar to it's non-coffee cousin. Sweet, inviting bourbon, vanilla and some coffee.

Taste bursts with that sweet oaky, vanilla, bourbon with roasty chocolate malts and a nice strong coffee that creeps in towards the finish. The booze is apparent but not near what expected for 14%+. Smooth and delicious.

Oily, medium-ish body with light carbonation. Thinner than expected. Long, sweet bourboned coffee finish.

The coffee was a bit more subtle than I expected but this is still a very tasty beer. Definately glad to try it and hopefully I'll be able to get more in the future.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 23:56:43 | More by ThickNStout

williamjbauer

West Virginia

5/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bottled, 22 oz bomber, served in a weizen glass with good friend Eric. Shared a few shots of bcbcs with friends at baby shower as well. 2012 vintage.

Black with brown thin head sticky lacing, moderate retention

Rich earth sweet coffeeb, I feel like I am in the rain forest. Dank sweet espresso notes with floods of bourbon vanilla warm notes. Tastes like the notes with the sweet warming flavors first, vanilla, the rich, robust coffee, and that amazing bourbon warm finish, chewy, no carbonation.

One of my favorites beers yet! Shared with great friends for the celebration of my first child's birth.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 19:22:03 | More by williamjbauer

vinny21bal

Illinois

5/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This my favorite of all the BCS. I did notice on this I had that the coffee is starting to fade which I wasn't to happy about. But at the same time it was subtle. And whats the worst thing when the coffee fades. It just turns into regular BCS which isn't the worst thing in the world. But fresh is best with this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 19:20:05 | More by vinny21bal

writerLJBerg

Oregon

3.91/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

22oz bottle from JMRSN. Reviewed from notes.

A: Fizzing pour yields an obsidian black body with a geyser turbulating the middle of the surface. There's an acceptable ring of dark mocha colored head, and legs leave a brown stain on the glass.

N: Loads of vanilla and caramel. Bourbon and wood are pronounced. Chocolate cake with a touch of soy sauce. There's a touch of espresso. Alcohol soaked raisins.

T: Raisins, vanilla, chocolate, and a coffee acidity. Some roast, but this is mostly sweet with a little spice like that of rye whiskey. Some salt.

M: Coating and yet some wateriness at the end. Lots of alcohol.

O: I expected more coffee out of this vintage. This also has a quality I don't recall from the 2010 vintage, and as such, it's good, but it's not the best of the lineup. Still worthy.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 04:31:10 | More by writerLJBerg

Ego

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

stoked when I saw this on tap for take out at joe canals here in jersey... 32oz only but I am sure that will do...

eyes...
dark black depth, dark cocoa head is smallish and fades quickly, there is a visible film on the sides of the glass, like year old cola it just slurs down the sides, this looks mean...

nose...
booza-palooza, like whiskey with coffee notes, some prunes, damn dark prunes, a touch of vanilla note in the back, definite wood tones in there as well, blindfolded I might think this was whiskey... woah boy this sucker packs a punch to the nose. letting this breathe for a few minutes i really get more of the roasty toasty coffee smell, it almost smells like candied coffee if that makes any sense...

taste etc...
thick and heavy as you might expect, boozy of course, the coffee kind of lends a chocolate-sweet note to it, at first it is almost too sugary/syrupy but mellows out a touch (and I do mean a touch), every sip lasts a long time, the after taste has many different levels, at first you get the oily thick slick feel, then sweetness, some booze tone, then it melts into coffee notes and some lingering bitterness all the while... tasty! definite sipper...

verdict ?
this is smooth for the abv... but yet you sense the ABV the whole time... this is so big but yet so refined, a pure myriad of big flavors all in balance. get it when you can.

Serving type: growler

03-31-2013 04:34:56 | More by Ego

Pecan

California

4.63/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Black pour, dark dark brown on the edges. I can't even see through this beer when holding it up to the light. There is a thick, tan head that lingers.

The smell presents a strong bourbon smell mixed with vanilla and molasses. I am getting some espresso/coffee aromas, but it is not as pronounced as I would have expected. I think it may be because they are mixing into the bourbon and vanilla and producing an overall smell that I would describe as decadent, rich, and chocolate-like.

Starts with a big hit of fantastic, boozy bourbon and quickly transitions into a dark malty flavor with vanilla, caramel, and dark chocolate (assuming the coffee added to the bitterness factor here). I get a ever so slight fruit flavor for a fleeting moment. Finishes bourbon and roasted coffee with faded but lingering vanilla. The taste of coffee sticks around well after the sweetness has completely faded resulting in enhancement of the still biting alcohol, possibly the only unpleasing portion of the taste for me.

The mouthfeel is thick and oily. Very inviting and enjoyable. Also a bit more carbonation than I prefer, but only by a little.

Overall, this is a fantastic brew. This one could have probably aged a bit longer to suit my personal tastes, but without a doubt is impressive at any age. I think in it's current state, the coffee tends to move the alcohol flavor too forward for me. That being said, I don't think I'd pass up a chance to drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 05:36:01 | More by Pecan