Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout - Goose Island Beer Co.

Auztan

Illinois

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

After having this beer I felt inspired to leave my first review. I had the opportunity to try this at the Goose Island Clybourn Pub a few weeks ago, but am reviewing this beer based off of a bottle bought today after the release. Split a couple of bombers with three friends of mine.

The appearance is thick and allows very little light to pass through on the edges. The head is a brown, similar to the crema on a perfect shot of Black Cat Espresso. A swirl allows the beer to coat this glass for a few seconds. The head dies quickly, leaving some islands.

Smell is a very distinct dark roasted coffee, which covers up some of the unique bourbon smell associated with the standard BCS, although it is still there. Dark chocolate present of course, as well as some cherries. Vanilla especially present after some warming.

Taste is perfect. First comes the bourbon, followed quickly by the espresso on the back of the tongue and through the nose. Some sweetness, almost molasses-like, but not cloying at all. Slightly woody. Alcohol is present, but hard to believe it is at 13%, and not off-putting at all. Extremely full of flavor and difficult to pick out everything. As it warms, some of the bitterness dies off and the sweetness kicks up.

Mouthfeel is thick and coats the mouth easily. Hits the back of the throat like a melted chocolate milk shake.

Of course the beer is strong and physically limits how much one can drink, but for the style, the drinkability is great and I could drink it for as long as I could afford it. The flavor and thickness doesn't detract from the drinkability. I could drink more than a bomber myself and enjoy every sip of it as much as the first.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2010 01:59:57 | More by Auztan

AgentZero

Illinois

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

A - Very dark, basically black, opaque, no light coming through on this one. Very small, slightly less than one finger head bubbled up on this. The head is made of super fine bubbles, almost looking solid in some sense, very rarely have I seen one like this, in some ways the lack of size on the head makes this look more refined.

S - Hard on the bourbon, this smells a lot like the regular BCS, but there's a deep, and almost subtle hint of coffee aroma here. It's present, but it's not overpowering like way too many coffee stouts seem to do. Vanilla notes and roasted malts. Quite amazing.

T - I rarely give 5's on anything, but this is fantastic. In a year, I can only imagine it gets better as the bourbon smoothes out more. Has the characteristic bourbon taste that blends nicely with some dark chocolate. The coffee here is just like the smell, a rich, dark background flavor that tastes very refined, and lingers in the background without overpowering anything. I don't like coffee beers, but somehow GI has used coffee to improve on one of my favorite beers. Some light vanilla, and I actually feel like I taste coconut in this one a little bit.

M - Heavy and smooth. Very thick and syrupy, just like it should be.

D - Could do the bomber, which is a hell of an accomplishment considering how rich and high ABV this is. Could possibly go for more, it's a great slow slipper to take up some of your time, as it gets more interesting as it warms up. I honestly think this is the best beer I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2010 00:00:34 | More by AgentZero

deepDISH13

Michigan

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

The black bottle is nice, the red bottle is much better!

I have been putting off reviewing beers for 340+ bottles, however, something like this forces me to start.

A: Black as night. pours like used motor oil. Yum...

S: eh-hem...the nicest smelling beer ive ever put to my nose. Bourbon is strong, coffee is there are well.

T: Heavenly...enough said

MandD: yes, please pour me another.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2010 05:25:51 | More by deepDISH13

jt31914

Michigan

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

Shared a bomber with my good buddy Dan:

A: 1/4 finger head; mocha colored head with a black as night color; beauty of a stout.

S: Oats, coffee, bourbon, God's semen, nuttiness... Everything you can ask for in a beer. This is the best smelling beer I've ever tasted. Let me repeat: THIS IS THE BEST SMELLING BEER I'VE EVER TASTED.

T: EVEN BETTER THAN THE SMELL. I'm honestly thinking of doing the rest of the review in caps to emphasize how awesome this beer is. Coffee and bourbon balanced with oat nuttiness. The beer is smooth, sits in your mouth and is full yet not overdone. This beer is as perfect a thing as I've ever tasted, I don't know if anything better could be brewed.

D/M: Just great, I could drink this all day (if I had more than $20 in my bank account) and it is so smooth and rich and awesome!

This is the petron of beers, the Marissa Miller of beers, the Jimi Hendrix of beers, etc. End of story, you need to drink this... now.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2010 15:51:46 | More by jt31914

cheezdawg

Florida

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

Had this on two different occasions, the most memorable being at goose island, however I am happy to report at home it tastes EXACTLY the same.

the appearance is a fantastic deep black with creamy brown head

the smell is of rich chocolate and coffee, not too much bourbon in the nose

the taste is fantastic. do I really need to say more? truly one of the finest crafted beers to date, perfect balance of every flavor.

the mouthfeel is thick but not overly.

the drinkability is fantastic, I would have no problem demolishing an entire bottle. my glass always seems to run dry very fast.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2010 05:10:41 | More by cheezdawg

hawks10

Illinois

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

22oz bottle poured into my mini Goose Island imperial pint glass...

Pours pitch black with one finger of light tan head, dense and thick...given a 5 because of how perfect the rest of the beer was, hard to rate an imperial stout...

Wonderful sweet smell of bourbon and vanilla. Some molasses and sweet chocolate overwhelm a week bitter roasted malt and very subtle coffee aroma...

Think regular Bourbon County Stout but 100% more smooth and easy to drink. Delicious! Sweet bourbon goodness with loads of vanilla and some molasses and dark chocolate. Very sweet, very little hint of coffee, perfect!...

Full bodied and incredibly creamy and smooth. Completely coats the palette with thick creamy bourbon/vanilla/chocolate goodness...incredible...

WOW! Blown away by this one...not usually a huge fan of any beer that has "coffee" in the title...I did not taste much coffee at all in this beer, all I tasted was a regular Bourbon County Stout tuned down a notch with incredible aroma, taste and feel, the drinkability is through the roof compared to regular BCS. Incredible beer, that's all I can say...pretty sure this is my first perfect score in 100+ reviews...it deserves it...

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2010 07:29:05 | More by hawks10

lowlight3

Indiana

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

I was looking forward to trying this beer and wondered if it would really live up to the hype. Not only did it live up to it, it exceeded it.

A- Black with little foam

S- This one is huge. The best smell of coffee and bourbon together that I have ever encountered.

T- The espresso in this sends the bourbon stout to a new level. This is the most well balanced beer I have ever tasted. Remarkable considering how complex this beer is.

M- Smooth.

D- Considering the abv, this beer is unbelievably drinkable.

This beer is absolutely phenomonal. I picked up a few bottles and am looking forward to enjoying this one through the aging process.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2010 14:27:26 | More by lowlight3

TJBurgess

Illinois

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

#16
I'm a huge fan of aged BCS (18 months is my liking), not so much on the fresh stuff, so let's see how this infant compares...

Bomber poured into a snifter, 6-8oz at a time.

A: Pours PITCH black with just a hint of dark caramel head. Seems really thick and adhears to the sides of the glass with a 10w motor oil. Beautiful... 5.0

S: A huge rush of the most heavenly of scents; ground coffee, bourbon, sweet molasses...like a Bourbon version of a Bailey's Irish coffee. As I let this warm, I continued to salivate at the smell. 5.0

T: The bourbon, rich coffee bitterness, slight sweetness blend together seamlessly. The heat of a young BCS is completely hidden by the roasted Black Cat. The amount of richness and complexity is incredible. I can't believe how well done this is right off the shelf. 5.0

M/D: Once again, the smoothness of the mouthfeel, low carbonation, and longevity of the aftertaste complete this as the best beer I have ever had. Along with the possibility this could IMPROVE with age, this gets my 1st and only 5.0 until another beer comes along and makes me change my mind.

Find it, share it, savor it.

Cheers

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2010 23:27:43 | More by TJBurgess

Kanebanger

Indiana

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

22 oz. Bomber poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a pitch black (dark as night) with a very, very thin mocha/tan colored head. Lacing is very minimal. Overall very pleasing to the eye.

S: Heavy bourbon smell with a small amount of what I can only describe as a very crisp and clean coffee smell, along with a very faint hint of oak and vanilla. As a side note... very similar to to regular Bourbon County Stouts except for the very pleasing hint of coffee. As it warms the coffee begins to come out a little bit more.

T: All I can say is wow. I will start off by saying that it is alot like regular BCS except much, much smoother. Due to the smell I thought there would be a huge bourbon bite in the front but this is not the case at all. The coffee is present but not overpowering. It still has the great oak taste and what also seems to be a very faint hint of vanilla, but all of the flavors combine to go down smooth as silk. It is both rich and complex. It definately lives up to the hype.

M: Very smooth, thick and creamy, with a small amount of carbonation. Again, the bourbon bite was no where near what I expected it to be.

D: Right now I am praying to the beer gods that Goose Island will make this a year round brew. If it weren't for the limited availability there would be almost nothing else in my cellar after tasting this.

Serving type: growler

05-05-2010 01:30:41 | More by Kanebanger

ommegoose

Illinois

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

I already know from my samples that I'm going to be very high on this beer, so here we go. Bomber, dated 3/25/10, poured into a small snifter.

I'm not sure what else you do with a 13% imperial stout. It's black, of course, but in this small glass it shows a lot of brown hues at the edges, giving it a bit more character, I suppose. I'd not be so inclined towards a 5.0 if the other aspects of the beer did not dwarf other beers. And by no means is it deficient here. Makes a pretty thin ring, and not much head retention. Not much of a crime. Actually, a very vigorous pour will solve that problem.

The aroma makes me giddy. Such a perfect blend of bold espresso and bourbon and chocolate cake. I don't think three things have ever went together so well. Phenomenal.

I'm searching for the 6.0 to choose. This is the best tasting beer I have ever had. I gave the regular BCS a 5.0, and this is even better with the addition of the espresso. It's a beautiful thing, and it just seems like the natural progression for the beer. The bourbon barrel aging presents a nice spicy oakiness on the finish especially. Espresso adds a bitter element that helps balance the huge sweetness. But fine espressos are rather sweet as well. This is like a rich chocolate cake soaked in espresso and bourbon. I may have went into more detail in my BCS review, but this is all that and more. Those who love that beer are likely to enjoy this even more.

So rich and viscous at first, but transforms into a velvety smooth beer. Carbonation is light and fine. I did not even think to look for the booze until a good few ounces in. Not hot at all.

And it just goes down so easy, and I want sip after sip, and if I had to pick one beer for ever and ever it would be this. I'm so glad I have never given a perfect score to any beer before, because none comes close to this. I first sampled this at WhiskyFest in Chicago, where there was no shortage of extraordinary beverages, and this one blew them out of the water. It helps that the alcohol presence is incredibly mild for a beer this strong. As someone who likes the regular BCS better fresh, I can't see enjoying this a great deal more with age. Glad I still have a few bottles to savor. Completely deserving of my first perfect score.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2010 04:23:34 | More by ommegoose

Brew33

Ohio

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

I can't believe I am saying this but this is the best beer I've ever had. It makes KBS and regular BCS seem average. The aroma and flavor are truly amazing. This beer is much sweeter than the standard BCS. The coffee adds a nice depth and mellows out the bourbon just enough. Mouthfeel is just like BCS, viscous and slightly sticky.

This beer is a masterpiece. Worth the hype and praise. An absolute contender for the BA #1 beer in the world. I never in my life thought I'd give a 5.0 but here it is. I'd buy cases of this if they kept making it. A truly special beer that I'm thankful I went out of my way to find.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2010 01:32:53 | More by Brew33

SleepyGrant

Illinois

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

I have never been compelled to write a review before, but this is my favorite beer of all time. It is perfection. The coffee flavors are huge and balance out the bourbon really well. I am not even that crazy about BCBS, but this is just amazing. I think it could benefit from some aging, but it certainly can be drunk right now.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2010 19:50:02 | More by SleepyGrant

goodbeer4me

Illinois

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

I am a avid stout drinker and this stout is without a doubt one of the finest (if not the finest) stouts I have ever had. I read many reviews on this stout and was skeptical if it would really live up to the hype that I was reading about how good it really was,well it was ALL OF THAT hands down.
First the aroma was incredible,it has a wonderful coffee bean nose to it that is out of this world.
Second the color is so incredibly dark and rich it reminds me of a very light molasses syrup that as you swirl it around the glass it leaves a beautiful gold trail on the side of the snifter.
Third the very first taste of this truly incredible stout is so well balanced with a rich coffee flavor, a slight hint of chocolate and amazing bourbon barrel flavor ( but not overwhelming bourbon taste ) for a 14% ABV stout you would NEVER know it was that high in content.
This is truly one of Goose Islands finest they have ever produced and am hope they continue with their fine crafting of these fine stouts for many years to come.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2010 13:42:32 | More by goodbeer4me

LordAdmNelson

Ohio

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

Had from a bomber at Goose Island-Wrigleyville. Bottled on 3/26/10, sampled 5/10/10.

I love BCS. This beer encompasses all of the incredible things about BCS, but then adds a very nice coffee-espresso note to it. Pours the same thick oily black with milk chocolate head.

Nose is incredible, the familiar vanilla, bourbon, oak, chocolate notes, but then it adds a very nice espresso aroma as well. It blends perfectly with everything else that's going on. I was afraid that the coffee would be overdone in this one, but definitely on the right track from here.

Taste is equally amazing, this is just unreal. Again, the familiar sweet vanilla, bourbon, oak, chocolate flavors, but sneaking in there is the espresso too. Delicious. I don't really believe in perfect beers, but there's nothing really wrong with this one. I love the aroma, I love the flavor, and, while robust, everything fits together very well.

Feel is very smooth and slick. Low carbonation, medium to full body. I never really thought of BCS as a "chewy" stout, and neither is this. For a robust, big ABV stout, however, the feel works on this. Very smooth.

Drinkability is tremendous. Beautiful beer to have, I didn't want it to end. I guess this is the best beer I've ever had.

To note, a friend of mine was having regular BCS on tap while I was drinking this. Comparatively, this is richer, smoother, and not nearly as hot as regular BCS.

If you like BCS, believe the hype on this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2010 16:15:16 | More by LordAdmNelson

davesway10

Iowa

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

I've been waiting for this beer for some time, time not wasted. First off I am a huge fan of BCBS, wow what a beer. This is better, I hope Goose Island continues with this one. This beer pours pitch black with a beautiful dark tan head. The smells of Bourbon and Coffee are simply fantastic. This beer is extremely similar to BCBS, it is however smoother, cleaner. BETTER. Definitely something I will buy more of as it is available. WOW. Thumbs up Goose Island, keep this beer alive.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2010 22:59:16 | More by davesway10

RodneyX

Missouri

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

Never reviewed a beer before, but my buddy is on BA and showed me the site and this beer made me want to join. I looks super dark black, kind of like oil with some small brown bubbles on the top that faded away slowly. It smells pretty amazing, a bunch of coffee and chocolate, not as boozy as I would expect with the bourbon barrel stuff.

Tastes even better than it smells, nicely rich with some great but subtle coffee taste. Get the bourbon and vanilla influence in the barrel. Goes down like a smooth, syrupy, thick beer that coats the threat and leaves some stickiness in the throat. I destroyed the bomber so I guess that makes this a 5. Love this beer, want more of it.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2010 03:43:18 | More by RodneyX

MayorAdamWest

Illinois

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

I think the other reviews do a fine job of it and I don't know that I could find the words to do this beer justice. Let's put it this way, last month I bottled my own coffee beer after it had aged on oak for awhile. I think it is the best beer I've ever brewed. It is swill compared to the BCBCS. I bought 8 bottles, 2 for a friend and 6 for myself. I drank one. I immediately waxed the remaining 5 to prevent myself for drinking them and I toyed with the idea of only giving my friend one bottle.

Goose Island you have created a masterpiece!

A- Spent motor oil black with a thick creamy deep brown head.

S - The coffee and bourbon immediately jump out at you. Sweet and roasty with just a hint of vanilla punching its way through.

T - Wonderful! Starbucks has nothing on this coffee. Deep roasted dark coffee and warm sweet bourbon. Oaky and roasty.

M - Warming and coating. Creamy with a hard liqueur burn.

D - Like I said above I had to seal the remaining bottles so that I wasn't tempted to drink them. This is by no means a two or three bottles in a night beer. It is a sipping beer meant to be savored with a good friend and a good movie.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2010 14:28:58 | More by MayorAdamWest

bigdonniebrasco

Kansas

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

A= Nothing new I can say... BLACK and oily looking!

S= Bourbon notes. I can smell all of the individual components however they meld perfectly into one intoxicating whaft or chocolate, espresso, and bourbon goodness!

T= The taste is in line with the nose. coffee- DUH
Bourbon - DUH, but neither steals the show. Once again this beer is about balance!

M= Thick and creamy. Deliciously smooth. Coating the entire mouth with a lasting finish.

D= Awesome... it really is! I can't think of anything that would make it better!

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2010 01:35:18 | More by bigdonniebrasco

DosBeerigos

Florida

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

C. Clairty...whats that
H. Black like Oil
N. Bourbony, Roasty, Vanilla, Dark/Bitter Chocolate, Espresso

Beer Hype!? Not Here! I received this beer from a trade, and didn't know much about it. I watched it climb on the top 100 for about 3-4 weeks before I even realized I had it sitting in my cellar. Needless to say I was excited to try it. I love the regular Bourbon County so this has to be better right?! Yep, it sure was. This was a true pleasure to drink. The mouth feel was on point, the taste were all distinct in their own. Strong Chocolate, Espresso, Bourbon, and hints of Vanilla. I would drink this beer again and buy this beer again. While I am not sure it is worthy of #3 in the world or higher. It's Pretty Damn Good!

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2010 17:02:39 | More by DosBeerigos

trbergman

Illinois

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

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a tulip.

A - Pours a slick jet black with just under a finger of mocha foam that dissipates to a crema-like lace.

S - Rich aromas of both espresso and oak. Everything just melds together, and despite the high level of alcohol, there's no booziness present in the nose - just a mellow bourbon signature. Notes of vanilla, chocolate, toasted marshmallow, molasses, and dark fruit. Absolutely perfect.

T - The first sips fill the mouth with flavors of roasted barley and coffee with an added prickle of alcoholic heat. As the beer builds on the palate, chocolate and vanilla make an entrance, along with molasses and licorice. There's an understated sweetness that cuts through the bit of acrid char. Hop bitterness is assertive, but certainly not the focus here. A little aging could take the edge off the bourbon flavor if desired, but the beer is fine as is.

M - Rich, full, and silky body with an added bourbon tingle.

D - Simply outstanding, and completely deserving of all the hype received.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2010 04:00:17 | More by trbergman

quinnsi

Illinois

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

Truly a world-class brew. I can't think of any way to improve on this complex, flavorful, yet beautifully harmonized beer. I don't remember having a beer stout than this.

A: Pours nice and thick, although not in the motor oil realm. Black with deep amber highlights at the edges if held up to some light. Surprisingly, it pours with a good sized light brown head which never fully dissipated for me.

S: Wonderfully balanced. Vanilla, deep chocolate malts, bourbon, and coffee all are present, though none are more prominent than any other. Great smelling beer.

T: The taste is as amazingly balanced as the smell. Considering how much is going on here, that's quite a feat. Rich coffee blends w/ malt and a nice vanilla flavor as well as subtle bourbon warming. I can taste each element at work, and each one is on point. Booze is hidden very well, making me want to keep drinking and drinking. Aftertaste is wonderfully reminiscent of coffee ice cream. I want more!

M: great, full, creamy texture. No metallic or off sensations to be found.

D: As drinkable as any 13% beer I've ever had. After drinking the first bottle (with a friend) we immediately ordered a second.

Goose Island has made a masterpiece

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2010 17:56:07 | More by quinnsi

thirsty4beer

New York

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

Cold 22oz bottle poured into a tulip glass.

Pours a deeper black than I was expecting and it had a short-lived light brown head. If I wasn't holding the cold bottle, it would have seemed more like a deep black espresso being poured straight from the espresso maker.

Wow! Definitely some freshly roasted espresso, rich chocolate, and quality bourbon aromas up front. Powerful nose just from the pour, didn't even need to shove my face into my glass.

Amazing taste of chocolate maltiness, roasted espresso (with a smooth bitterness), and very balanced amount of bourbon. Slightly sweet and surprisingly creamy. As the beer warms to room temp, some licorice becomes apparent. Bourbon heat on the finish but alcohol is extremely masked overall.

Mouthfeel was heavenly and beyond velvety. Like drinking a slightly thicker choc milk but not quite a milkshake. The best mouthfeel I've ever had from a stout. Drinks like an 8%

I should have bought a whole case!

Practically perfect as a young beer. Can't wait to see how it ages in my cellar!

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2010 16:04:46 | More by thirsty4beer

aasher

Indiana

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

(this review is from notes, early April 2010)

Poured out of a 22oz bottle in early April after allowing to sit for twenty minutes once removed from the fridge.

Appearance: Pours a silky black with slight caramel head. Very dark with slight brown coloration, evident in the quickly dissipating head.

Smell: Smells strongly of coffee beans, bourbon, and alcohol. Very aromatic and somewhat sweet aroma, similar to caramel or brown sugar.

Taste: Delicious combination of coffee beans, bourbon barrel, and alcohol. Vanilla is an off flavor from the base and bourbon aging. Alcohol not overbearing but definitely present. Taste the sweetness and coffee before tasting bourbon on the backside. After taste is a little boozy.

Mouthfeel: Just slight carbonation. Very smooth on the palate.

Drinkability: Very drinkable, but due to alcohol content could only drink one, 22oz, at a time. Just slight warming to the throat and bourbon flavor resonates to the chest.

Overall this is one of the best beers I've ever tasted (out of near 400 different beers). It is both strong and flavorful and an excellent representation of an imperial stout. I would highly recommend this to anyone who can find it. I'm under the impression it's release was limited and that the beer was very hard to find. I grabbed two bottles for aging and will try them again in another year or two

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2011 22:36:10 | More by aasher

FARGO619

California

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

The appearance is thick and allows very little light to pass through on the edges. The head is a brown, similar to the crema on a perfect shot of Black Cat Espresso. A swirl allows the beer to coat this glass for a few seconds. The head dies quickly, leaving some islands.

Smell is a very distinct dark roasted coffee, which covers up some of the unique bourbon smell associated with the standard BCS, although it is still there. Dark chocolate present of course, as well as some cherries. Vanilla especially present after some warming.

Taste is perfect. First comes the bourbon, followed quickly by the espresso on the back of the tongue and through the nose. Some sweetness, almost molasses-like, but not cloying at all. Slightly woody. Alcohol is present, but hard to believe it is at 13%, and not off-putting at all. Extremely full of flavor and difficult to pick out everything. As it warms, some of the bitterness dies off and the sweetness kicks up.

Mouthfeel is thick and coats the mouth easily. Hits the back of the throat like a melted chocolate milk shake.
rving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 16:35:39 | More by FARGO619

JivanN

California

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

Had this on tap at Paddy Longs in Chicago about a week and a half ago.

The smell is absolutely fantastic. You immediately get coffee notes and then bourbon. Chocolate, toffee and caramel notes are also present.

Taste was what you would expect from a bourbon county brand stout. Amazing. So different from the past because they used edelweis coffee for this one and its such an improvement over past Bourbon County coffee. Taste was very similar to the smell. Boozy, but not that boozy. Loved it on tap

The mouth feel is very thick and consist of very little carbonation.

This is one of those beers that I always wished I had on tap and when I finally did I was blown away.

Highly recommend this brew.

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2011 18:49:32 | More by JivanN