Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout - Goose Island Beer Co.

mnphish

Minnesota

4.9/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2012 bottle infused with la tortuga beans. Consumed in a Deschute's Teku glass.

Pours dark black with a dark brown head that fades quickly.

Aromas of bourbon, fresh coffee, oak, and chocolate.

Taste is of fresh coffee, rich bourbon, with a dark chocolate finish. Pure euphoria.

Mouthfeel is rich and boozy. Moderate carbonation, highly drinkable, very clean and a refreshing finish.

I think this beer is at its perfect stage. Any longer and the coffee might fade, but it still crushes regular BCBS!

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 07:54:14 | More by mnphish

standardcherry

Massachusetts

4.64/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

22oz bottle served into a snifter. 2012 vintage.

A: Deep black pour with a small tan head. Looks thick.
S: Smells boozy. Oak, bourbon, chocolate, vanilla, coffee. Maybe even some coconut? Mostly smells like a cup of coffee with bourbon and that's not a bad thing.
T: Wow, this is excellent. Starts with spicy, oaky bourbon notes. Dark roasty malts. Coffee and chocolate blended together with a nice bitter taste. Slight vanilla notes. A bit of alcohol heat.
M: This is extremely drinkable. Super smooth, thick bodied with moderate carbonation.
O: Quite possibly the best coffee stout I've had. My favorite BCBS variant so far, surpassing Vanilla and the legendary Rare. I'll have to try Cherry Rye and Bramble soon.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 05:31:23 | More by standardcherry

robhbest

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into snifter glass at cellar temp.

A: Deep motor oil black, thick. Small white head which dissipates quickly.

S: Smells thick with bourbon, coffee, toffee and chocolate.

T: More bourbon, slight notes of coffee there too, extremely smooth i'd imagine the alcohol to be more present, which was well hidden.

M: Thick rich and creamy.

O: A giant sipper, my personal preference liked the non coffee version better. This is a beer to savor, and savor I did. I loved it till the last drop.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 01:56:24 | More by robhbest

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.88/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2012 vintage thanks to HopsHopenstein. Dark black color, no head whatsoever in either glass. Wonderful coffee smell off the bat with only the slightest note of bourbon. Flavor was good coffee, slight hint of chocolate and vanilla. This was a good beer but anything more than a couple ounces and its just a chore to finish. There is a huge astringency from the alcohol that comes over your tongue in a wave after each sip. Its just too damn strong. If this was around 9% it would probably be amazing.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 01:58:38 | More by ArrogantB

Chaney

District of Columbia

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

2013 Vintage.

Served in a Port City snifter.

A: Vicious pour: Tar-like black liquid accompanied by a slight head that was only a couple of shades lighter than the liquid below it.

S: Lots of coconuty bourbon, strong, for sure, with the signature BCBS profile in spades. Didn't get much coffee on the nose, but the aroma was still next to heaven.

T: Okay, now I got some coffee buried beneath the awesomeness. Sure, the coconut bourbon was there, but the coffee added just the right contrast. Not too bitter, but just like "Wake N' Bake," there was sort of a buttercream flair that was to die for.

M: Picture perfect carbonation bill, minimal lacing, and a awesome, candy-coated booze that was reminiscent of the finest of fine desserts. Sweet, but still not cloying... well, actually, it was, but it was supposed to be!

O: Simply put, this is liquified tiramisu in a glass. I gave this a five simply because it's impossible to improve on perfection.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 14:57:48 | More by Chaney

bifrost17

Washington

4.56/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Bomber poured into a brandy snifter. Big thanks to Nick for sending one of these my way.

A: Nothing out of the ordinary. Just what you'd expect, opaque, very tiny hints of dark red at the bottom of the glass. Poured with a dark brown head that disappeared in a matter of seconds. No lacing to speak of, a few tiny random bubbles floating around the top of the beer, you can see very faint traces of carbonation around the sides of the glass. None of that should come as a surprise when drinking a 14.3% abv barrel aged stout. Looks more like wine in the glass than beer, sticky alcohol legs run down the sides of the glass when the beer is swirled.

S: The aroma is phenomenal, so much going on. Oak, bourbon, chocolate, vanilla, anise, alcohol, a faint smokiness, and just a touch of coffee. I'm surprised by the lack of coffee in the nose, the beer smells pretty much just like regular BCBS (which is not a bad thing). Unlike most other coffee stouts the coffee is extremely subdued in the nose of this beer. I'm not knocking it, the beer smells incredible, just not exactly what I was expecting.

T: The taste pretty much follows what I get in the aroma. Tastes very similar to the regular BCBS. Take all the descriptions I gave of the smell and apply them to the taste. Pretty amazing. I'm just again a little surprised by the lack of coffee. The HUGE abv is masked so well that it's almost scary, the beer warms you up on the way down, but if I didn't know any better I'd just guess this was 9, or maybe 10 percent. The coffee shows up a little bit in the aftertaste, especially when I breathe out, but overall there's not much of a coffee flavor.

M: Pretty amazing. Feels like a big silky smooth California Cabernet. Definitely coats your mouth, but not in an overwhelming way. Carbonation is perfection, very light, but that's exactly how it should be, just enough carbonation up front to let you know it's beer, but it finishes just like a big red wine, or perhaps even port. Falls right on the heavy side of being medium bodied.

O: Overall this beer isn't what I was expecting, but not in a bad way. I thought there would be a lot more coffee going on, but instead it just tastes like a more complex version of the base beer, BCBS, which is absolutely awesome. This is a true sipping beer, what a decadent treat. I'm tackling this bomber alone and it will probably take me near two hours to drink all of it, but I'll savor every sip. Huge thanks again to my good buddy Nick (durb777) for sending this to me. Hopefully I'll get to try BCBS Cherry Rye one day, but for now I'm totally happy just having this, and knowing that I have a few bottles of plain BCBS in the cellar. I don't give a shit about Goose Island being owned by the "enemy" as long as they keep producing mind blowing beers like this.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 20:40:30 | More by bifrost17

Pencible

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: This poured a completely opaque black with moderate tan head.
S: It smelled like lots of toasted coconut and roasted coffee, with some rich dark chocolate and vanilla, and a little oak and almonds.
T: It tasted like huge toasted coconut and dark roasted coffee, with some rich dark chocolate and vanilla and oak. It had a clean and sweet aftertaste with a bit of alcohol warming.
M: It was thick and chewy with moderate carbonation. Great big body.
D: There wasn't as much coffee as expected, with coconut character from bourbon barrels dominating. But it still had an amazing scent and taste and body. The finish was really smooth, and the alcohol was decently hidden. So it was surprisingly easy to drink, but should be sipped. With not a ton of coffee character already, there isn't much to lose by aging. But it's not really necessary to sit on this brew, since it's already pretty amazing and drinkable now. Yum!

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 20:48:37 | More by Pencible

JoeBloe

New York

4.64/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

After missing out on previous varietal offerings of BCBS, I was able t get ahold of this year's coffee - in spades - after 6 bombers and 2 growlers since it hit the shelves here, I feel very fortunate - It's as good as everyone says it is and lives up to the hype - the coffee flavor is slight and it elevates BCBS to another level - incredibly smooth and easy drinking, especially from the growlers (so watch out!) - great stuff!

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 18:37:09 | More by JoeBloe

denver10

Colorado

4.4/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Pours black like some nice, inviting motor oil with a nice mocha colored head. Aroma offers all the same characteristics of the original (bournon and its barrel, chocolate, a little roastiness) in addition to some coffee beans, which are there but far from being as aggressive or bold as I expected and hoped for. Flavor offered everything the original offered, though perhaps a touch lighter on the bourbon and its barrels, and just a touch of some subtle coffeee. Honestly, were this a blind taste test I do not know if I could have differentiated between this and the original. A great beer but I docked points because I was hoping for a hopped up coffee version of BCBS and I didn't find that here in all honesty. A full, creamy, velvety mouthfeel. Overall, this a great beer. BCBS is a great beer too. I'll take the original version over this as I liked that it has more bourbon and its barrel character than this, but also (and probably more importantly) when you put 'coffee' in the title I go in with certain expectations for the beer (big, bold coffee flavors) and personally felt that this did not deliver in that respect. Still, a fantastic, fantastic beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2013 23:11:46 | More by denver10

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

4.84/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A- Pours like thick, used motor oil. Viscous with very little head as I pour. Small, chocolatey brown head forms about 1 cm thick. Head retains well, but tames down to a thin film. Lacing is pretty good.

S- Smells like the darkest cup of coffee you ever had, mixed with about 2 shots of bourbon. Spicy and oak flavors from the barrel, with big whiskey notes too. Coffee takes a slight back seat to the bourbon and barrel flavors. Highly complex scent.

T- Just like the scent, except somewhat smoother. Starts with big hits from both the bourbon, barrel, and coffee flavors. Spicy oak flavor melds straight into classic American bourbon flavor. Backbone of dark roasty malts provide a good base for the coffee to take over after the bourbon. Coffee is strong and bitter, and moves the beer right to the end of the drink with a bite.

M- Thick and creamy, despite having a high level of carbonation for an impy stout. Heavy in flavor, the weight of the beer on the palate supports it well. Very little heat from the alcohol content until a bite at the very end. Hardly any burn going down at all.

Overall, a terrific barrel-aged coffee stout. I didn't know how the coffee and bourbon would interact, but neither overpowers, and they work together seamlessly.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 02:37:15 | More by boilermakerbrew

dctriman

Virginia

4.83/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Really loved this beer. Everything from the appearance to the smell to the taste was amazing. I'm a big fan of Coffee stouts and BCBS and this brought everything together in one place. Really pleased. Hard to find in NoVA, but what is new? Happy to grab a bottle at Chevy Chase liquor in downtown DC.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 15:43:25 | More by dctriman

MCain04

Illinois

4.79/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

2012 vintage, poured into a 10 oz snifter.

A: Almost-black body with a dark tan 1.5 finger fizzy head, dissipates with minimal lacing into a fine rim around.

S: Wonderful bitter coffee aroma with toffee, dark chocolate, vanilla, a hint of bourbon. Wonderful nose.

T: Follows the nose well. The coffee notes are prominent, the barrel aging is evident throughout the whole body, borders on overwhelming but brings it together quite nicely. Vanilla, brandy, a touch of sweetness, and only a little heat lingers on the aftertaste.

M: Dangerously drinkable. Smooth with at least a moderate level of carbonation, not as chewy as BCBS, a nice lingering aftertaste has a drying effect.

O: The finest coffee stout I've ever tried. It is what it tries to be: A barrel-aged RIS with coffee. Perfectly done.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 23:46:09 | More by MCain04

Mattys21

Massachusetts

4.99/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Enjoyed this delicious beer at a tasting...can't wait to crack my own bottles open this weekend.

A - very dark, almost black body with a creamy, tan 1 finger head.

S - intoxifying coffee, vanilla, chocolate nose...unreal.

T - coffee, coffee, coffee, vanilla, chocolate, bourbon wonderfulness. So freaking good...it's as good as regular BCBS with the additional coffee magic. Just flat out delicious.

M- silky smooth, medium-heavy bodied, notes linger and finish strong.

O - one of my favorite beers of all time...outstanding BA coffee stout.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 17:08:00 | More by Mattys21

ckollias

Maryland

4.29/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Enjoyed this bomber bottle out of a large snifter glass.

A: Pours a dark black hue with a minimal tan head that quickly dissipates into no lace.

S: Syrupy coffee and alcohol aroma.

T: Very rich, syrupy, chocolate, coffee, bourbon, and dark malt flavor.

M: Very strong and boozy. Heavy body and minimal carbonation.

O: Wow – great imperial coffee stout. A nice sipping beer @ 14 % alcohol by volume.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 03:28:49 | More by ckollias

RacerX5k

Pennsylvania

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

This beer is great in bottles but turns into a huge coffee bomb on draft. Black with gorgeous crimson and brown highlights as the glass empties. The aroma is so thick and rich with coffee, starts slowly but really opens up as it warms. Coffee, bourbon, chocolate, vanilla, roast, and finishes dry, sweet and more coffee. This was even better than the Cherry Rye and the best beer Ive had. Im amazed how much better this is on draft. Did I mention coffee?

Serving type: on-tap

02-22-2013 17:58:59 | More by RacerX5k

trxxpaxxs

New York

4.4/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 vintage...

A: Pours a deep silky black with only a tiny amount of dark tan head. The foam settles almost immediately, and there is no lacing left on the glass as it drinks. This beer has serious legs though, as the viscosity of this beer makes it stick to the glass.

S: The nose is malt, coffee, raisins, caramel, mild vanilla, and boozy bourbon heat. Smells good, but its a touch too sweet.

T: Right up front, I'm met with milk chocolate and raisins. The coffee notes in the beer are strong, and take over in the middle. The palate is coated, and as the beer transitions to the finish, I get vanilla and booze. Once again, it's a bit sweet for my tastes.

M: Full bodied beer. It's thick, smooth, velvety, and coats the palate. It lingers for quite some time, and it finishes smooth. The alcohol is evident, but it's subdued by the coffee notes.

O: This is really excellent beer. I have stated again and again that I like stouts with more of a burnt/roasty flavor to stouts that are sweet and stone fruit forward. The coffee in this beer cuts down on the raisin flavors of regular bourbon county, but it's still just too sweet for me to absolutely love this beer. But, with that said, I'd drink this again in a heartbeat.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 13:56:15 | More by trxxpaxxs

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.59/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled on 11/12/12

A: Pours an opaque jet black in color with a viscosity like motor oil, very light amounts of visible carbonation, and some very dark brown highlights when held up to the light. The beer has a finger tall slightly fizzy mocha head that quickly reduces to a medium sized patch of very thin film and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light to moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Strong aromas of bourbon and vanilla with some more moderate aromas of darkly roasted coffee bean and light aromas of roasted dark malts. Just a touch of chocolate and alcohol.

T: Light to moderate amounts of roasted dark malts with moderate to strong flavors of coffee and some fairly strong notes of bourbon + vanilla from the barrel-aging. Some very subtle notes of milk chocolate are also present. As the beer warms up, there are stronger amounts of coffee and some light notes of oak. Light amounts of bitterness which fade fairly quickly.

M: Full bodied with light amounts of carbonation. Slick with some light amounts of alcohol warming in the finish.

O: This beer is extremely enjoyable but should definitely be thought of as a big beer - intense flavors, aromas, and high ABV make this a beer best enjoyed by slowly sipping throughout the evening. The coffee addition really makes this beer great, even better than BCBS - which is quite an accomplishment.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 00:33:54 | More by dbrauneis

Anker13

District of Columbia

4.1/5  rDev -12%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

2/15/13 Goose Island | 11/12/12 Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout | 22oz

Appearance- Pours jet black motor oil, tan head, absolutely no light getting through

Aroma- The bourbon aroma is slightly spicy. Not as much coffee as I expected, but it’s there for sure, heavily roasted. Definitive vanilla/oak character on the nose, also some subtle maleness

Mouthfeel- Very full bodied and thick, oily, drying and coating at the same time, higher co2 than expected, kind of acidic

Taste- Tastes a lot better than it smells, pretty complex. It’s very sharp in flavor, the bitterness of the dark malts compounds with the bitterness of the coffee. The coffee flavor is not too strong, was expecting more. Bourbon flavor is on the finish, although the oaky vanilla notes are not too pronounced

Residual- Black irish coffee and caramel, slight stickiness

Overall- Of the three BCBS beers that I’ve had (BCBS, Cherry Rye, Coffee), this is definitely my least favorite. It’s a little too sharp for my tastes- some might find that appealing though. It’s a complex sipping beer that is worth meditating on, but odds are I would not seek this out again. Glad I got to try it though, and it definitely gets better as it warms

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 04:56:43 | More by Anker13

ms11781

Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Reviewed on 02/11/2013. Bottled on 11/12/2012. 22oz bottle poured into a snifter.

Pours a solid black with a surprising half finger of light tan foam that sticks around for a bit. It eventually dwindles down to a thin, spotty cap and ring around the glass. Slight, wispy lacing is left on the glass.

The nose is full of bourbon and vanilla. They aren't overwhelming but are fairly strong. Coffee is here but it pairs with some nice roasty notes as complimentary notes to the main bourbon and vanilla. Despite the strong bourbon notes the beer doesn't smell all that boozy.

The aroma was great but the taste is top notch. Huge coffee, vanilla and roasty notes work nicely with the bourbon and oak providing a very complex and balanced experience with each sip. Each characteristic is blended so well that they all flow nicely together. The taste is exceptional.

Low carbonation matched with a the thick body give the beer a huge mouthfeel. There is definitely a kick and burn from the alcohol but it doesn't hinder the enjoyment.

This beer is outstanding. The coffee notes only enhance the Bourbon County experience. It shines through and allows the bourbon, vanilla and roast to come across as it normally does. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 01:26:13 | More by ms11781

beerandcycling88

Washington

4.25/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Had at the awesome Puget Sound BA bottle share, and one of the 3 beers I remembred to take notes on.

A Black body topped off with a thin brown head. Nothing special

S Lots of roasted coffee, that was balanced with some bourbon.

T Pretty similer to the nose with a lot of coffee, roast and bourbon. The coffee was very smooth and meshed well with the bourbon.

M Thick and coating.

Overall this is a pretty good coffee stout, however there is nothing here that you can't get with any other well made coffee stout. The only thing that really stands out about it is how smooth the coffee is. Worth picking up if you see one though as its still pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 03:16:08 | More by beerandcycling88

emyers

Illinois

4.46/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Review from notes. 2012 batch drank 1/12/13. 22 oz. bottle poured into a Founders snifter.

Appearance: Black with a very thin light brown head dissipating almost immediately. Essentially no lacing. Looks like motor oil.

Smell: Coffee hits the nose first with strong bourbon and vanilla backing it up closely. Oak and caramel also come into play. Very intense aroma.

Taste: Impressive. Powerful bourbon presence up front (which is expected from a BCBS variant). Coffee comes into play along with vanilla, oak, and caramel. The coffee really helps back up the bourbon. Finishes quite sweet. Actually much sweeter than I was expecting, almost to the point of being cloying (I definitely don't get this level of sweetness from the original, so I'm not sure where it's coming from). If it wasn't for the sweetness, this would probably score a 5 in the flavor department, but it really does hold the beer back a bit.

Mouthfeel: Thick and very smooth. Appropriately low carbonation. Coats the mouth going down, leaving a lingering bourbon flavor.

Overall: Truly an excellent beer, but ends up a bit unbalanced with the bourbon/vanilla onslaught and the overly sweet finish. Definitely more in-your-face than, say, a KBS, but could really use some balance. Still a truly excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 02:32:40 | More by emyers

mavbrew

Massachusetts

4.86/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Was able to grab 2 bottles at the store the other day, keeping one in the cellar with the Rare for a special occasion.

2012 with La Tortuga

A: Pours a deep, dark brown color with a minimal dark tan head that quickly recedes.

S: Massive coffee smell hits the nose immediately, a very welcoming scent in my favorite stouts. The coffee is not alone though, the bourbon comes thru as well with some roasted malts and some serious vanilla.

T: This beer lives up to the hype. It's a big, bold and flavorful offering with the bourbon coming through right off the bat, as expected and I'm glad it is so prominent. The roasted malts hit you in the middle, along with the alcohol and traces of vanilla and oak poking through. The finish is where the coffee hits the palate, what a delicious beer this is.

M: Big and bold, creamy and full bodied.

O: This beer is exactly as expected, it is excellent. Huge flavor and alcohol, yet so smooth and delicious that you could sip on it all night and not even realize you are drinking a massive 14% beer and you probably won't be able to feel your legs when you stand. This is by far my favorite GI BCS (haven't had my Rare yet, so for now it will remain), the addition of the coffee beans really does this beer well.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 00:40:30 | More by mavbrew

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

4.54/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Cheers to Goblinmunkey for sharing this, the most anticipated "EBF is cancelled and it's a blizzard so let's drink" beverage

Note: 2011 vintage

Consumed 2/8/13

Appearance: Black, black, black - about as black as a liquid can get - small, tan head - fades to nothing, but it's possible to drum up some carbonation - oily, thick, intimidating

Smell: As crazy as I had hoped - burnt, with loads of chocolate and coffee - BCBS is loaded with roasty coffee aromas to begin with, and the addition of real coffee takes things to the next level - dark coffee, coffee beans, rich espresso - dark chocolate, baker's chocolate, and cocoa - dark, burnt malts - molasses, caramel, and burnt sugar - vanilla, rich bourbon, and wood

Taste: Decadent and lovely - burnt and rich - rich, thick espresso and burnt coffee - dark chocolate, baker's chocolate - kind of like a mocha ice cream, but burnt, condensed, and sans cream - char, caramel, molasses - lots of bourbon, some wood, and vanilla - some bitterness, and some nice alcohol heat that is rapidly spreading to my extremities

Mouthfeel: Full body, viscous, minimal carbonation, with some heat at the finish

Overall: Lovely; I think this would sustain me in a blizzard

This is great. The coffee aroma and flavor is great. The only thing stopping me from rating this higher is Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout... This is awesome, but slightly less awesome. The bourbon notes are still quite strong. A lovely sipper, to say the least.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 05:08:01 | More by angrybabboon

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2011 vintage.

Appearance: Deep, dark almost black. Rich Browne and reds when held to light. Head is khaki and drops to a tiny collar almost instantly. No lacing or cap. Very still. Pours a little heavy.

Smell: Fudgey coffee. Chocolate cake, cocoa, fresh roasted coffee beans. Vanilla, oak, and bourbon. Syrupy sweet. Loaded with coffee and chocolate in all forms. Slightly earthy with some burnt backing. Oily slick espresso. Chocolate coveted espresso beans. Caramel and touches of brown sugar. Very sweet. Sharp bite of alcohol under it all. Some licorice.

Taste: Screams of coffee. Fresh roasted beans. A touch of acidity. Chocolate covered espresso beans. Fudge and chocolate cake covered in bourbon and vanilla. Deeply roasted and slightly burnt. Caramelized sugars. Straight up vanilla beans and fresh-brewed coffee. Sharp bite of the particular coffee bean. Booze, brown sugar, and roasted sweetness. Coffee vanilla roasty bourbon. Toffee.

Mouthfeel: Full body with minor carbonation. Slick and oily. Lingering hit of alcohol.

Overall: Coffee in the morning, coffee in the evening, coffee at suppertime. When coffee's in a beer, you can have coffee anytime.

Damn good, but not the most standout of the variants. Although, matching Vanilla and KH is almost impossible. Fresh is next.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 05:07:27 | More by Goblinmunkey7

beerdrifter

Germany

4.71/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Picked this up from a great trade with Evan! Thick, dark brown, nearly black pour with the shortest lived head I've ever seen and zero lacing. The nose is earthy roasted coffee initially, but quickly opens up with lots of bourbon and cocoa along with hints of vanilla, oak, and milk chocolate. The taste is nothing short of amazing! Complex and dominated by wonderful fresh roasted coffee, chocolate fudge, vanilla, bourbon,tobacco, molasses, espresso, and some subtle dark fruits (black cherry). The mouthfeel is thick and rich and smooth as silk! This is definitely a sipper, but a very drinkable sipper with a nice warming finish.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 19:08:21 | More by beerdrifter