Cherry Rye Bourbon County Brand Stout - Goose Island Beer Co.

EdwardFortyHands

Iowa

5/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Loved this beer, tried it out of the bottle and let it mellow to room temp for a little bit.

The cherries were prominent and were a sweet and welcome addition to a great vintage BCBS.

Aging did this beer well.

Felt like a perfectly balanced BCBS, not overly boozy.

Would love this beer anytime.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 03:34:41 | More by EdwardFortyHands

jtierney89

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Super deep brown with absolutely no opacity. Super thin lace of brown head even with a vigorous pour.

Wow! This baby smells like dark chocolate covered black cherries with all the essence of bourbon county as well. Smells absolutely decadent. Touches of bourbon and oak.

Wow again. Turn bourbon county into a sweet dessert and you have this. Really tastes like sweet, chocolate lava cake covered in sweet cherries. A touch of tart cherry flavor, chocolate, creamy vanilla, light oak. The cherries really take control of the beer but in a good way. The giant malt base is cooled a bit by the big fruity cherry flavors. Not a touch of detectable alcohol unlike BCBS. Little bit of a tootsie roll like finish. I'm not getting any of the rye though. Despite that, this beer is delicious, it turns BCBS into a totally new monster, a delicious dessert one. I love it.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 05:37:30 | More by jtierney89

RacerX5k

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The familiar gorgeous thick black liquid. Smells of chocolate fudge cake and whiskey barrel. Vanilla and coconut, big bright cherry pie, delicious graham cracker crust. Thick, rich, melt in your mouth chocolate covered cherries dipped in alcohol, but no alcohol is present. Spicy notes of the rye barrel treatment. The best mouthfeel in the industry. Perfect. I dont see how this could be improved. Absolutely the best beer Ive had.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 16:34:53 | More by RacerX5k

4amepiphany

Illinois

4.99/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had on tap and from a bomber.

On tap a few months ago:

A: Dark. Really dark. Legs along the side, slight head that dissipated quite quickly.

S: BCS with very prominent cherries. I love cherries. I love BCS. Thank you GI

T: Tart. Not overly tart. Perfect blend of flavors, and the sweetness I wanted from the cherries!

M: Sticky, chewy, coating. Yes.

Out a bomber last night:

A: Dark, but it was also in a dimly lit restaurant.

S: More subdued cherry scent, but it's calling me to bring the glass to my lips with no hesitation.

T: WOW. Better out the bottle. The cherry has blended nicely with BCS. Balanced. That's all I have to say.

M: Sticky, chewy, coating, even better than on tap.

So far, my favorite variety of BCS, Bramble coming in second, only because I have an affinity for cherries. I hope this comes back. Please.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 04:31:19 | More by 4amepiphany

PsilohsaiBiN

New York

4.98/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2012 Bottle

Appearance: Pours black as expected with little to no head.

Smell: Sour cherries, chocolate, vanilla, whiskey, pear, apples, figs, brown sugar, delicious.

Taste: Chocolate covered cherries with whiskey. This is nothing short of amazing! Cherries punch you in the face, followed by a chocolate/slight vanilla middle with a Rye Whiskey aftertaste. The booze at the end is very subdued, and is very impressively masked, considering the abv. The ending is cherry sweet with some slight bitterness from the booze. I'm getting warm inside quite quickly...

Mouthfeel: Thick, but not too thick, which is making me realize that this fact is aiding my fast pace of drinking this. It's not quite as thick as regular BCBS, but nowhere near as thin as World Wide Stout. Pretty similar mouthfeel to KBS.

Overall: Dessert in a bottle. This is definitely one of the best beers I've ever drank. It's insanely drinkable fresh at 13.7 abv. I can only see age doing this well as it will surely get smoother with time, and be even more drinkable, if that's possible. Without a doubt, I'd have to put this personally in front of regular BCBS and BCBCS.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 01:34:01 | More by PsilohsaiBiN

Greenplastic615

Pennsylvania

4.95/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I've had this a couple times now and have enjoyed it more each time. My initial review probably would've had this beer around a 4.35. This review is from a bottle opened up by kapkenobi this past Wednesday night. Thanks, Paul!

Poured into a 12oz Voodoo snifter at ~50 degrees.

A: Pours like Bourbon County. Pitch black with a minimal, quickly receding, khaki head. Looks like a 15% stout should look. Also, after drinking this, the bottom of the glass looked discolored because of the residual thickness of the beer holding on in the glass. Awesome.

S: Black cherry, slight, slight tartness (NOT infection in any way), mellow whiskey, and dark fruits. Smell opened up even more as it warmed and all the things above just got more pronounced.

T: I didn't love this the first time I had it. I thought the rye and cherry didn't quite mesh in right, and I thought it was hot. All those problems are gone. The most recent bottle was blended perfectly, with lots of cherry flavor up front, then mellowing out in the finish and leaving the rye barrel and base maltiness of the stout behind. Really excellent.

M: Thick. All 15% stouts should have the mouthfeel of Bourbon County. GI knows what they're doing here.

O: Really a fantastic beer, and at this exact point in time, probably my favorite variant (I'd go this, coffee, rare, vanilla, bramble). This is just drinking fantastic right now, so if you were holding onto a bottle and weren't sure when to have it, I don't think this beer is going to improve greatly over where it is right now.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 15:37:32 | More by Greenplastic615

jeonseh

Indiana

4.93/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - Dark chocolate with a nice deep red hue on the edges that almost gives the beer a maroon color. No head as expected for bourbon county

S - Tart, thick cherries that smell like cherry pie fill the nose first. In the back, more subtlety, are the bourbon county trademarks of chocolate, vanilla, and a whiskey kick. The rye is there but more subtle than you may expect - think Templeton, not Rittenhouse. The subtlety is nice because it allows everything to blend together well into a great nose

T - Okay, this is really great. Let's just start off with that. First is vanilla slightly and then you are hit with a chocolate covered cherry that wells up from the inside with a slight sweetness from rye. As the beers goes on, the rye has a slight alcoholic kick but just slightly. The finish is light oak, vanilla, dark chocolate and slight cherry tartness. Every sip is so flavorful and complex that you just want more and more

MF - Thick and velvety smooth. It comes in and leaves a nice thick coating on the tongue. The finish has a slight tingle that remains on the tongue as well as slight warmth from the whiskey and oak

O - This was more than I expected by far. They learned from Bramble and integrated the cherry perfectly. It is tart without being too tart and it feels like it has even more chocolate and vanilla than in normal BCBS. It also lacks the strong punch you can get from BCBS but the subtlety and blending of flavors in this is what makes it great

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 19:45:14 | More by jeonseh

egrace84

Illinois

4.93/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

I had the oppurtunity to sample this at FOBAB this year and enjoyed it, but also sampled a ton of other amazing beers that day, so its nice to be able to sit down and revisit this beer again and give it all of my undivided attention.

A: Poured into a Darkness snifter. Has the usual BCBS look goin on.. little head that quickly disappears. lil ring left around the glass.

S: This baby smells like BCBS, but not as hot in the nose, and with the slightest bit of cherry. If the nose is a sign of things to come, then shits about to get real!

T: This is just mind blowing to me! this beer tastes like it it spent 2 yrs in the barrel with the cherries! So mellowed out and smooth! un-fucking real! It tastes like an 09 BCBS with a nice tart cherry finish. I honestly cant believe how well all of this works. I'd say drink this as soon as you get your hands on it... you won't be sorry.

M: The mouthfeel is amazing! It finishes with a fantastic little tart tingling sensation from the cherries. Perfect.

O: The hype is real on this one and it delivers on all levels. This is the most dangerously drinkable BCBS variant I've ever had, and I've had em all. Seek this one out, you will not be disapponted! i would kill to have another, and I probably would have to 2 get my hands on one again :(

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 02:56:18 | More by egrace84

Thickfreakness

New York

4.93/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

X-Mas Eve 2012

A- Pours jet black into my Bruery tulip! A kahki head that seems to grow to almost two fingers fades rather quickly and leaves just tiny traces of foam clutching the glass. A little more grabs on with each sniff and sip.

S- Smells like BCBS with a touch less vanilla, and alot more dark fruit. Not necessarily cherry dominant, but figs, prunes, black raisins, dried cherries (of course), and dates. Sweet dark chocolate, mild coffee and licorice. Really gets intense as it comes up to room temp! Fresh cherries shine thru as it warms.

T- WOW! Tart cherries, deep, dark chocolate, hints of freshly pressed coffee, vanilla beans, marshmallow, licorice whips, heavy cream sweetness, dried figs dipped in balsemic glaze, dates... and more CHERRY!!! I'm really not picking up the alcohol at all. Feeling the warming sensation, but no alcohol burn at all! Brilliant!

M- Not as thick as BCBS or RARE or Vanilla, but it really coats the tongue and palate nicely. Has a nice syrupy coating that reminds me of cough medicine, but only in the way that it grabs your throat going down, not the taste. Nice tartness that blends with the cocoa, coffee and vanilla.

O- Such a wonderful blend of dark dried fruit, BBA, dark chocolate, coffee, and love! This is absolutely brilliant! About to pour a second glass and pondering how this could get any better? It's almost like a blend of the perfect BBA RIS and a brilliant Quad! It's crazy! I can't wait to see if this gets better over time. I can't imagine that it could!

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 00:36:16 | More by Thickfreakness

wyatt13

Illinois

4.93/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I split this with my dad at home in Wisconsin a few days before I had to drive back down to college. This was the first Bourbon County variant that I had tried, and I was really stoked.

A - Looks pretty similar to the regular Bourbon County, but with a slight reddish-brown tinge to the few bubbles that form upon the initial pour. The body has an unambiguously jet-black opacity.

S - Plenty of bourbon and chocolate roasted malts, with some vanilla on the nose as well. Cherry and fruity sweetness is detectable, but I found it playing second fiddle to the traditional nose of the BCS.

T - Wow, exceeded my already high expectations. When I was little, I used to get a small box of chocolate covered cherries from a local chocolate shop from my parents on holidays like Easter or Valentine's Day. In my mind, this is like a grown-up version of those candies. Cherry was very prominent, intensely sweet even. The bourbon and chocolate flavors provide a much-needed balance.

M - Coats the mouth with a silky mouthfeel and leaves a light stickiness on the lips. Thick, thick, thick. Definitely a sipper. It took me over an hour to finish my half of the bomber.

O - Remarkable. I was admittedly expecting a lot with this being my first Bourbon County variant, but I was blown away.

I'm excited to see how this one ages. I thought it was tremendous fresh, but I think it will be interesting to see how the taste changes once the cherry mellows a bit. This was the perfect beer for some father / son bonding.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 04:22:36 | More by wyatt13

Resuin

Massachusetts

4.93/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a bomber into a Goblet. This was bottled on 11/12/12 so is about 6 months "old" as of this date.

Appearance: Pours a jet-black and leaves a half finger of dark brown/tan head which fades quickly to just a brown rim around the edge of the glass.

Smell: Delicious bourbon, chocolate, figs, light coffee, cherry - awesome smelling BA stout right here. The smells are quite pronounced and are very pleasant.

Taste: Bourbon, chocolate covered cherries, plums, figs, raisins. The cherry comes out very nicely and really adds to this beer. Exceptionally balanced and also quite sweet (in a good way). Tremendous.

Mouth-feel: Lightly carbonated and full bodied - this body is perfectly in line with the flavors that are presented in this beer. The alcohol is expertly hidden and this is very smooth, especially considering the amount of flavor.

Overall: I was hugely impressed with this beer. The cherries really balance this one out and add to the complexity of the flavors. I could drink a lot of this, considering how smooth and delicious it is, but that would be dangerous because of all the hidden alcohol! This beer has all the best characteristics of a barrel-aged stout and none of the worst. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 21:45:35 | More by Resuin

joefuzz

New York

4.9/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

22oz split with a friend.

Pours used motor oil black with pretty much no head

Smells of cherries, choclate and booze

Taste is big on the cherry upfront with a huge amount of chocolate and a litte bit of coffee, fades to a great whiskey aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is pure velvet super thick with low carbonation

Overall very good beer and I'm not usually a fan of the fruit stout but this is very nice

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 04:41:42 | More by joefuzz

mjohnson17

Illinois

4.89/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

On tap poured into a 10 oz snifter

A - Pours from the tap a motor oil black. Bartender gave it an aggressive pour that caused a nice brownish red head to form and quickly dissipate. Color was opaque. Some noticeable alcohol legs, minimal lacing on the glass.

S - Sour stout smell. Definitely tart cherries up front mixed with a slight roastiness and some booze bourbon notes. Also picked up a bit of dried fruit.

T - First note most noticeable is tart cherries, then some rye whiskey, booze, coffee, roast, oak. Very smooth and well balanced. I did get some alcohol heat but nowhere near as much as regular BCBS. It's also a lot dryer and tart as opposed to BCBS's sweet sticky booze flavors.

M - Tart, dry, warming, some earthy roasting that drys the mouth and begs you to take another sip. Light carbonation with a medium to heavy mouthfeel. Gave it a chewy feel with the dry roast/tart combo.

O - A stunning beer. It has just bout everything I look for in a BA stout. Extremely well balanced, roast, earthy oak, bourbon booze, even that dry rye booziness as well. But the actual alcohol is very well masked by the tartness of the cherry. Near perfect in my book.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2013 19:13:13 | More by mjohnson17

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

4.89/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Goose Island Cherry Rye Bourbon County Brand Stout

Poured into a tulip glass from a 22oz bottle.

Pours a nice viscous dark oily liquid with a thin ring of light tan foam that forms even with a vigorous pour. A nice swirl gets a nice quarter inch head going that stays for a little bit. (5.0)

Aroma is delicious. Amazing. Very nice bourbon notes. This is perfection in the nose. Starts off with some nice molasses and caramel sweetness mixed in with some slight vanilla. Underlain cherry sweetness is present in the nose. The whiskey is mixed in with this very well and is slightly spicier; probably because of the rye. As it warms the cherry really opens up. Smells like cherry pie with some caramel and bourbon drizzled upon it. Amazing. There is some nice tartness form the cherry as wells that in the nose makes the beer not be as sweet as some other bourbon stouts. The rye notes are so nice because they have the typical sweetness of caramel and vanilla but also have a nice spice and woody note to it. (5.0)

Flavor starts off with amazing cherry pie notes. Fruit cherry sweetness starts things off with some slight tartness that comes up after the sweetness. There is some nice caramel and molasses notes that mix in with the cherry tartness and balance each other very well. Every sip seems different with the whiskey sweetness and cherry tartness battling it out for dominance. The whiskey notes also bring in some slight spice to it and more of an earthy almost woody note that is slightly perceived on the back end. Very nice heat is perceived as the brew warms mixed in with the sweetness and there is a nice slightly tart cherry finish to the brew. As this brew warms it really turns into something wonderful. Nice sweet/tart cherry pie notes with some good molasses and whiskey sweetness, slight vanilla and even some fudge notes and then some nice rye spice. The brew is chewy full and rich but its not syrupy or overwhelming. Definitely keeps you coming back for more. (4.75) (5.0)

Overall, this brew is amazing. Flavors are well crafted and then blended perfectly together. The cherry tartness and sweetness could’ve been overwhelming but it’s nice and balances the possibly syrupy sweetness out. Such a well crafted brew. Cheers GI. (5.0)

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 02:16:33 | More by JoEBoBpr

ChugginOil

Illinois

4.88/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

So fortunate to have been able to try this one. After tasting it, all I can say is WOW.

This variation of Bourbon County pours just as black and deep as the others. However, with Cherry Rye you get a nice quarter inch amount of red tinted, brown head. A couple spots of lace are spared by the viscosity of this brew.

The nose is packed with fresh cherry juice, chocolate, bourbon and just a bit of heat offered by the high ABV.. The cherry notes are not overbearing and are just perfectly integrating with the bourbon notes.

This is when i was really impressed. The flavors of this beer are beastly and incredible. There is a balanced amount of sweet and slightly tart cherry juice flavors mixed with cocoa nibs, roasted malt, bourbon, dry tannins and butterscotch. Absolutely amazing. Awesome balance is achieved here. Love it.

The mouthfeel is thick and viscous.It leaves your mouth sticky and sweet with each sip. Full-bodied and massive.

Overall, I was greatly impressed with this brew. Quite possibly my favorite Bourbon County yet. The balanced flavors make this beer special and extremely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 23:47:24 | More by ChugginOil

4thelvofbeer

Virginia

4.88/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Thanks to my brother for hooking me up with a bottle of BCB Cherry Rye. Looks, smells and initially tastes like regular BCB stout, but as soon as you let some air into the sip you get the pleasant warming, sweet taste of cherries. Very nice, and as with all of the BCB Stouts, another really great job by Goose Island. Regular BCB has recently established itself as one of my favorite beers and this ranks up there. Very drinkable...the bourbon is not as powerful as in regular BCB, and for those that have been complaining about BCB being to "boozy" (which I think is bullshit), this should fit the bill as it is a bit smoother than regular BCB. Really nice!

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 23:55:11 | More by 4thelvofbeer

gcamparone

Rhode Island

4.88/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 22 oz bomber into an oversize wine glass. Purchased in Wakefield, RI.

A- Pours a jet-black, opaque body with a modest but beautiful 1" mocha brown head that sticks around for a few minutes then reduces to a brown ring. Leaves very little lacing which is understandable given the high ABV.

S- A very intricate balance of vanilla, bourbon, milk chocolate, and caramel. Like smelling the best milkshake you've ever had. No cherry detected yet (-.5 on the smell rating for this), but I can confidently state that this beer's aroma tops bcbs and even bcbcs. Extremely inviting.

T- This beer is so complex and flavorful that it's hard to put it into words. Starts off with a combination of whiskey, milk chocolate, vanilla, fresh coffee beans, and a subtle acidic cherry note which really balances these flavors. It then develops into a more robust dark chocolate, roasted coffee flavor. The finish is semisweet chocolate, toasted malt, and caramel. What a ride.

M- Thick and robust, but slightly less than bcbs. Low carbonation. Perfectly creamy and smooth, extremely sip demanding. I'd give it a 5.5 in this category if I could.

I was thinking about cellaring this beer but opened it as a late Christmas gift to myself, and I'm extremely pleased that I did. This brew is a notch above bcbs and bcbcs, due to the added level of balance and complexity. The subtle cherry tartness works perfectly with the other notes present to keep the sweetness in check.

Goose Island has taken all the high points of a world class stout, a delicious bourbon, and then added an additional level of complexity (cherries) to really create a masterpiece.

Age if it you want to, but in my opinion this beer is near perfect when drank fresh. Try it if you can get your hands on it. A+

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 20:18:04 | More by gcamparone

CaptDavyJones

New York

4.86/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 22 oz bomber, with ABV and date of bottling clearly marked on the label.

Absolutely pitch black in color with a thin tan colored head that dissipates fairly quickly.

Aroma is lush and alluring; lots of chocolate and cherries upfront, more like chocolate covered cherries soaked in alcohol. I have to be honest, I am not a big fan of cherries, but this smells very good.

Wowzers...this is one lush, rich, thick, creamy, full-bodied stout. The smooth, silky mouthfeel is perhaps a tad more than the regular BCBS. Bittersweet goodness upfront, the cherries are evident from the middle all the way to the finish. Hints of rye compliment and cut the cherry sourness in the finish. The finish is almost sharp and dry, wow. The alcohol is masked really well making this beer very, very easy to drink.

This version of the BCBS is perhaps the best in my opinion. The balance throughout is just hard to describe in words, suffice to say it is near perfect (IMHO). I don't want to sound too dramatic, but this is a phenomenal brew. One of the best beers I have ever had....period!.

Absolutely worth a try and worth every dollar. I would recommend this version highly and if you happen to come across a bottle, don't hesitate to get it. Cheers !!!

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 03:31:58 | More by CaptDavyJones

acceptmj

Connecticut

4.85/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A - Pours a very dark black with a little red in color. Very thick syrup appearance with very little head.

S - Slight smell of brandy or whiskey. Alcohol smell a little strong but not overwhelming. Cherry, caramel, and maybe slight tobacco smell.

T - Cherry and rye and a little oak all present but very subtle in a good way. Chocolate, coffee, caramel, maybe dates or figs.

M - Very thick and full bodied. Coats your mouth but doesn't linger too long

O - This is a great beer to sip on. Very complex and makes you enjoy all of it. Each bottle should last an hour

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 01:31:28 | More by acceptmj

smakawhat

Maryland

4.85/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from the bottle into a large snifter glass, bottle Nov 12, 2012.

Out of the bottle hits dark walnut brown, nearing black, but barely makes a head if at all. However the head is extremely mocha dark brown, and thin bubbled. Lots of legs and the lacing though is extremely thin. Some red hues even on the edges of the glass collar for the body color but very faint.

Nose is a surprising hit of molasses. Cherry juice whaffs over on top. This really reminds me of characters of Abyss particularly the molasses front. Heat on this is much more toned down than regular bourbon county. Light caramel, a thick vanilla sense. Cherry angle is just squeaking out. As the beer warms there's even some hints of coconut.

The mouthfeel is so big and silky rich. Thick bodied roast and syrupy cherry juice, with a nice little warmth. Faint fizzy character just squeeks out on the first sip also. Tangy cherry in the mid palate, with a nice mix of bursting juice, nothing overly sweet, even a hint of little sour bite mixing with roast caramel and large vanilla qualities at first. Big wafery chocolate hinting between milk and dark with cherry angles on the finish. As it warms up, hints of coconut roll on the palate. The beer is so insanely creamy feeling and tasting.

This is a pure cherry dessert in glass, a fantastic creation. Probably the best Goose Island creation I have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 02:52:59 | More by smakawhat

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.84/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bomber poured into a tulip
Review #400
2012 Vintage

A- Pours as black as the come. Almost no head, but there was some brown lacing. Intense alcohol legs.

S- Whiskey and massive, massive cherry notes. Tart and sweetness from the cherries. Rye, sour mash and some roasted malt. A slight bit of chocolate as well.

T- A huge tart sweetness at first. The massive cherry flavors are very strong and sweet. It really opens up the beer in a strong way. Followed up by the rye whiskey notes. There is a lot of whiskey mash and some of the oak barrel comes through. Alcohol is well hidden but gives the beer a lot of kick in the taste. This is an intense drinking beer. Follows up by a huge roasted malt profile and a great bit of chocolate as well. The cherry really compliments all aspects of the palate and goes the whole way though.

M- This is a thick sipping beer. The intense flavors profile of this beer makes it a slow drinking but keep calling you back for a another sip. The flavor is constantly changing. It is a sweet beer. A very warming feel.

O- This is an epic beer. The cherries in this beer were far from what I expected. They really turned this beer into something both strange and incredible. This is a totally different animal from the standard bourbon county. This is a sweet beer but its absolutely fantastic. Please brew again GI.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 00:57:00 | More by TwelveOunces

Finatic

Florida

4.83/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

22oz bottle chilled poured into a CCB miniature snifter. This beer sat out at room temperature for 45 minutes before pouring.

A: Pours a mocha like viscous substance with a dark brown mocha head. Little to no lacing on the glass.

S: Initial smell is of dark chocolate, coffee, bourbon, cherries. Smells sweeter as the beer warms.

T: An absolute smorgasboard of flavors smash the palate. Chocolate, cherries, vanilla, and some caramel all integrated into one huge chocolate cherry bombshell.

M: Very creamy with little carbonation. Very easy drinking for a 14% beer.

O: Didn't think GI could outdo BCBS but this one definitely does it.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 00:27:40 | More by Finatic

CWbeer

4.8/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This was just a huge winner.

A - It's beautiful, another in the line of Bourbon County Brand, with a slightly lighter colored head than the classic version.

S - My only real disappointment, I would've liked to pick up more cherry here. It's still a rich, full bouquet, with booziness prickling my nostrils and the faintest hint of cherries.

T - Gorgeous. It tastes like regular BCBS up front, with a quick tart cherry burst hitting hard immediately after. This gives way into a gently spicy rye finish. I love how they aren't beating you over the head with the cherry. These guys really must have learned something from making Bramble Rye.

M - As expected, full and viscous, coating the inside of the mouth and leaving its remnants known for a nice long finish as it drips down the back of the throat.

Let's hope I get to drink this beauty a few more times while its still fresh.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2012 15:50:51 | More by CWbeer

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.76/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Let's be honest: the Bourbon County Brand Stout is such a formidable base beer that it really doesn't matter what they put into the beer or put the beer into- the results are nothing short of stellar. Enter Bourbon County Cherry-Rye Stout!

As always, the every-classy inky black beer crawls around in the glass with an oily viscous appearance that evokes notions of weight and thickness. The scant head clings to the sides of the glass with a light tan color. Even with a spirited swirl of the glass, the stout hardly releases any froth at all; what does quickly collapses back into the beer. The color says stout, but its viscosity says port.

Sultry aromas of chocolate, espresso, and fruit rise to the nose in a rich and mesmerizing way. Sherry, port, and chocolaty fudge match the espresso roast for a very complex aroma spread nearly overwhelming to the nose. Bourbon aromas wrap around more grounded scents of walnut, burnt toffee, and unmistakably tart cherries.

Every sip delivers a new flavor sip- first the espresso roast, then the tart cherry flavor seems jammy; then bittersweet chocolate, warm bourbon, and and then back to tawny port and sherries vinousness exudes. Finishing with slight coffeeish bitterness, the alternating tastes never relinquishes but folds back in on itself and delights the palate more and more as the beer warms and the taste buds become accustomed to the power of the beer. All this robust and rich flavor seems too much for the glass and the palate- there's a lot going on with this beer and it seems to be pulling in so many directions, but beautifully so.

With absolute fullness, the beer seems invites the twangy tartness and acidity from the cherry to balance its sheer sweetness and malty weight. Fruity and malty begins to waiver ever so slightly as the light creaminess subsides and peppery alcohols and cherry tartness offers a mild reprieve to signal closure. The after palate extends indefinitely with chocolate, coffee, and fruit.

The beer becomes more than just a sout- its an exhibition of what's possible with the ingredients and techniques that start with stout-like inspiration. The results are incredible and are really too big for mere mortals. I have fallen completely under the spell of these Boubon County Brand Stout variants.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 19:42:53 | More by BEERchitect

mobius387

Wisconsin

4.76/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

thanks to smurfbeer for sharing!

poured into a snifter

appearance: jet black, doesnt pour as syrupy as the other variants tho, thin wine-red head with some carb bubbles.

aroma: big cherry nose, soft chocolatey bourbon notes highlighted by some cocoa scents

palate: wow, 13.7% is hidden so well, this beer is so smooth probably only rare is smoother, drinks so easily, man this is a dangerous beer!

taste: fantastic black cherry flavors are a hit, tastes like im eating real door county cherries. a perfect blend of natural cherry flavor with bourbon, cocoa, vanilla highlights.

overall: i loved this, my second favorite variant behind vanilla and ahead of rare. its so unique, and it perfects the cherry stout combo that so many others couldnt master. tihs was a real treat, thankful i got to try it finally!

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 14:55:07 | More by mobius387