Goose Island Bourbon County Stout - Rare

Formerly brewed at Goose Island Beer Company (AB-InBev)
Style: Imperial Stout
Chicago, Illinois USA

Serve in Snifter

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This is a truly rare gem.My Good friend gave me it for a gift in 2009 and I drank it with him last week.One of the most full body beer I have ever had.Pours deep brown to black with a dark small head that vanishes quickly.Aroma is big and full of coffee,malt,caramel,raisins and of course bourbon.The flavors and the same as aroma but you get a cool salty and woody flavor that I did not get from the aroma.A real same it will not be made again.

Shared at a tasting I recently hosted. Served alongside a vertical of Bourbon County Brand Stout 2003, 2005-10, BCBS Vanilla, BCBS Coffee, and Night Stalker. Bottle #1,430 A: The beer has a pitch black appearance. The stout is completely opaque with a thin beige head atop the beer. The head recedes after a few short moments, leaving only faint traces of lacing on the glass. S: The aroma is huge, with the obvious scents of bourbon, roast, and oak. T: The flavor is fantastic. It was very interesting to taste the evolution of Bourbon County Brand Stout and all of the variants. The Rare version is recognizably smoother and softer on the palate than the regular offering. The bourbon aspect is up front, as one would expect, and melds beautifully with the roast and barrel notes. It seems as though the Pappy Van Winkle barrels make a substantial difference after all. M: This beer excels in mouthfeel. Thick, rich, and viscous - this beer coats the palate with chocolate and warming alcohol. A very smooth ride, especially given the 13% ABV. D: A delicious beer, but the $50 price tag is too steep. Great for sharing with your favorite drinking buddies.

22oz bottle brought to a tasting by me, via trade from Tweety. In my cellar since 2010. Consumed 6-16, reviewed from notes. A: I’m shocked. This is deep black. I great a really nice mocha head from my pour, though, and the legs stick to the glass. Perfect presentation. N: We drank this after running through an 06-11 vertical, and the nose is definitely PvW. It has a deep oakiness which I’ve only experienced when drinking the bourbon straight. The caramel, vanilla, and coconut also have some extra heft. Chocolate, espresso. T: Dark fruits (prunes and raisins) Chocolate. Dismayed by the lack of roast/coffee. Caramel/vanilla. Some residual heat, but it’s gotten to the point of being a nice touch. M: Smooth, silky and viscous. O: This is really very good when viewed outside of the ridiculous value-inflation of the beer. However, I dare say I’d take the 2009 BCS and the BCS Vanilla over it. The PvW 23 is great to taste in the blend, and it is a deeper flavor, but it’s not a religious experience, either.

I can’t believe I have never rated this one yet, this brew is exceptional one of the best BA brews in the world,if you haven’t had it yet it sucks to be you I’m so thankful that between me and a close friend we will be drinking this one for years to come,and each time it will be like I died and gone to heaven.

Backlog rating, from bottle 2011-12-11. Beautiful appearance, powerful aroma and taste of licorice, vanilla & chocolate. Very long aftertaste.

Recent bottle with alittle cellar time thanks to Todeon. Black with a small brown head leaving sticky tears on the inside of the snifter. Big multi dimensional aroma and flavor of sweet chocolate and heavy soy sauce balanced by a cookiedough-like bourbon character which also provides a fine liquer-like fruityness in combination with the thick dark malts. Smooth fat body with a softer and more pleasant carbonation than some of the more fresh BCS bottles I have had.

Saved for two years for my son’s graduation from law school. Oh the malt, oh the chocolate malt, oh the chocolate malt with toasted marshmallows. Oh the smooth warmth, the silky finish. I am divided between being thrilled and honored to have tasted this beer, and crestfallen that I will never taste it again. I am not divided in saying this is the best beer I have ever tasted.

Sample from a bottle, thanks a ton to Mike (from Zip’s). Nice pitch black color, little brown head. Very nice aromatic rich bourbon and dark malt nose - smell. Just sniffing it is enjoyable on it’s own, even before taking a taste. Excellent rich, sweet and bitter taste. It’s like a booze-infused chocolate cake, very decadent. Big body, very light carbonation. Dry texture. Nice, long aftertaste to savor all the complexities with. Rich dark chocolate cake aromas. The perfect amount of bourbon barrel. Very smooth. Bit of alcohol warmth, but it’s hidden very nicely. Excellent stout.

Bottle. Excited to try this and was not let down. Bourbon is very present and i love it! Sweet vanilla with chocolate and malt. Very well balanced and one of the best beers ive had.

Bottle @ The Local Pub (tasting) Totally black pour and really small brown head that disappeared immediately the aroma comes strong with bourbon,chocolate,raisins and licorice Taste is strong and complex with the bourbon and the chocolate taking lead the raisins following and hint of vanilla in the immediate aftertaste all surrounded with a well balanced malt flavor and an overall sweetness carbonation is almost flat and the mouth feel kind of sticky an excellent beer i felt lucky to have tasted !