Goose Island Bourbon County Stout

Brewed by Goose Island Beer Company (AB-InBev)
Style: Imperial Stout
Chicago, Illinois USA

Serve in Snifter

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This one surprised me quite a bit considering I was expecting a bourbon bomb. Pours thick and oily black with a dark brown head. The aroma has heavily roasted malt, milk chocolate, vanilla, traces of bourbon and cream - very hearty and full. Thick and full bodied that is rich and velvety with a small amount of carbonation. The taste starts with a load of very roasted chocolate malt, vanilla, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, dark fruits, anise - there is a lot going on here. The finish has a heck of an alcohol kick, but it words for this big beer. There is bourbon in the flavor, but it is not in the forefront as with many, it is more of a supporting role. Very well done imperial stout.

12 ounce bottle, 2011 vintage, poured a dark black color with aromas of roast, oak, vanilla, bourbon, and oak. Flavors follow the aroma, more bourbon shines through as it warms, but for over 14% ABV, what do you expect. Really great beer that I would love to get more in my hands.

2011 Bottle. Black beer with a very thin brown head. Aroma is coconut, bourbon, molasses, very little roasted notes and not a hint of alcohol. Taste is sweet, of bourbon, wood, coffee, chocolate, coconut, caramel. Finish is sweet, roasted, a little bitter, reminds me of good caramel popcorn. Full bodied, soft carbonation, very smooth, silky. I have a new favorite beer.

355 mL bottle of the 14.5% 2011 at Sheffield Tap into a Goose Island pint glass. Black and oily looky, with almost no head. Sweet, strong and sherry like aroma, bit of cereal really nice. Sweet, boozy, fruity, dates? Lovely sipping beer, gets better with every taste. Shame it was £10.80 but its one of the world’s best beers.

Black body that has a dark frothy head. Bourbon, oak and roasted coffee on the nose. A little alcoholic and rough in the flavour. Bourbon and oakiness definitely come through. Would benefit from some aging me thinks.

Poured into my bruery snifter. 2009 vintage. Pours pitch black with a 1 finger head that dissipates into a nice ring clinging onto my glass. Aroma of bourbon, oak and some vanilla, flintstone vitamin taste . Taste follows the nose, still a bit hot but not in a bad way, cant shake the vitamin taste. Alcohol is there but doesn’t hit till the end of the taste.

2011 bottle. Very dark pour with a small head. Aroma of roast and a little sweetness from the oak & bourbon. Taste is very complex. Some raisin with vanilla and bourbon. Some roast in there too. Nice and toasty. Not overly sweet. Super creamy mouth. Very tasty beer.

2007 Vintage. Black pour, very tiny head, low carbonation. Beautifully balanced in both aroma and taste - Bourbon, Vanilla, high quality belgian dark Chocolate, slight bit of black coffee w/ cream and sugar, slight oak, dark caramel. Very slight alcohol warming while drinking with almost none detected in the aroma. The2006 vintage I later had fell short of the majesty in the 2007. If you have one of these in your cellar, consider opening it now. Superlative.

Bottle shared in line at DLD. Chocolate malt and strong bourbon aroma.. Black with a small tan head. Chocolate malt, cola, and strong bourbon flavor. Smooth full body. Personally, I thought the bourbon flavor was too boozy and overpowering.

Vintage 2008 bottle (12oz) poured into tulip glass A: This unbelievable beauty pours as black as night with absolutely no head at all. There is no carbonation visible except if I stare at the side and strain I spot a stray bubble or two pushing its way to the top. It poured like motor oil of the 10w 30 type and that is no exaggeration! I love the appearance of this awesome imperial stout. THIS is the way this style should look! S: The nose on this gem is f*cking outstanding. When I popped it open and even before pouring I caught a few whiffs from the bottle. Now when I got my nose in the glass I literally got the chills and goosebumps. This smells wonderfully of sweet molasses, chocolate, figs and dark fruits. The bourbon has melded together with the other scents like a masterpiece. The aroma is so damn smooth with almost no alcohol to speak of. Where is the 13%? T: It can’t get much better than this! WOW!! At first the sweet caramel hits my mouth along with a cloyingly sweet molasses. I get the bourbon but like the smell it is so damn smooth and not overpowering at all. I love the chocolate notes flirting with the vanilla notes from the barrels. The dark fruits come out mid sip and in the finale the alcohol makes itself known but does not burn. I mean there is absolutely no burn from the alcohol like you’d think at 13%. It has aged perfectly and the heat is GONE! M: Perfection and this is not an understatement IMO. The viscosity is lovely as it coates every nook and cranny of my mouth including on the swallow. This is so smooth for a huge beer I can’t describe it. This baby lingers forever and even coates my lips as I take a drink. I do get that wonderful alcohol warming sensation after a while as it is now hitting my head. This beer has the perfect mouthfeel for its style for me. It is chewy, thick and oh so good! O: This has always been my favorite Imperial stout and the 2008 vintage only shows itself off even more so. This is absolute, unbelievable, mind blowing perfection. If you get a chance to trade for a 2008 vintage I recommend you do it. Believe me you will not be disappointed! This is still one of my favorite beers and definitely my favorite of this style especially cellared as it has just melded together like a beautiful masterpiece!

Pours pitch black with a very low brown head. Aroma is strong and very complex. Bourbon, roasted malts, chocolate, vanilla, mudcake....Full bodied flavor is dark fruits, bourbon, chocolate, alcohol and roasted malts. Some sweetnes. Long lasting after taste is espresso and roasted malts and chocolate. Gotta love this beer! Extremely swell!!