Style: Barrel-Aged Flavored Stout

ABV: 13.5 IBU: 60.0

94/100

Aroma:	11
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	19
Mouthfeel:	5

Goose Island Brewery Bourbon County Brand Stout Regal Rye 2015

What the brewers say

“A unique blend of Bourbon County Brand Stout aged in rye whiskey barrels with blackberries, Luxardo candied cherries, fresh sour cherries, and sea salt.”

What our panel thought

Aroma: “Strong chocolate, light cherry, touch of plum, moderate candi syrup, moderate date, raisins, figs, port. Rich sweetness with a moderate Belgium fruitiness. Reminds me of a barleywine with a touch too much chocolate. Moderate alcohol note Bourbon sweetness, more corn than vanilla.”

Flavor: “High fruitiness up front with a high cherry note. Strong acidity, moderate chocolate, fig, and vanilla, big sweetness, port notes. A bit of coffee and chocolate at the end of the sip. A well-attenuated and huge beer. Strong bourbon character with some coffee-like notes. Spicy.”

Overall: “Fun chocolate- and dark fruit–dominated beer. Even with the sweetness, the body is light and bright with the nice acidity and strong fruit notes. So many big pieces come together to make this beer. The bourbon character is very strong throughout. This is one of the more interesting beers we’ve had.”

What our editors thought

Review printed in: A Light in the Dark (April-May 2016) (View All Issues)

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How We Review

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Goose Island Beer Co. Anniversary Bourbon County Stout

“If box-checking were an Olympic sport, this beer would stand on the podium. Base beer is rich in melanoidins—spirits-forward, with a touch of oak. Alcohol is loud, but there’s enough chocolate, brown sugar, and red fruits to make a stand.”

Goose Island Brewery Bourbon County Brand Stout Proprietor’s 2015

**Aroma:** “Moderate fruity aroma (black currant, plum, cherry, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, pomegranate) with medium chocolate and coffee notes. Light alcohol note. As it warms, more sweetness and alcohol notes. Moderate caramel. Light roasty foundation reminds me that it’s a stout.” **Flavor:** “Rich sweetness, chocolate, vanilla, coffee, slight soy sauce. Complex mocha/caramel/roast malt, esters, and smooth warming alcohol (spicy) set up a perfect storm of richness. Big dark fruits (cherry, blueberry, blackberry, currant, raspberry) and bright acidity. This is a rich mouthful.” **Overall:** “Big fruity sweetness with cherry and blackberry notes. Moderate alcohol warming and a medium amount of chocolate. A 10-ounce pour of this might last me quite a while. A great sipping beer with the intense sweetness of a dessert wine. Wow—I’d like to curl up with a full bottle of this.”

Goose Island Brewery 2015 Bourbon County Stout

**Aroma:** “Big medium-roast coffee with supporting chocolate tones. Dark cherry, plum, and vanilla play a supporting role. Moderate umami, moderate sweetness, light caramel notes, light roast. Second sniff finds the alcohol, but it’s not too hot.” **Flavor:** “So many layers to the malt bill and barrel character that unfold over time...mocha on steroids leads to some vanilla and cherry which then lead to more chocolate and alcoholic heat...Crazy complex. Big caramel, moderate sweetness, touch of hops bitterness, moderately creamy. Cool nutty element with hints of pecan and almond.” **Overall:** “The aroma sets you up nicely for the flavor, and the long linger is quite pleasant and makes this a good sipping stout. What a huge beer! Aged just right in some fantastic barrels that contribute the perfect amount of flavor. Layers upon layers of goodness. Best beer of the night for me.”

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