Style: Barrel-Aged Stout

ABV: 13.8 IBU: 60.0

93/100
Aroma: 11
Appearance: 3
Flavor: 19
Mouthfeel: 4

Goose Island Bourbon County Stout 2016

What the brewers say

“A liquid as dark and dense as a black hole with thick foam the color of a bourbon barrel. The nose is an intense mix of charred oak, chocolate, vanilla, caramel and smoke.”

What our panel thought

Aroma: “A nice blend of sweetness on the nose, with some plum and prune, light apple, and chocolate. A touch of vanilla, bourbon, and oak, with some alcohol warmth. Moderate chocolate, dark caramel, blackstrap molasses, and a touch of black licorice.”

Flavor: “Moderate chocolate up front, with light cinnamon spices and big vanilla. Some rich chocolate sweetness in there, caramel, with vanilla, oak, leather, and bourbon—the sweetness provides a scaffold. Fruity notes of dark cherry, plum, prune, and raisin that support the bourbon. This beer has a nice chewy body with a moderate alcohol burn and light acidity.”

Overall: “The chewy body and pronounced flavors worked great. The fruit ester notes are strong, but there’s also a touch of unconverted starchy notes. The barrel definitely comes through. Good complexity—it’s smooth and keeps all the different flavors under control.”

What our editors thought


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