Jesse James
If you are anything like us, you enjoy a great brew. The good folks over at Goose Island Beer Co. certainly know beer. They’ve become quite good at creating their own through the years as well. More than twenty years ago, Greg Hall wanted to brew something truly unique for the brewpub’s 1,000th batch. A chance encounter between Mr. Hall and Jim Beam’s Booker Noe led to Goose Island acquiring the barrels. Since then the barrels have been used for what was to become the world’s first bourbon barrel-aged beer. We know it as Bourbon County Stout.
Since then Bourbon County Stout has become a local favorite. While also sought after globally while setting the standard of barrel-aged stouts. Each year Goose Island puts together a unique lineup of variants for our drinking desires. This year’s lineup is unique, as through partnerships with distilleries such as Heaven Hill, Goose Island has been able to release a more barrel-forward lineup of variants.
This year’s selections include a wide range of offerings, including eight variants. Those include Bourbon County Stout and Double Barrel Stout, 2-year Reserve Bourbon County Stout, and Reserve Rye Bourbon County Stout. The other half includes Proprietor’s Bourbon County Stout, Bourbon County Wheatwine Ale, Café de Olla Stout and Mon Chéri Stout. Goose Island will also release a collection inclusive of 2017, 2018, and 2019 Bourbon County Stout.
Bourbon County Stout offers notes of Cocoa, Vanilla, Toffee, Caramel, Rich Chocolate, Almond, while Double Barrel Stout features a more barrel-forward approach. 2-year Reserve Bourbon County Stout spent twice the time in 11-year-old Knob Creek barrels creating an oak-forward intensity accented by hazelnut and chocolate notes.
Reserve Rye Bourbon County Stout is both spicy and fruity. While Proprietor’s Bourbon County Stout boasts notes of Coconut, Pecan, Vanilla, Chocolate, Marshmallow. Bourbon County Wheatwine Ale comes boasting High Caramel, Vanilla, Butterscotch, and Toffee notes.
However, Café de Olla Stout gets its influence from a traditional Latin infused coffee. Finishing things up is Mon Chéri Stout with notes of Aromas of Amaretto and Almond, Oats, Cherry, Vanilla and Chocolate.
Mike Siegel, R&D Manager for Goose Island, spoke about the 2019 lineup. He stated: “Our goal every year is to make the best Bourbon County Stout we’ve ever made, so it means raising our game with each release.” He went on to add, “It’s one of the most important beers we make as we continue to build on the legacy Greg Hall laid out over 20 years ago.”
Take a look at Goose Island’s 2019 Bourbon County Stout lineup. Be sure to head over to Goose Island Beer Co. for more information coming soon.
Photos via Goose Island Beer Co.
