Note: I really had a tough time finding the Goose Island (AB Inbev) press release for this. It appears their PR team sent it to select publications (FYI GI, I’d like to be on that list) and their blog has no update but they did update their Instagram page (thank goodness!). Why is it so hard to get quality press images these days in the age of social media? I’m linking to the images on Esquire because I can’t find them any place else.
via Esquire:
Regal Rye Bourbon County Brand Stout:
This nationally-released variant adds the base beer to Heaven Hill and Jim Beam rye whiskey barrels which are then blended together. Fresh, tart cherries from Michigan were added to the barrel for a few months, while Yakima Valley “single-strength” blackberry juice and Luxardo candied cherries were blended in afterward using a stainless steel infusion vessel. Uniquely, a touch of sea salt was added at the end. “It props the flavors up and rounds out the tartness,” Siegel told me.Proprietor’s Bourbon County Brand Stout (2015):
This Chicagoland-only special release adds the base beer to bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup barrels sourced from Sugar Chalet in Ohio. A local culinary school helped the brewers roast 1000 pounds of raw pecans which were then added to the beer along with guajillo peppers just to give some moderate heat to the back-end. “Don’t worry, it won’t be face-melting,” Siegel notes.Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout (2015):
As Siegel told me, “This beer is a story that goes back two years ago. Our barrel broker came to us with this windfall of 33- to 35-year-old Heaven Hill bourbon barrels which had been more or less lost in one their warehouses. Did we want them? YES!” The base beer was added to these barrels and will come out in the next month or so, at just about the two-year mark. Because of the barrels’ age, this most limited variant will have tons of extra oak character. “You just don’t come across barrels like these.”Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout 2015:
Brewer Patrick holds the 2015 incarnation of Bourbon County Stout. This year features Intelligentsia Los Delirioscoffee from Nicaragua.
Available on Black Frdiday nationwide in 16.9oz bottles in limited quantities.
Note that this bottle is only a mock up as Bourbon County Stout is still resting peacefully in its oaky confines.Bourbon County Brand Barleywine 2015:
Brewer Marc holds 2015 Bourbon County Barleywine. Aged in the third-use barrels that were once home to Kentucky bourbon and then the renowned Bourbon County Stout, this traditional English-style barleywine possess the subtlety of flavor that only comes from a barrel that’s gone through many seasons of ritual care.
Available on Black Friday nationwide in 16.9oz bottles in limited quantities.
Note that this bottle is only a mock up as Bourbon County Stout is still resting peacefully in its oaky confines.Bourbon County Brand Stout 2015:
Brewer Austin holds the Original, the one that started it all. A malty beast to brew, the process to get to Black Friday starts the following day. It’s nose is an intense mix of charred oak, chocolate, vanilla, caramel and smoke.
Available on Black Friday nationwide in 16.9oz bottles.
Note that this bottle is only a mock up as Bourbon County Stout is still resting peacefully in its oaky confines.
Also, see you all in Chicago! This time, I’m bringing a tent.