{"id":1892,"date":"2013-12-03T01:31:53","date_gmt":"2013-12-03T05:31:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adam-jackson.net\/beer\/?p=1892"},"modified":"2013-12-03T01:31:53","modified_gmt":"2013-12-03T05:31:53","slug":"reviews-goose-island-bourbon-county-stout-variants-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/2013\/12\/03\/reviews-goose-island-bourbon-county-stout-variants-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2605 Reviews: Goose Island Bourbon County Stout Variants (2013)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Goose<\/a><\/p>\n

Intro:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This post could be quite long but I promise it won\u2019t be boring. I had the opportunity to try the 2013 Variants on tap and via bottles at bars around Chicago and at the Goose Island Brewpub at a special event. The Q&A with the brewers during that event was awesome and I took extensive notes to share here. If your\u2019e a home brewer, it\u2019s quite valuable I think. The event was $75 and sold out in under a minute. <\/a>We had a chance to sample a sizable pour of each of this year\u2019s variants with some food pairings.<\/p>\n

The short version in my thoughts on this year\u2019s release is that this year\u2019s Bourbon County variants are the best ever, fresh and right out of the box. The 2013 standard BCS is insanely hot and boozy but the variants are sublime. Drink your variants ASAP if you\u2019re wondering on waiting. Ones I have multiples of, I\u2019ll save some but will be drinking most over the next 6 months. They\u2019re that good!<\/p>\n

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The Reviews – 2013 Bourbon County Stout & Variants<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Goose Island Bourbon County Stout (2013)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Goose<\/a><\/p>\n

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4.5<\/div>\n

AROMA\u00a0<\/small>10\/10<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0APPEARANCE\u00a0<\/small>5\/5<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0TASTE\u00a0<\/small>8\/10<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PALATE\u00a0<\/small>4\/5<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0OVERALL\u00a0<\/small>18\/20<\/big><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

adamjackson\u00a0(1728)<\/a>\u00a0– Lyme, New Hampshire, USA – JUL 30, 2012\u00a0<\/small><\/p>\n

<\/small><\/small>\u00a02013 Batch on tap at Goose Island Brewpub – Black Friday, \u201913 4 Ounce pour at room temperature.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A – No head formed. Poured a viscous pitch black into the glass. Midnight black with some motor oil sort of texture. Nice alcohol legs on the swirl.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

S – I can smell the bourbon from 2 feet away which is always a great sign. Big burning bourbon scent up close. Hints of vanilla and campfire. Some roasted malts\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

T – More licorice than the 2011 and 2010 I sampled. Lots of up front licorice. Hint of cardboard taste. The bourbon takes over and coats the tongue with charred oak, vanilla and the finish is all raisins and caramel. On a second sip, I get this hint of pure cane syrup like molasses that my family makes back home. Having had 2009 – 2013, this is the first one I\u2019ve had fresh and boy is it boozy, almost biting like grain alcohol.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

M – 25% carbonation. heavy body. Boozy burn on the back of the throat and to the chest. The oaky bourbon taste with vanilla sticks around for a while.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

O – I\u2019ve had vintages \u201907 and 09-11. Each of them are very delicious. This is a delectable beer that I would enjoy more often if only it was more readily available. Very hot and certainly can use at least a year before someone opens their bottle. I\u2019ll open a bottle every few months but boy does this need time! This is still the best mass produced BA stout on the market. Simply amazing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Goose Island Bourbon County Stout – Coffee (2013)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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\n
\"Goose<\/a><\/div>\n
4.6<\/div>\n

AROMA\u00a0<\/small>10\/10<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0APPEARANCE\u00a0<\/small>5\/5<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0TASTE\u00a0<\/small>9\/10<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PALATE\u00a0<\/small>4\/5<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0OVERALL\u00a0<\/small>18\/20<\/big><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/big><\/strong>adamjackson\u00a0(1728)<\/a>\u00a0– Lyme, New Hampshire, USA – JUL 25, 2012<\/small><\/div>\n
<\/small><\/small>2013 Bottle consumed on Black Friday (day of release) at Goose Island Brewpub in Chicago. Sizable pour at room temp.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
A – Pours dark brown into the glass. light brown on the edges. Pretty black in the glass but not pitch black. No head at all.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
S – Big coffee at the start, boozy musky hot bourbon scent followed by raisins and vanilla. Love the vanilla finish in this. I\u2019ll note that the 2013 fresh has the most remarkable coffee smell in almost any beer I\u2019ve had. The only beer with a better coffee smell was Kentucky Brunch from TG and honestly, on the mass scale, this is remarkably huge in coffee.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
T – Wow. Okay. yeah, the coffee is big in 2013. previous batches had a more muted coffee taste but this explodes with fruity sweetness and ripened tree fruit. Pears? The classic BCBS taste is here with oak, bourbon and figs. Dried dates and some banana on the end. The only annoying thing about this beer is the overpowering tobacco at the finish.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
M – 20% carbonation. Heavy body. Insanely boozy delicious finish.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
O – I\u2019ve had Coffee BCS 11 and 12 but both I had after a year they were bottled. 2013 fresh is simply mind blowing. Enjoy this one ASAP if you have it. Previous rating was 3.8…I\u2019m bumping that WAY up.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Goose Island Bourbon County Barleywine<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
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\n
\"Goose<\/a><\/div>\n
4.2<\/div>\n

AROMA\u00a0<\/small>8\/10<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0APPEARANCE\u00a0<\/small>3\/5<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0TASTE\u00a0<\/small>8\/10<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PALATE\u00a0<\/small>5\/5<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0OVERALL<\/small>18\/20<\/big><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/big><\/strong>adamjackson\u00a0(1728)<\/a>\u00a0– Lyme, New Hampshire, USA – DEC 2, 2013\u00a0<\/small><\/div>\n
<\/small>2013 Bottle enjoyed at GI Brewpub in Chicago at an event.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
A – Pours like murky toilet water brown. Just think of an English barley wine with 10% imperial stout added. It\u2019s not black, and it\u2019s not brown. Just sort of ugh. Not the most attractive beer ever made.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
S – Loads of Caramel and toffee. I also get Chocolate Cream Milk & cookies on the nose.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
T – Taste is a whirlwind of flavor. Obviously, it\u2019s very boozy being a fresh beer and could benefit from some time in barrels. Very creamy, lots of candy corn and mild hop bitterness. You get a hint of tobacco and a very large candy sweetness. Tastes like a great barley wine thrown into a bourbon barrel with 10% stout added.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
M – Mouthfeel is thick like cough medicine. Very sticky. It really coats the entire mouth and sticks around for a while.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
O – I really enjoyed this but now that I\u2019ve had it, I\u2019m going to take my 4-pack and leave it in the cellar for a year and not touch it. This beer is great and should be tried fresh but get a 2nd one if you can to lay down for a while.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout – Templeton Rye Barrel (2013)<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
\"Goose<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
\n
3.9<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

AROMA\u00a0<\/small>7\/10<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0APPEARANCE\u00a0<\/small>5\/5<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0TASTE\u00a0<\/small>7\/10<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PALATE\u00a0<\/small>4\/5<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0OVERALL\u00a0<\/small>16\/20<\/big><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/big><\/strong>adamjackson\u00a0(1729)<\/a>\u00a0– Lyme, New Hampshire, USA – DEC 2, 2013<\/small><\/div>\n
<\/small>This is GI\u2019s Rye barrel stout which serves as the base for a few variants which are so far, Cherry Rye, Bramble Rye, Backyard Bramble and Coconut (Proprietor\u2019s). I had a few ounces on tap at Goose Island. It won\u2019t see distribution outside of special events.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
A – Appearance is almost identical to regular BCS aside from a different sheen \/ shine on the top of the beer. Pitch black \/ oily.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
S – Very spicy. Lots of gingerbread and spicy peppercorn. I get the standard chocolate \/ espresso bean character. no licorice but back of throat burn on a big whiff is constant.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
T – Taste is thin and the rye spice and bite comes dead last after every other flavor fleets away. It lacks the vanilla I expected and has a big rose petal taste mid-way through.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
M – Creamy, heavy and sweet.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
O – My least favorite of the batch. Rye tends to not tingle the tongue or explode in the way I would hope. I love rye whiskey but this one was not as good as the other variants and I didn\u2019t finish my glass.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout – Proprietor\u2019s 2013 (Coconut)<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n
\"Goose<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
4.3<\/div>\n

AROMA\u00a0<\/small>9\/10<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0APPEARANCE\u00a0<\/small>5\/5<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0TASTE\u00a0<\/small>7\/10<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PALATE\u00a0<\/small>4\/5<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0OVERALL\u00a0<\/small>18\/20<\/big><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

adamjackson\u00a0(1730)<\/a>\u00a0– Lyme, New Hampshire, USA – DEC 2, 2013<\/small><\/strong><\/div>\n

<\/small><\/strong>2013 Proprietor\u2019s Release. Had 4 ounces from a bottle at Goose Island Brewpub on Black Friday \u201913.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A – Pitch black and oily. You get coconut oil shine and little specs of white flakes. Very easy to spot this is coconut if it were a blind taste test.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

S – WHOA. Nose is like the Caribbean. It\u2019s like I\u2019m in some commercial for a beach resort. Smells like vacation an Almond Joy candy bars. Minor chocolate and minor oak and a whole lot of coconut.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

T – Tastes SOOOO good. It\u2019s totally a Malibu Coconut Rum taste. Biting with a spicy finish of raisins and vanilla beans. The coconut candy flavors are huge and wonderful and just wow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

M – Standard mouthfeel as other BCS varieities but it certainly coats the mouth a bit more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

O – This is not as good as BCS Coffee but it\u2019s a very good release this year and one worth trying.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Goose Island Bourbon County Stout – Backyard Rye Barrel<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Goose<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
4.2<\/div>\n

\u00a0AROMA\u00a0<\/small>8\/10<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0APPEARANCE\u00a0<\/small>5\/5<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0TASTE\u00a0<\/small>8\/10<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PALATE\u00a0<\/small>5\/5<\/big>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0OVERALL\u00a0<\/small>16\/20<\/big><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/big><\/strong>adamjackson\u00a0(1731)<\/a>\u00a0– Lyme, New Hampshire, USA – DEC 2, 2013<\/small><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n

2013 Release, tried a few ounces at Goose Island and brought two bottles home with me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A – Just like all of the other BCS Variants, pitch black, thick and oily.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

S – Smells like sweet fruited candies. Loads of fruit on the nose but the dominant scent is blackberries with a hint of raspberry. It has a red velvet sort of nose with chocolate and sweet sugary fluff.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

T – More blackberry heaven in taste. Pretty acidic like on the verge of being too much. Oreo cookies and fruit by the foot. Has a biting sweetness while being very fruity. Plum and cedar chips as well but I could be confusing the Rye taste profile with cedar.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

M – Thinner than BCS but still has a sticky mouth feel.<\/span><\/p>\n

O – Thank god this doesn\u2019t have the medicinal \/ cough medicine taste of Bramble Rye. It\u2019s a different animal like a juicy fruit filled Imperial stout with rye bite and wood chips. Just awesome.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

========<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Goose<\/a><\/p>\n

Notes from the Goose Island Event<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

During the tasting, 4 Goose Island employees and the other were there to answer questions. This was an awesome aspect of the $75 ticket price. I tried to take a lot of notes but admit to not catching everything. I\u2019m only transcribing what I am certain to have picked up.<\/p>\n

Regular BCS:<\/strong><\/p>\n