While many flock to shopping malls and department stores on Black Friday, beer nerds know Black Friday as the day Goose Island annually releases their bourbon barrel aged stouts. Good news— you don’t have to line up around the block waiting to snatch one up this year, I’ve got you covered. I’m excited to taste the 2018 edition alongside you and even more excited to feature the cellared 2017 edition. Barrel aged beer means killer aging potential, and I know that finding the will power to sit on this liquid velvet is no easy task. I somehow managed to hold onto some of the 2017 edition, so you’ve got a head start on your beer vertical. If you can successfully resist, Goose Island’s bourbon barrel aged stouts can age up to 5 years, bringing out even greater complexity with each passing year.
Cheers,
Brendon Pineda, Beer Aficionado, PlumpJack Wine & Spirits
Once upon a time, Goose Island was just an intimate Chicago brewpub; not a full production brewery. 1992 marked the brewpub’s 1000th batch of beer and Greg Hall, former brew master at Goose Island, knew he had to do something extra special for the occasion. A chance encounter with Jim Beam’s legendary distiller Booker Noe got the wheels turning in Greg’s head. Greg decided to do something that at the time sounded a bit bonkers— to age beer in bourbon barrels. Booker Noe was happy to hand over a few used barrels as the barrels can only be used for one batch of bourbon before being tossed out. The rest was history. No one had tasted anything like it, and the bourbon barrel-aged stout quickly became a local favorite. When the beer was entered into the Great American Beer Festival in 1995, it was disqualified for not adhering to the style guidelines of any set beer category at the time. The judges loved it, despite its inability to fit into any one category, and opted to give the beer an honorable mention. Today, bourbon barrel-aged beer has captured the hearts (and wallets) of beer lovers worldwide. Since that fateful meeting between Greg Hall and Booker Noe in 1992, Goose Island has grown into an international sensation for their bourbon barrel aged stouts and the legacy lives on with each passing vintage.
Original Bourbon County Brand Stout [2017 Vintage]: Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels
Hops: Millennium
Grain Bill: 2-Row, Black Malt, Caramel, Chocolate, Munich 10, Roasted Barley
ABV: 14.7%
Appearance: jet black
Aroma: bourbon, intense vanilla, oak, smoke, chocolate, molasses, cocoa
Taste: dark chocolate, more bourbon, thick, creamy, dark fruit
Serving Temp: 45-55°F
Original Bourbon County Brand Stout [2018 Vintage]: Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels
Hops: Millennium
Grain Bill: 2-Row, Black Malt, Caramel, Chocolate, Munich 10, Roasted Barley
ABV: 14.7%
Appearance: midnight
Aroma: charred oak, vanilla bean, caramel, subtle smoke, chocolate
Taste: chocolate, coffee, vanilla, slightly boozy, bourbon notes
Serving Temp: 45-55°F
