Vanilla Rye Bourbon County Brand Stout
Goose Island Beer Co.

Vanilla Rye Bourbon County Brand StoutVanilla Rye Bourbon County Brand Stout
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From:
Goose Island Beer Co.
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
13.6%
Score:
100
Avg:
4.68 | pDev: 7.05%
Reviews:
244
Ratings:
1,993
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 10, 2024
Added:
Aug 02, 2014
Wants:
  1,051
Gots:
  569
First brewed for the legendary festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beer in Chicago, drinkers enjoyed this Bourbon County Variant so much we bottled it the next year (2010). People flocked to stores to get their hands on a bottle and have this one of a kind barrel aged stout. Over the past few years we have heard our fans express their love for this version and we are extremely proud to bring it back in 2014. This years version features a little twist of aging the stout in Rye Whiskey Barrels with a mix of Mexican and Madagascar vanilla beans!

35 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by scottfrie:
Photo of scottfrie
Reviewed by scottfrie from California

4.59/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
22oz bottle into snifter. Bottle date 10/31/2014. Thanks for sharing, Mike.

A: Looks like all of the BCBS’s. Pours black with a thick dark tan head. Spotty lace was left down the glass.
S: Vanilla dominates the nose with super rich and sweet marshmallow. I get notes of light toast, slight coconut, and rich dark chocolate. Decadent, rich and very sweet smelling.
T: Less marshmallow but still very cloying and sweet with tons of chocolate (more than the nose) and lots of vanilla bean flavor. Hints of caramel, booze, spicy rye, and raisin poke through near the finish after the chocolate-vanilla.
M: The characteristic BCBS thickness that is hard to beat. Tons of greasy sweetness, low carb, smooth as hell. I get a tiny hint of warmth as well.
O: One of the better variants. Really really good. More complex and more depth than the original vanilla.
Jun 23, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of moysauce
Rated by moysauce from Illinois

4.55/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
This was a great beer. Had it on draft with my buddy on Black Friday at Goose after picking up our bottles from Binny's in 2019.
Mar 10, 2024
 
Rated: 4.75 by carolinabeerguy from North Carolina

Jan 06, 2023
Photo of BEERchitect
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky

4.46/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Hot on the heels of that classic Bourbon County Brand Stout flavor and the need to reach new heights, Goose Island keeps the wholesome goodness coming with both vanilla and rye. Amplified creaminess, richness, and smoothness all come to the forefront for the most succulent of stouts.

The monsterous stout pours an oily-inky and truly viscous pour of blackness with brownish legging. Formitable early head formation falters underneath the enormous gravity and alcohol of the beer. Completely opaque, the beer draws you in with most seductive of intent. Mouthwatering aromas of bitter cocoa, espresso, burnt toffee, maple syrup, brown sugar, and unmistakable rye whisky. The warming beer emits scents reminiscent of dark fruit, licorice, stone fruit and wood spice.

Sultury flavors of chocolate wafers, creamy vanilla, molasses, and sweet barrel nuances blend together for a flavor that's quite like Bourbon Ball candies. Walnuts, robust coffees, and port-like fruitiness continue to contribute new layers of flavors with each and every sip, and all wrapped in a soft vanilla envelope. Incredibly powerful in flavor, the sweetness of malt is seemingly amplified by the vanilla and reduces the roast flavor to that of mocha latte and less like true espresso; helping with the harsh roast but allowing for a heavy, icing-like sweetness.

Ultimate fullness, richness, and oily- stouts don't get much bigger. The beer coats the mouth similarly to heavy sweetened fortified liquors like cognac, port, or honey liquors. Sweetness masks the alcohols, allowing for a high level of drinkability despite its alcohol content. Very warm, but never harsh, the beer is a true desert with each sip and gives a long bourbon/chocolate linger time after time. A long and savory aftertaste of roast and vanilla come with the woodsy, peppery and earthen grit that's special to rye barrels.
Nov 28, 2022
 
Rated: 5 by imperialking from Illinois

Sep 19, 2022
 
Rated: 4.85 by Thirstygoat from Illinois

Jul 08, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Dec 09, 2021
 
Rated: 4.75 by Rkitchen from Michigan

Jun 19, 2021
 
Rated: 5 by Utexaschris from Texas

Feb 25, 2021
Photo of Jp2244
Rated by Jp2244 from Ohio

5/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Vanilla is fading but this guy is my all time favorite. Sad to see it go.
Jan 20, 2021
 
Rated: 4.14 by Hopelessly0 from California

Dec 06, 2020
 
Rated: 5 by ChicagoShakeAndBake26 from Illinois

Dec 04, 2020
Photo of DefenCorps
Reviewed by DefenCorps from Oregon

4.55/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
thank you, Sam.

Nose s outrageous vanilla with rye, chocolate, caramel, light buckwheat honey, oxidized lending a light nut character. Full body, chocolate, cocoa, mild chocolate syrup. Hazelnut. Spicy, peppery rye. Beautifully integrated.
Aug 30, 2020
 
Rated: 5 by Rammed96 from Maryland

Jul 17, 2020
 
Rated: 5 by NonicPanic from Pennsylvania

Jun 29, 2020
Photo of Hopheadjeffery
Reviewed by Hopheadjeffery from Illinois

4.73/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
2014 vintage tasted in a snifter from draft at Consume on November 15, 2019. This vintage is aged in rye whiskey barrels with a mix of Mexican and Madagascar vanilla beans. Highly recommended.
Mar 07, 2020
 
Rated: 4.75 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Jan 01, 2020
 
Rated: 4.75 by heysuz from Indiana

Jan 01, 2020
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.59/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Bottled 10/31/14; drank 10/3/15 @ the Yarchives.

Black appearance.

Minimal dark khaki head which quickly dissipated; no lace.

Vanilla, marshmallow & milk chocolate notes in the nose.

Creamy, medium thick mouthfeel.

Vanilla, marshmallow & milk chocolate flavors; sweet vanilla settled on my lips over the course of the session. Faint booze heat emerged as this warmed.

Sweet & rich but not cloying; dessert perfection!
Nov 20, 2019
Photo of Rristow
Reviewed by Rristow from Ohio

4.73/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Tasted from bottle aged 5 years. Pours black with beige head. Aroma is incredible with vanilla mixed with bourbon notes. Molasses and caramel notes. Flavors of strong vanilla along with caramel, brown sugar. Hides ABV ridiculously well. Awesome BCS variant but I’d like the vanilla component to be a little more subtle letting the bourbon and stout flavors come through more.
Oct 29, 2019
Vanilla Rye Bourbon County Brand Stout from Goose Island Beer Co.
Beer rating: 100 out of 100 with 1993 ratings