-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout
Goose Island Beer Co.
- From:
- Goose Island Beer Co.
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 14.9%
- Score:
- 100
- Avg:
- 4.59 | pDev: 7.63%
- Reviews:
- 556
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Mar 10, 2024
- Added:
- Nov 08, 2009
- Wants:
- 1,551
- Gots:
- 536
Bourbon County Brand Stout spiced with fresh vanilla beans.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by 1000lbgrizzly:
Reviewed by 1000lbgrizzly from Illinois
4.65/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.65/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Motor-oil thick black sludge with deep brown silk head. Aroma is softer than the regular- the chocolate/whiskey/wood notes are now pleasant, softened by a moderate vanilla note. Flavor is also toned down compared to BCBS, probably to make way for a warm real vanilla bean entourage. The amount of vanilla is perfect: strong enough to notice without searching, but not overpowering/monotone, even if it does take the overall flavor profile back a step from the original. The malt, or perhaps if the barrels were charred, adds a good dark chocolate bitterness, but there is also significant sweetness to it, made more noticeable by the vanilla, or at least it triggers memories of all the other sweet vanilla things we eat. No trace of alcohol. The mouthfeel is as close to perfect as it can get. SO rich and thick, barely a pulse of carbonation without becoming flat, or even undercarbonated. Only calling it full bodied would be an insult.
Awesome beer, not as crazily overpowering and harsh as the original, but still bold. The vanilla is great- authentic, fresh, well balanced, well incorporated. It's earned its spot among the greats.
Note: Not to brag, but this was a perfectly aged bottle from 2010- nearly the full 5 years of age recommended and well treated that whole time. I had a younger bottle a while ago, it had a bit of the harsh alcohol edge to it, the level of vanilla was *approaching* immature (too much), and it wasn't quite as thick, but the rest of the review stands true.
Sep 22, 2015Awesome beer, not as crazily overpowering and harsh as the original, but still bold. The vanilla is great- authentic, fresh, well balanced, well incorporated. It's earned its spot among the greats.
Note: Not to brag, but this was a perfectly aged bottle from 2010- nearly the full 5 years of age recommended and well treated that whole time. I had a younger bottle a while ago, it had a bit of the harsh alcohol edge to it, the level of vanilla was *approaching* immature (too much), and it wasn't quite as thick, but the rest of the review stands true.
More User Ratings:
Rated by moysauce from Illinois
2.94/5 rDev -35.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
2.94/5 rDev -35.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
I've had this several times since release and every time it is an absolutely cloying nightmare.
Mar 10, 2024Reviewed by Sound_Explorer from Washington
4.2/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.2/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
2018 bottle in December 2023:
Aged quite well. Very nicely balance not being too sweet but the vanilla is still there to enjoy. Aroma a feel are spot on still. Enjoyed with friends.
Dec 03, 2023Aged quite well. Very nicely balance not being too sweet but the vanilla is still there to enjoy. Aroma a feel are spot on still. Enjoyed with friends.
Reviewed by Lucular from Maryland
3.74/5 rDev -18.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
3.74/5 rDev -18.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
2018 bottle split with a friend. Looks great, smells fine (though not as much vanilla as I'd expect, even at 5 years), but...this has a strong up front flavor of Mr. Pibb. Not Dr. Pepper, not Vanilla Coke - it's unmistakably Mr. Pibb. Takes me right back to my college dining hall. Very, very strange.
Nov 15, 2023Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts
4.37/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.37/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2018 vintage
Yet another beast of a beer I got in a BIF from @Eziel! This was one of the first beers I had marked as a “want” when I joined BA, so finally getting to try it is huge. I’m very excited so let’s just get into it
Pours a very dark brown with a finger od dark tan head that fades to a thin ring and leaves minimal lacing
The nose here is super authentically vanilla, much more bean-y than creamy. I’m picking up on aromas of vanilla bean, dark chocolate, chewy fig, molasses, brown sugar, sweet bourbon, caramel, black cherry, and a touch of fruity coffee
It’s not quite as nuanced in taste, and I think the vanilla has faded into something a tad bitter, but it’s still damn tasty. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting milk chocolate, fruity coffee, french vanilla, sweet bourbon, caramel, and a touch of oak. The swallow brings notes of slightly bitter vanilla bean, fig, dark chocolate, fruity coffee, sticky caramel, and a touch of brown sugar
A medium full body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a slick and oily beer. Finishes slightly sticky but drinks below its abv
This one is great, as are most BCBS variants. I wish I got to try this one a bit fresher, but it’s a treat either way
Jun 05, 2022Yet another beast of a beer I got in a BIF from @Eziel! This was one of the first beers I had marked as a “want” when I joined BA, so finally getting to try it is huge. I’m very excited so let’s just get into it
Pours a very dark brown with a finger od dark tan head that fades to a thin ring and leaves minimal lacing
The nose here is super authentically vanilla, much more bean-y than creamy. I’m picking up on aromas of vanilla bean, dark chocolate, chewy fig, molasses, brown sugar, sweet bourbon, caramel, black cherry, and a touch of fruity coffee
It’s not quite as nuanced in taste, and I think the vanilla has faded into something a tad bitter, but it’s still damn tasty. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting milk chocolate, fruity coffee, french vanilla, sweet bourbon, caramel, and a touch of oak. The swallow brings notes of slightly bitter vanilla bean, fig, dark chocolate, fruity coffee, sticky caramel, and a touch of brown sugar
A medium full body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a slick and oily beer. Finishes slightly sticky but drinks below its abv
This one is great, as are most BCBS variants. I wish I got to try this one a bit fresher, but it’s a treat either way
Reviewed by beerookie from Ohio
4.83/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.83/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
I was fortunate to share a bomber of 2010 with two other friends. This beer was the most impressive beer I have ever drank! Every aspect of this was world class and the only reason my rating isn't straight 5's is because it is so rich that you can't enjoy more than a few ounces.
The three of us are all experienced barrel aged stout drinkers and it was genuinely difficult to drink 8 ounces of it.
Imagine the most rich and decadent dessert you have ever tasted? And now imagine eating three pieces of it?
If you ever get the chance to drink this, make sure you have not ruined your pallet and make sure you have the righ number of people to share 2-3 ounces each.
Mar 12, 2022The three of us are all experienced barrel aged stout drinkers and it was genuinely difficult to drink 8 ounces of it.
Imagine the most rich and decadent dessert you have ever tasted? And now imagine eating three pieces of it?
If you ever get the chance to drink this, make sure you have not ruined your pallet and make sure you have the righ number of people to share 2-3 ounces each.
Reviewed by Holderness from Massachusetts
4.46/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
On tap at Lulu's, Allston
L -- The usual BCBS jet black with a finger of dense brown head. Some retention and lacing
S -- Rich fudge, caramel, toffee, bourbon, vanilla, nougat. The vanilla melds well with the barrel notes, imparting a frosting-like character without being overwhelming
T -- Largely follows the nose. A bit more akin to the base BCBS than expected - the vanilla really fades away into the natural flavors of the base stout and barrel notes
F -- Thick and oily, maybe not as velvety as the best
90/100
Dec 12, 2021L -- The usual BCBS jet black with a finger of dense brown head. Some retention and lacing
S -- Rich fudge, caramel, toffee, bourbon, vanilla, nougat. The vanilla melds well with the barrel notes, imparting a frosting-like character without being overwhelming
T -- Largely follows the nose. A bit more akin to the base BCBS than expected - the vanilla really fades away into the natural flavors of the base stout and barrel notes
F -- Thick and oily, maybe not as velvety as the best
90/100
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio
4.53/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.53/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Look - black and thick with a slight head but really nice with great lacing
Smell - vanilla cigar with a nice roasty malts caramelly and wood barrel
Taste - vanilla Tabaco but lots of woody barrel and caramel
Feel - full body with a very light carb and creamy
Overall - not as good as I hoped
Sep 05, 2021Smell - vanilla cigar with a nice roasty malts caramelly and wood barrel
Taste - vanilla Tabaco but lots of woody barrel and caramel
Feel - full body with a very light carb and creamy
Overall - not as good as I hoped
Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout from Goose Island Beer Co.
Beer rating:
100 out of
100 with
2011 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!