Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Rye Stout
Goose Island Beer Co.
- From:
- Goose Island Beer Co.
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- Imperial Pastry Stout
Ranked #12 - ABV:
- 14%
- Score:
- 100
Ranked #23 - Avg:
- 4.67 | pDev: 6.85%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 329
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 04, 2026
- Added:
- Aug 02, 2014
- Wants:
- 1,058
- Gots:
- 586
SCORE
100
World-Class
100
World-Class
It’s been six years since we released one of the most celebrated Bourbon County Brand Stout variants. Today, we're excited to warmly welcome the return of this iconic member of the Bourbon County Brand Stout family.
Vanilla, as an ingredient, has made an appearance in Bourbon County lineups over the years, but the 2024 Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Rye Stout is a new take on our 2014 Vanilla Rye release. This year’s release showcases rye and the complexity it delivers by starting with a rye imperial stout and aging it in freshly emptied rye whiskey barrels. After aging in barrels for a full year, the stout is then finished with incredibly aromatic Madagascar vanilla beans. Bourbon County Vanilla Rye Stout has the beloved attributes of the vanilla variants before it – with a new characteristically rich spice character from aging in the rye whiskey barrels.
Vanilla, as an ingredient, has made an appearance in Bourbon County lineups over the years, but the 2024 Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Rye Stout is a new take on our 2014 Vanilla Rye release. This year’s release showcases rye and the complexity it delivers by starting with a rye imperial stout and aging it in freshly emptied rye whiskey barrels. After aging in barrels for a full year, the stout is then finished with incredibly aromatic Madagascar vanilla beans. Bourbon County Vanilla Rye Stout has the beloved attributes of the vanilla variants before it – with a new characteristically rich spice character from aging in the rye whiskey barrels.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by robertm2152:
Rated by robertm2152 from Illinois
4.83/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Apr 05, 2026
4.83/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Apr 05, 2026
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Matthewmetcalfe from Georgia
4.16/5 rDev -10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.16/5 rDev -10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours dark and thick with a brown head that dissipates rather quickly. The aroma is oak, vanilla, maybe some cinnamon and, oh yes, bourbon. The taste follows the aroma with maybe a bit of chocolate and marshmallow added in. It's thick in the glass and in the mouthfeel. Overall, it's a great beer just a bit too sweet for my tongue.
Apr 17, 2026Reviewed by jrmills20 from Minnesota
4.25/5 rDev -9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dark pour with a small brown head and minimal carbonation. Smell and taste are - not surprisingly - very vanilla forward. A very good BA stout, but not my favorite from Goose Island.
Apr 14, 2026Reviewed by Cigarhound66 from Georgia
4.13/5 rDev -11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.13/5 rDev -11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Lord it’s strong. Nice and dark. Minimal carbonation. Definitely heavily on vanilla.
Tastes a bit like syrup of some type. I get some cherry as well.
Feb 01, 2026Tastes a bit like syrup of some type. I get some cherry as well.
Reviewed by blueshawk69 from Kansas
4.19/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.19/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
(review from December 2024) Never got to try the 2014 version so no way to compare, interesting to see others' reviews. To my tastebuds/nose, got the vanilla aroma immediately that faded fast. Got the boozy/rye/spicy/whisky/roasty/choco/malty notes too plus a huge vanilla taste that seemed to go back & forth between being just present & being a gut-ache-inducing-oversweet-tung-scrapin'-waay-too-rich-diabetics-run-screaming-from-this-one WOW! As it warmed up the vanilla tamed a bit.
Dec 29, 2025
Reviewed by Wattie83 from Pennsylvania
4.68/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.68/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Tasted in a snifter glass. Poured dark brown color with no head. No foam at all on this pour. Smell is vanilla, chocolate, bourbon, dark fruits. Taste is bourbon barrel up front, middle sees that dark fruit, molasses, brown sugar, finishes with cocoa, vanilla, coffee. Feel is full bodied, very low carbonation, thick and coating. Overall, very sweet beer, but flavorful and inviting. I bought a few bottles and I am glad I did as this really sits well with me.
Dec 29, 2025Reviewed by BeerEssentials96 from Texas
4.14/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.14/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours dark & syrupy with a thin brown head. The nose gives dark chocolate, vanilla, molasses, and slight caramel. The taste is similar with chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, toffee, and raisin. Like a lot of these imperial stouts, it's a bit too syrupy for my tastes, but can definitely see why people appreciate it.
Dec 14, 2025
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