Bourbon County Brand Birthday Stout
Goose Island Beer Co.

 

500 ml bottle into a snifter. Best by 8/4/25, had 8/14/21.

Pours near black and opaque, with a brief flash of a head and sparse foamy cling. Aromas of bourbon, oak, chocolate, roasted malt, raisins, char, leather, some caramel, light brown sugar, light licorice when warmed. Flavors of bourbon, oak, roasted malt, chocolate, some leather, some caramel and brown sugar, char, faint licorice when warmed. Has a spicy taste along with a light sweetness. Smooth, a solid full body, appropriately carbonated.

Excellent. Terrific barrels that express a lot of oak as well as bourbon, lots of distinct aromas and flavors. Really enjoyable. Best fully warmed.

 

Drank from a 1 pint .9 fl. oz. bottle purchased at Craft Beer Cellar, Belmont, MA
2020 vintage
Drink by: 04AUG25
Served in a snifter

Review #2250

The beer poured a medium bodied, raw umber hue that looked much darker and more viscous in the glass. A thin cap of saddle brown froth topped the oily looking liquid and quickly transformed into a fine yet resilient collar. After each sip, some spotty lacing trickled down the sides of the glass.

The aroma was pleasant initially but not particularly notable. Caramel and toffee notes dominated. Moderately sweet. There was a hint of oxidation as well, but this quickly dissipated. As the beer sat, big boozy bourbon notes really came forth. There was a spicy rye-like quality too. Loads of dark fruit notes as well. Some vanilla was also noticeable. Layer, the vanilla and the overall sweetness really intensified.

The flavor profile alluded to what the nose would become after a few minutes of opening up. Sweet toffee and caramel notes came through big time on the front end. Good dose of brown sugar-like sweetness too. Punchy boozy bourbon notes appeared as the beer moved along the palate. Loads of vanilla and dark fruit notes in the center. Some spicy alcohol appeared here as well. Maple cream was noticeable too. The bourbon and the vanilla really intensified on the back end and the finish. More spicy alcohol and lingering sweetness after the swallow.

The mouthfeel was the most disappointing aspect of the beer. It was medium bodied for the style. Definitely thinner than I anticipated. The liquid contained a fine, somewhat aggressive effervescence that turned light and fluffy on the palate. After a few sips, the liquid left a slightly sticky film on my lips.

All in all, Bourbon County Brand Birthday Stout is a terrific beer and one of the best I have tried in the BCBS series in recent memory. Despite the two-plus years of age on this bottle, the bourbon/boozy notes were front and center, but in the best way possible. I am always skeptical as to how much of a difference particular bourbon barrels play in the outcome of bourbon barrel-aged beers, but they definitely seemed to work well in this one.

Black in color and impenetrable to light. There’s a fingernail of brown around the rim and covering half of the top. The aroma is of sweet bourbon, vanilla, and caramel. I’m tasting caramel, vanilla, and bourbon. The mouth is sticky and chewy.

 

 

**
11/25/22

Bottle to snifter.

A touch hot, despite 27 months of age.

Strong dry oak, hot bourbon, touch of cocoa.

Very good, of course, but just sub par for this series.

**

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours usual BCBS jet black.
Aroma is incredible. A complex, wonderful combination of bourbon, oak, maple, sugar.

Taste equals aroma dominated by the oak, bourbon, maple & sugar. Awesome sweetness.

Traditional BCBS mouthfeel.