Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout
Goose Island Beer Co.

Bourbon County Brand Vanilla StoutBourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout
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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:
2,011
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 redsand22:
Photo of redsand22
Rated by redsand22 from Illinois

5/5  rDev +8.9%

Jun 03, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of moysauce
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
I've had this several times since release and every time it is an absolutely cloying nightmare.
Mar 10, 2024
 
Rated: 4.3 by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

Mar 09, 2024
 
Rated: 5 by Can_if_you_can from Minnesota

Dec 27, 2023
Photo of Sound_Explorer
Reviewed by Sound_Explorer from Washington

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, 2023
Photo of Lucular
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
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, 2023
 
Rated: 4.29 by Abe_Froman from Massachusetts

Oct 19, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by Dovers from Wisconsin

Oct 13, 2023
 
Rated: 4.21 by SierraFlight from Virginia

Dec 23, 2022
 
Rated: 4.59 by BKotch from Texas

Aug 12, 2022
 
Rated: 4.92 by Bartleby91 from Wisconsin

Jul 17, 2022
 
Rated: 4.75 by Justinprintz from New Jersey

Jul 15, 2022
 
Rated: 4.53 by ummswimmin from New Jersey

Jun 11, 2022
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

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, 2022
Photo of beerookie
Reviewed by beerookie from Ohio

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, 2022
 
Rated: 4.64 by hopley from Massachusetts

Dec 28, 2021
Photo of Holderness
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
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, 2021
 
Rated: 4.42 by timmy2b from New York

Nov 28, 2021
Photo of drdiesel9483
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
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, 2021
 
Rated: 4.96 by BMBCLT from South Carolina

Jul 11, 2021
Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout from Goose Island Beer Co.
Beer rating: 100 out of 100 with 2011 ratings