Wooden Wings
Goose Island Beer Co.

Released 6/24/22. "Best by 5/24/27"; drank 7/2/22 @ the Yarchives.

Midnight black appearance.

A rough pour yielded a small, noisy dark tan head which quickly dissipated; no lace.

Dark chocolate, oak, caramel & bourbon notes in the nose.

Thick, sticky mouthfeel.

Dark chocolate, charred oak & bourbon heat up front; stone fruit notes on the finish.

Big, bold & boozy; not for the faint of heart, but a worthy Imperial Stout.

 

Bottle. Tan head. Black color. Thick.

Very oaky, lots of chocolate, barrel char and bourbon. Warming. Bakers spice, caramel, molasses, fudge, faint cherry/dark fruits/fig. Tobacco and bourbon finish. If I had the guess the base would tastes similar to expedition. This is wonderful.

500 ml bottle into a snifter. Best by 5/24/27, had 7/5/24.

Pours near black and opaque, with a quick head and a few specks of cling. Aromas of bourbon, oak, roasted malt, chocolate, some char, light caramel and leather. Similar flavors: bourbon, oak, chocolate, roasted malt, some leather, light caramel. Smooth, a bit creamy, a very good full body, appropriately carbonated.

Big barrel, oak and chocolate. Rich and delicious. Wish I had the Phase Three version to compare with.

 

500ml bottle poured into Rastal Lawrence glass.

Appearance: black bodied stout with thick cap of dark brown head. The head fizzes aggressively down to a thin ring around the outside of the glass. Thick legs. Glass staining.

Smell: Chocolate cake, rye whiskey, dry oak, & caramel.

Taste: Dark chocolates & chocolate lava cake. Dry oak & Rye Whiskey. Hints of caramel drizzle & leathery notes. This is a rich stout with really well balanced flavors. No palate fatigue here from this barrel aged stout. Complex and really tasty.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied barrel aged stout. Low & adequate carbonation levels. It's not pastry thick & I definitely appreciate that about it. Rich barrel notes without heavy booze, just a nice warming spirit presence.

Overall: An Old School Willet barrel aged no adjunct stout here and it was flawlessly executed. Really great collaboration between two great Chicago breweries. I can't believe this is still just hanging out in the to go cooler at the brewery. It's under the radar barrel aged stout for sure.

 

This is the cleanup hitter on my 50th birthday. I’m a born and bred Chicagoan, so you say “bourbon barrel aged stout”, I say “Goose Fucking Island”. And I’ve been a supporter of Phase Three since their head brewer was at the restaurant brewery in Schaumburg whose name I can’t recall since I’m buzzed. This beer is what all you fuckers have grown to expect since we started it in Chicago all that time ago. Thick, boozy, syrupy, strong, flavorful. If you want subtlety, ask your stepfather how he drops off the monthly alimony check. This beer kicks both balls and ass, and I’m glad I had to make an extra effort like risking my life and driving into Chicago to get it.

 

 

This beer is special because it takes a collab from the previous year with heavy hitter @phasethreebrew and barrel aged it. Immense dark fruit with dry but sweet finish. This bad boy is an elevated BCBS, no joke.