Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout (2010) | Goose Island Beer Co.
Brewed by:
Goose Island Beer Co.
Illinois, United States
gooseisland.com
Style: American Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 13.00%
Availability: Limited (brewed once)
Notes / Commercial Description:
Aged 2 years in 23-year old Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrels.
Added by alcstradamus on 10-07-2010
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 1,382 | Reviews: 370
4.81/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.78/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.75/5 rDev -1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.78/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Take a stellar vintage of BCBS, elevate the nose and palate with scents and flavors imbued by Pappy barrels, increase the viscosity of an already thick and chewy stout, and enjoy one of the finest beers ever crafted for human consumption. There is virtually nothing wrong with this beer, even after all of these years.
It is the best beer that Goose Island has ever made. If ever you feel the need to tick a whale, this might be the best value still out there on the trade market today.
488 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Take a stellar vintage of BCBS, elevate the nose and palate with scents and flavors imbued by Pappy barrels, increase the viscosity of an already thick and chewy stout, and enjoy one of the finest beers ever crafted for human consumption. There is virtually nothing wrong with this beer, even after all of these years.
It is the best beer that Goose Island has ever made. If ever you feel the need to tick a whale, this might be the best value still out there on the trade market today.
488 characters
4.95/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
This is the closest thing I have had in terms of a perfect bourbon barrel aged dark beer. The mouth feel was kind of thin so I really would liked to have had it on tap. The newer Rare has nothing on this guy. When this first came out the shelves were full if it. Nobody in Chicago could justify spending $60 on a bottle of beer! Ahhh, the good old days.
353 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
This is the closest thing I have had in terms of a perfect bourbon barrel aged dark beer. The mouth feel was kind of thin so I really would liked to have had it on tap. The newer Rare has nothing on this guy. When this first came out the shelves were full if it. Nobody in Chicago could justify spending $60 on a bottle of beer! Ahhh, the good old days.
353 characters
5/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Beautiful still. Tons of barrel even almost 8 years later. Great nose, not boozy or hot at all. Nice and smooth. Pours a nice dark thick color. Really held up well.
169 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Beautiful still. Tons of barrel even almost 8 years later. Great nose, not boozy or hot at all. Nice and smooth. Pours a nice dark thick color. Really held up well.
169 characters
4.84/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Big business. Looking at my bottle number, I lament I don't have another one of these. I've been into beer for 20 years and I missed this release. SAD!
Bottle split with 2 buddies, allongside bcbs 2011 for comparison
Aroma is rich, increasingly yeasty as it warms.
On the palate, caramely bourbon, toffee, banana, all you'd expect. The big diff between this and the bcbcs 2011 is that while that fades to fuzzy cola, this has more flesh on its backside.
It is past its prime--falling apart a bit in the body, but still super sexy. More so for still being out there.
Get it done!
Cheers!
593 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Big business. Looking at my bottle number, I lament I don't have another one of these. I've been into beer for 20 years and I missed this release. SAD!
Bottle split with 2 buddies, allongside bcbs 2011 for comparison
Aroma is rich, increasingly yeasty as it warms.
On the palate, caramely bourbon, toffee, banana, all you'd expect. The big diff between this and the bcbcs 2011 is that while that fades to fuzzy cola, this has more flesh on its backside.
It is past its prime--falling apart a bit in the body, but still super sexy. More so for still being out there.
Get it done!
Cheers!
593 characters
4.74/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.69/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
5/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Simply wow, Lucky to get a taste of this rare gem. After 7 there is still so much complex barrel flavor to this beer. Amazing oak, wood, old barrel, rustic, vanilla, musty in a good way nose and taste. wow!
206 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Simply wow, Lucky to get a taste of this rare gem. After 7 there is still so much complex barrel flavor to this beer. Amazing oak, wood, old barrel, rustic, vanilla, musty in a good way nose and taste. wow!
206 characters
4.56/5 rDev -5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.92/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
22oz bottle poured into a snifter
A- pours viscous black in color with a one-finger khaki head that eventually disappears
S- smells of mocha fudge brownies with toasted walnuts up front, followed by dark artisan chocolate, fig & dark cherry. Big oaky bourbon barrel aroma gives sweet vanilla and coconut, caramel & toffee. All elements blend brilliantly
T- opens up with huge sweet notes of dark chocolate, caramel & toffee, quickly followed by a hit of toasted walnuts. The bourbon barrel kicks in mid-palate, adding plenty of vanilla & coconut and just the right amount of bourbon. As it nears the finish, notes of dark cherry, raisin & fig pop up, along with more toffee sweetness. Lingers of a perfect blend of bourbon, caramel, chocolate and dark fruit
M- medium-thick body with low carbonation leads to a slightly foamy mouthfeel and a silky finish that coats the mouth
O- quite possibly the best aged barrel aged stout I've ever had. It blends brilliantly and leaves you wanting more
1,001 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
22oz bottle poured into a snifter
A- pours viscous black in color with a one-finger khaki head that eventually disappears
S- smells of mocha fudge brownies with toasted walnuts up front, followed by dark artisan chocolate, fig & dark cherry. Big oaky bourbon barrel aroma gives sweet vanilla and coconut, caramel & toffee. All elements blend brilliantly
T- opens up with huge sweet notes of dark chocolate, caramel & toffee, quickly followed by a hit of toasted walnuts. The bourbon barrel kicks in mid-palate, adding plenty of vanilla & coconut and just the right amount of bourbon. As it nears the finish, notes of dark cherry, raisin & fig pop up, along with more toffee sweetness. Lingers of a perfect blend of bourbon, caramel, chocolate and dark fruit
M- medium-thick body with low carbonation leads to a slightly foamy mouthfeel and a silky finish that coats the mouth
O- quite possibly the best aged barrel aged stout I've ever had. It blends brilliantly and leaves you wanting more
1,001 characters
4.63/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.54/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.97/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Finally opening up my 1 bottle of 2010 Rare in celebration of my first child, a son named Micah!
A: pours black as motor oil with a small khaki colored head that disapates quickly.
S: like sniffing an awesome triple chocolate cake. Sweet notes, vanilla notes, coffee and chocolate notes, and a hint of raisin on the back. Smells like heaven!
T: coffee notes upfront quickly followed by chocolate brownie smothered in fudge. A slight dryness on the backend and oh so smooth! Man, did those barrels and holding onto the bottle for 6 years do wonders for this beer! Like pouring chocolate fudge over molten lava cake!
F: so thick, but never cloying. Sweet but not overly sweet.
O: this beer is definitely magical! I'm so glad I waited so long before cracking this one. I've had it for so long that I can't even really remember getting it, hah. If you get the chance to try this beer at least once, cancel you vacation to Italy and do it!!
952 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Finally opening up my 1 bottle of 2010 Rare in celebration of my first child, a son named Micah!
A: pours black as motor oil with a small khaki colored head that disapates quickly.
S: like sniffing an awesome triple chocolate cake. Sweet notes, vanilla notes, coffee and chocolate notes, and a hint of raisin on the back. Smells like heaven!
T: coffee notes upfront quickly followed by chocolate brownie smothered in fudge. A slight dryness on the backend and oh so smooth! Man, did those barrels and holding onto the bottle for 6 years do wonders for this beer! Like pouring chocolate fudge over molten lava cake!
F: so thick, but never cloying. Sweet but not overly sweet.
O: this beer is definitely magical! I'm so glad I waited so long before cracking this one. I've had it for so long that I can't even really remember getting it, hah. If you get the chance to try this beer at least once, cancel you vacation to Italy and do it!!
952 characters
5/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Bottled on 11/19/2010. Consumed on 10/2/2016. Bottle #1738.
My god... BCBS heightened to perfection.
There are only a few beers in the world that could be considered perfect, this is one of them.
199 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Bottled on 11/19/2010. Consumed on 10/2/2016. Bottle #1738.
My god... BCBS heightened to perfection.
There are only a few beers in the world that could be considered perfect, this is one of them.
199 characters
4.74/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout (2010) from Goose Island Beer Co.
Beer rating:
4.8 out of
5 with
1,382 ratings
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