Rare Bourbon County Stout (2010) | Goose Island Beer Co.
Brewed by:
Goose Island Beer Co.
Illinois, United States
gooseisland.com
Style: American Double / 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.
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Ratings: 1,372 | Reviews: 366
4.69/5 rDev -0.2%
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 +6.4%
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 -3%
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 +4.7%
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 -1.5%
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 -3.4%
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 +5.7%
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 +6.4%
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 +0.9%
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
4.85/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Lots of booze in the nose, as well as dried fruit and bourbon. Tastes like roasted barley, bourbon, chocolate, cacao, vanilla. A very complex and balanced taste that is still very good after five years. I advice people to drink it soon, since more age won't probably make it better than it already is.
301 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Lots of booze in the nose, as well as dried fruit and bourbon. Tastes like roasted barley, bourbon, chocolate, cacao, vanilla. A very complex and balanced taste that is still very good after five years. I advice people to drink it soon, since more age won't probably make it better than it already is.
301 characters
4.62/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
L - Pours a dark shade of brown. Almost black. No head. A ring of tiny bubbles edge the glass. As you swirl it it coats the glass like cough syrup.
S - Pappy predominance. Chocolate and caramel. For a 6 year old beer the bourbon still dominates.
T - Some bourbon. Sweet malt. Sweeter than expected. Chocolate and caramel.
F - Round, full mouthfeel. Smooth.
O - This is awesome. Duh. I was surprised by the malt sweetness but it was still balanced, and the Pappy barrels still shine through. Delicious.
506 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
L - Pours a dark shade of brown. Almost black. No head. A ring of tiny bubbles edge the glass. As you swirl it it coats the glass like cough syrup.
S - Pappy predominance. Chocolate and caramel. For a 6 year old beer the bourbon still dominates.
T - Some bourbon. Sweet malt. Sweeter than expected. Chocolate and caramel.
F - Round, full mouthfeel. Smooth.
O - This is awesome. Duh. I was surprised by the malt sweetness but it was still balanced, and the Pappy barrels still shine through. Delicious.
506 characters
4.38/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
5/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I got a few ounces of this at Yazoo Funk Fest 2016 (5/14/2016). Great barrel character, smooth finish, and just awesome all around. A fine BA stout, the barrel shines even at 5 years old
186 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I got a few ounces of this at Yazoo Funk Fest 2016 (5/14/2016). Great barrel character, smooth finish, and just awesome all around. A fine BA stout, the barrel shines even at 5 years old
186 characters
4.15/5 rDev -11.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
5/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This was amazing! Vintage 2010...back when Bourbon County was the shit! Those pappy 23 barrels worked wonders! Purchased this bottle along with many others of its caliber for a small group tasting and it was definitely one of the stars!
239 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This was amazing! Vintage 2010...back when Bourbon County was the shit! Those pappy 23 barrels worked wonders! Purchased this bottle along with many others of its caliber for a small group tasting and it was definitely one of the stars!
239 characters
4.74/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
22oz bottle into a snifter
2010 Vintage, bottle #6216
A huge thanks to tchipharveyslake for sending this very long time want over in a trade. Thank you!
Pappy barrels used for barrel aging were originally filled in 1985, same year I was born, which is pretty cool. Opened Easter Sunday, 2016.
A: Pours an opaque black, looks thick on the pour. A sliver of dark mocha head dissipates quickly down to nothing. Leaves essentially no lacing. 4.5
S: Aroma is huge, I can literally smell it as I sit on the couch and it rests on the table. Huge and wonderful bourbon notes, charred oak, sweet bourbon-y vanilla, and a peat-like character. The base beer characters are in the background and include a rich fudge-like cocoa, and big roasty notes. Fantastic nose. 4.75
T: Follows the nose with a big, bold bourbon presence up front and a rich sweetness on the finish. Its so barrel forward, probably the most “bourbony” beer I’ve ever had (which actually surprised me because in general I find that barrel notes fade in BA beers with time). Base beer characters include a big roastiness, subtle black coffee like bitterness, and rich dark cocoa. Cocoa and roasted malts linger forever in the aftertaste. Big, bold, complex and delicious. 4.75
M/D: Full bodied, very smooth, great mouthfeel, carbonation is low but appropriate, ABV is noticeable in terms of bourbony characters but there is essentially no fusel ethanol or unpleasant heat. Drinkability is excellent all things considered. 4.75
O: Elite beer. Still think Vanilla Rye is my favorite BCB stout variant ever (Vanilla ’10 and my quest to complete all BCB bottle variants is complete, but this beer is incredible in its own right. 4.75
1,718 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
22oz bottle into a snifter
2010 Vintage, bottle #6216
A huge thanks to tchipharveyslake for sending this very long time want over in a trade. Thank you!
Pappy barrels used for barrel aging were originally filled in 1985, same year I was born, which is pretty cool. Opened Easter Sunday, 2016.
A: Pours an opaque black, looks thick on the pour. A sliver of dark mocha head dissipates quickly down to nothing. Leaves essentially no lacing. 4.5
S: Aroma is huge, I can literally smell it as I sit on the couch and it rests on the table. Huge and wonderful bourbon notes, charred oak, sweet bourbon-y vanilla, and a peat-like character. The base beer characters are in the background and include a rich fudge-like cocoa, and big roasty notes. Fantastic nose. 4.75
T: Follows the nose with a big, bold bourbon presence up front and a rich sweetness on the finish. Its so barrel forward, probably the most “bourbony” beer I’ve ever had (which actually surprised me because in general I find that barrel notes fade in BA beers with time). Base beer characters include a big roastiness, subtle black coffee like bitterness, and rich dark cocoa. Cocoa and roasted malts linger forever in the aftertaste. Big, bold, complex and delicious. 4.75
M/D: Full bodied, very smooth, great mouthfeel, carbonation is low but appropriate, ABV is noticeable in terms of bourbony characters but there is essentially no fusel ethanol or unpleasant heat. Drinkability is excellent all things considered. 4.75
O: Elite beer. Still think Vanilla Rye is my favorite BCB stout variant ever (Vanilla ’10 and my quest to complete all BCB bottle variants is complete, but this beer is incredible in its own right. 4.75
1,718 characters
Rare Bourbon County Stout (2010) from Goose Island Beer Co.
4.7
out of 5
based on 1,372 ratings.
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75