Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout (2010)
Goose Island Beer Co.

Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout (2010)Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout (2010)
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From:
Goose Island Beer Co.
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
13%
Score:
100
Avg:
4.8 | pDev: 6.25%
Reviews:
376
Ratings:
1,395
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 24, 2023
Added:
Oct 07, 2010
Wants:
  1,835
Gots:
  473
Aged 2 years in 23-year old Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrels.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jampics2:
Photo of jampics2
Reviewed by jampics2 from Ohio

4.82/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap at DLD 2011! Served in a 10oz cup then poured into my snifter, cost was $10.

I decided that we were spoiled with VB and Oak Aged DL last year, so we'd head straight to the guest taps this year. And this was the biggest prize there - a, ahem, rare chance to catch this brew on tap.

This looks nice in the snifter. Pitch black, even when held to the sun. I should have rubbed this beer all over my skin, then I wouldn't have gotten so sunburned. Nothing can permeate the darkness within this beer. The only bad thing is that it looks so flat. It isn't, but even a vigerous swirl only gets a bubble or two of head/lace to surface.

The smell is easily the best BA stout I've ever had. I'm normally into the vanilla from the wood, and loved the Stone Bourbon Barrel RIS because of the cocount and vanilla notes. So, a "wetter" barrel sometimes isn't my thing. Not so with Pappy 23 - this barrel took the fudge, coffee and dark fruit of the original beer and blasted it into bourbon heaven. The nose is the perfect marriage of bourbon and beer.

The taste is also truly exceptional. This beer is full of such great tastes of oak and bourbon - well integrated, and not bulldozing away the flavors of chocolate, molasses, dark fruit, cherry and molasses. Regular BCS and this have something in common, but these barrels have imparted such layers of bourbon goodness. I would easily pay the $10 a pour for this any day. I'd even buy more $40 bottles if I had the chance, but I'm happy to have a few to age. Which reminds me, this is not hot at all. I honestly don't see this needing to mellow much. It's already perfection in liquid form.

The mouthfeel is just a touch syrupy. That being said, there is some carbonation and the booze is well hidden. I could just use a touch more creaminess. Can you tell the difference between this and "regular" BCS? Yes, in a heartbeat. This is amazing!
May 02, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.34 by shagal from Canada (AB)

Dec 24, 2023
 
Rated: 5 by HOPTOMIC_BOMB from California

May 20, 2022
Photo of Beerbom
Rated by Beerbom from California

3.9/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I’m sure this was a banger…..12 years ago. This was simply just past it’s prime regrettably.
Feb 14, 2022
 
Rated: 5 by StanleysCup from Maryland

Jan 01, 2022
 
Rated: 4.5 by ejimhof from Pennsylvania

Jul 26, 2021
 
Rated: 5 by Rkitchen from Michigan

Jun 19, 2021
Photo of robbiemoy13
Reviewed by robbiemoy13 from Illinois

5/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Chocolate, vanilla, barrel. Very dark, thick color. Silky, smooth, gets even better as it warms. Slightly boozy, but still excellent.

Purchased from Lush in 2011 as part of a package.
Jan 05, 2021
Photo of HIGHPA
Reviewed by HIGHPA from Illinois

5/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
The best beer I ever had. I had it at the opening of the Beer Temple in Chicago a couple years after it came out. I have yet to have a better beer. Especially a BBA Stout. Thanks Beer Temple for doing that opening, I will be forever grateful.
Dec 31, 2019
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

5/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Bottled 11/19/10; drank 3/5/15 @ Tiny Lounge. Bottle# 7454.

Black appearance.

Almost no dark tan head; no lace.

Marshmallow, vanilla, milk chocolate & cherry nose.

Silky, medium thick mouthfeel.

Vanilla, milk chocolate, marshmallow & caramel flavors up front; booze heat & faint pineapple (?!) notes emerged as this warmed.

A truly remarkable beer that aged beautifully.
Aug 12, 2019
Photo of miniditka77
Reviewed by miniditka77 from Illinois

4.66/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Drank in 2019, bottle is about 9.5 years old at this point. Smell is chocolate and dark fruit, but oddly weak. It was hard to get much smell off of this at all. The taste followed the smell - tons of flavors swirling around, chocolate, vanilla, dark fruit, but also weaker than I would have expected. The feel is outstanding, and all of those years really smoothed it all out. Overall, great beer. Possibly a little past its prime, but it's still got it.
Apr 23, 2019
 
Rated: 4.73 by Futbolmanby from Michigan

Mar 23, 2019
Photo of Rristow
Reviewed by Rristow from Ohio

4.79/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Pours black with dark brown head. Lot of bourbon on aroma with boozy notes mixed with roasted malts. Thick and chewy mouthfeel. Flavors of caramel, molasses, cocoa, brown sugar, bourbon. Still a little boozy taste on finish but excellent overall.
Dec 16, 2018
 
Rated: 4.78 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Nov 30, 2018
 
Rated: 4.94 by Fireman_RK from North Carolina

Jul 09, 2018
 
Rated: 5 by That_Bearded_Guy from California

Feb 18, 2018
 
Rated: 5 by PrestigeWorldwide from Michigan

Feb 18, 2018
 
Rated: 5 by edthehead from Maryland

Feb 11, 2018
 
Rated: 5 by imyourhero21 from California

Dec 18, 2017
 
Rated: 4.78 by whitenads from Michigan

Dec 17, 2017
Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout (2010) from Goose Island Beer Co.
Beer rating: 100 out of 100 with 1395 ratings