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Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout (2010)
Goose Island Beer Co.
- 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:
- 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:
Reviewed by jampics2 from Ohio
4.82/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
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, 2011I 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!
More User Ratings:
Rated by Beerbom from California
3.9/5 rDev -18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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, 2022Reviewed by robbiemoy13 from Illinois
5/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
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, 2021Purchased from Lush in 2011 as part of a package.
Reviewed by HIGHPA from Illinois
5/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
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, 2019Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
5/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
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, 2019Black 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.
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
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, 2019Reviewed by Rristow from Ohio
4.79/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
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
Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout (2010) from Goose Island Beer Co.
Beer rating:
100 out of
100 with
1395 ratings
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