Bourbon County Brand Backyard Stout (2023)
Goose Island Beer Co.
- From:
- Goose Island Beer Co.
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 12.9%
- Score:
- 94
- Avg:
- 4.26 | pDev: 7.28%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 82
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- May 16, 2026
- Added:
- Aug 08, 2023
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 10
SCORE
94
Outstanding
94
Outstanding
Stout aged in bourbon barrels with mulberries, boysenberries, and marionberries.
Feeling nostalgic this year, we dove into our Bourbon County vault and pulled out an iconic recipe. In 2013, we released “Backyard Rye” and our senior innovation manager Mike Siegel found himself hand picking mulberries off trees just steps away from our Goose Island Barrel House in Chicago. Inspired by that initial release and by his own childhood memories of picking fruit in his own backyard, Mike set to work on this year’s Bourbon County Backyard Stout.
This barrel-aged stout was first aged in bourbon barrels for at least one year, and then finished and blended with mulberries, boysenberries and marionberries. Each addition of berry contributes its own distinct flavor profile, with some adding sweetness and others providing acidity and complexity. A taste of the past, this imperial stout is a balanced and nuanced play on fresh fruit, vanilla, and chocolate.
Feeling nostalgic this year, we dove into our Bourbon County vault and pulled out an iconic recipe. In 2013, we released “Backyard Rye” and our senior innovation manager Mike Siegel found himself hand picking mulberries off trees just steps away from our Goose Island Barrel House in Chicago. Inspired by that initial release and by his own childhood memories of picking fruit in his own backyard, Mike set to work on this year’s Bourbon County Backyard Stout.
This barrel-aged stout was first aged in bourbon barrels for at least one year, and then finished and blended with mulberries, boysenberries and marionberries. Each addition of berry contributes its own distinct flavor profile, with some adding sweetness and others providing acidity and complexity. A taste of the past, this imperial stout is a balanced and nuanced play on fresh fruit, vanilla, and chocolate.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Firey:
Rated by Firey from Massachusetts
5/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Sep 17, 2025
5/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Sep 17, 2025
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by 57md from Pennsylvania
4.44/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.44/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
This 2023 variant had 2+ years of age on it when I cracked it open.
The initial nose is all soft and round bourbon notes. Further nosing yields some roast with complimentary notes of sweet dark fruits on the backend. The blast of flavor upfront is staright-up molasses. That is followed by a fruity tartness that takes over on the finish. There is a very mild alcohol warmth on the very end that is very much a cozy hug. The mouthfeel is sticky.
I don't think that this variant out paces the OG base beer. However, there is a complexity here that makes this variant worth sampling.
Feb 02, 2026The initial nose is all soft and round bourbon notes. Further nosing yields some roast with complimentary notes of sweet dark fruits on the backend. The blast of flavor upfront is staright-up molasses. That is followed by a fruity tartness that takes over on the finish. There is a very mild alcohol warmth on the very end that is very much a cozy hug. The mouthfeel is sticky.
I don't think that this variant out paces the OG base beer. However, there is a complexity here that makes this variant worth sampling.
Reviewed by Lucular from Maryland
4.17/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
10 oz pour at Frisco Taphouse in Gambrills, MD. Looks like regular BCBS - thick, nice creamy tan head. Aroma and flavor are similar to regular BCBS along with tart berries, which IMO clash with the base beer. Not nearly as tasty as regular BCBS, and not even that interesting to try.
Jan 29, 2026
Reviewed by colts9016 from Idaho
4.3/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Review: 2544
Name: Bourbon County Brand Backyard Stout
Brewery: Goose Island Brewing Co
Location: Chicago, IL
Style: Barrel-Aged Stout
ABV: 12.9%
Canned: 2023
Date: 27 January 2026
I took a slight pause on the last beer in the Vertical. I decided to do a BCSt month. I am using a tulip glass and serving the beer at 54 degrees. The pour created a creamy, one-fingered, dark brown head with fair retention. The somewhat quick dissipation left no lacing on the glass. The color is inky black with a reddish-brown hue, and the clarity is opaque. The beer's appearance is average for this style.
Nosing the glass, I smell anise, caramel, toffee, dark chocolate, medium-roasted coffee, figs, berries, vanilla, graham crackers, bourbon, oak, char, raisins, and molasses. Smelling the glass again, I notice earthy dirt, tobacco, bready, dark toasted bread crust, and malty sweetness. The aromas are robust, with a fruity, sweet note.
The flavors start with bourbon, dark chocolate, figs, berry tartness, caramel, toffee, vanilla, oak, char, medium-roasted coffee, graham crackers, cloves, raisins, tobacco, and earthiness. Sipping the glass, I taste oak, anise, raisins, Maillard, malty sweetness, treacle, and fruity sweetness.
The mouthfeel is chewy and thick, finishing smooth. The body is medium-plus, with medium carbonation.
Final Impressions: I enjoy the berry tartness coupled with barrel aging. The beer is not overly sweet and has a lovely mouthfeel. I have never had Mulberries, but the beer has a gooseberry/raspberry vibe, with a bit more tartness and tannins. Overall, this is a wonderful beer. I prefer Sir Issac over this one - Good Beer nonetheless.
Jan 28, 2026Name: Bourbon County Brand Backyard Stout
Brewery: Goose Island Brewing Co
Location: Chicago, IL
Style: Barrel-Aged Stout
ABV: 12.9%
Canned: 2023
Date: 27 January 2026
I took a slight pause on the last beer in the Vertical. I decided to do a BCSt month. I am using a tulip glass and serving the beer at 54 degrees. The pour created a creamy, one-fingered, dark brown head with fair retention. The somewhat quick dissipation left no lacing on the glass. The color is inky black with a reddish-brown hue, and the clarity is opaque. The beer's appearance is average for this style.
Nosing the glass, I smell anise, caramel, toffee, dark chocolate, medium-roasted coffee, figs, berries, vanilla, graham crackers, bourbon, oak, char, raisins, and molasses. Smelling the glass again, I notice earthy dirt, tobacco, bready, dark toasted bread crust, and malty sweetness. The aromas are robust, with a fruity, sweet note.
The flavors start with bourbon, dark chocolate, figs, berry tartness, caramel, toffee, vanilla, oak, char, medium-roasted coffee, graham crackers, cloves, raisins, tobacco, and earthiness. Sipping the glass, I taste oak, anise, raisins, Maillard, malty sweetness, treacle, and fruity sweetness.
The mouthfeel is chewy and thick, finishing smooth. The body is medium-plus, with medium carbonation.
Final Impressions: I enjoy the berry tartness coupled with barrel aging. The beer is not overly sweet and has a lovely mouthfeel. I have never had Mulberries, but the beer has a gooseberry/raspberry vibe, with a bit more tartness and tannins. Overall, this is a wonderful beer. I prefer Sir Issac over this one - Good Beer nonetheless.
Reviewed by Tony210 from New Jersey
4.25/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours the typical BCBS dark with a creamy head. Has the standard chocolate aromas mingled with a strong berry aroma. Flavor is dark chocolate candy filled with strawberry crème. Oily texture. Overall a very tasty variant. Not overly sweet, good flavors.
1/1/26
500 ml bottle, 2023 vintage
4.25 rating
Jan 01, 20261/1/26
500 ml bottle, 2023 vintage
4.25 rating
Reviewed by HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey
4.37/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.37/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Very light carbonation with an above average body. Has a slick,oily creamy feel
Aroma is wood,alchohol, malt,chocolate and blackberry brandy
Taste is somewhat sweet,malt,wood, earthy, with blackberry jam/brandy. As it warms the blackberry stands out more
Nov 28, 2025Aroma is wood,alchohol, malt,chocolate and blackberry brandy
Taste is somewhat sweet,malt,wood, earthy, with blackberry jam/brandy. As it warms the blackberry stands out more
Reviewed by jvgoor3786 from Arkansas
4.75/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.75/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Pours a dark brown with no head and no lacing.
The smell is chocolate, bourbon, and something a bit sweet underneath.
The taste is loaded with chocolate and fruit, with a slightly tart and very sweet finish. The balance of fruit and chocolate/bourbon is outstanding.
The mouthfeel is thick with a decent amount of carbonation that doesn't overpower.
Overall, this is outstanding and goes beyond my expectations.
Oct 11, 2025The smell is chocolate, bourbon, and something a bit sweet underneath.
The taste is loaded with chocolate and fruit, with a slightly tart and very sweet finish. The balance of fruit and chocolate/bourbon is outstanding.
The mouthfeel is thick with a decent amount of carbonation that doesn't overpower.
Overall, this is outstanding and goes beyond my expectations.
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