Bourbon County Brand Macaroon Stout (2024)
Goose Island Beer Co.

16.9 ounce bottle, 2024 vintage, drink by date of 05SEP29 stamped on the label. Served in a snifter, the beer pours dark brown/black with about a half inch tan cola-like head that fizzled away quickly. Not much lacing at all. I like the aroma a lot, the brew smells like coconut, ginger, vanilla, roasted malt, dark chocolate, caramel and some bourbon. For the most part I think the taste is similar to the aroma, but with the addition of some oak, burnt/charred malt, dark bread, and a bit of dark fruity flavors noticeable too. None of the flavors overpower the others, although I think the coconut and ginger stand out somewhat. Good for me that I like coconut and ginger! Mouthfeel/body is full, it's coating, smooth and rich with a moderate amount of carbonation. I liked this one a lot, will have to buy a few more bottles of this. It might be my favorite brew I've had this year!

 

 

Drank from a 1 pint .9 fl. oz. bottle purchased at Connecticut Beverage Mart, Newington, CT
2024
Best by: 15AUG29
Served in a snifter

The beer paired an oily and slick looking, near pitch black hue. A thin, finely beaded, khaki colored cap of froth topped the liquid, but it quickly broke into a clingy, lasting collar. Some spotty, streaky lacing trickled down the sides of the glass.

The aroma was somewhat disappointing at first. There was a distinct roastiness and a fairly prominent metallic quality. Touch of dark chocolate too. As the coffee sat, the metallic quality subsided and big, sweet, toasted coconut notes emerged. There was a fragrant, candied ginger quality as well. Smooth, boozy bourbon notes and caramel malts were also noticeable. Hint of vanilla. As the beer warmed, both the bourbon and the chocolate notes intensified.

The flavor profile was similar to the nose and transformed in a nearly identical manner. It too was somewhat roasty and harsh initially with a noticeable metallic quality. As the beer sat, the metallic notes dissipated and a rich, robust maltiness appeared up front. Nice melding of roasted and caramel malt notes. Candied ginger came through as the beer moved along the palate. Toasted coconut appeared in the center, along with some fresh vanilla bean. Smooth, boozy bourbon notes were noticeable here as well. Dark chocolate and more ginger appeared on the back end and carried into the boozy, slightly bitter finish. Later, the bitterness mellowed.

The mouthfeel was oily and slick. Medium-full bodied for the style. The liquid contained a finely beaded, fairly aggressive effervescence that fluffed up nicely on the palate.

Most Bourbon County Brand Stouts fail to get me as excited as they once did, but this macaroon-infused variant was quite enjoyable and improved considerably as the beer warmed.

Review: 2565
Name: Bourbon County Stout Macaroons
Brewery: Goose Island
Location: Chicago, IL
Style: Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
ABV: 14.6%
Canned: 2024
Date: 02 March 2026
I decided to open up a Bourbon County stout. I am serving it at 56 degrees in a tulip glass; the pour formed a foamy, one-fingered dark tan head with fair retention. The beer's color is jet black, with dark mahogany-red-brown hues, opaque, and charts at SRM 38. The somewhat quick dissipation left no lacing on the glass, and the liquid showed no visible head. The beer's overall appearance is average for this style, considering the high abv.
Prying the cap off, huge aromas of bourbon, nuts, and coconut. Swirling the glass, I took a few sniffs. I smell anise, toffee, caramel, char, alcohol, dark chocolate, medium-roasted coffee, vanilla, and earthiness. Nosing the glass again, I notice leather, molasses, light tobacco, dark roasted malts, bready, and raisins.
The first sip: crammed, packed barrel aging and coconuts. The barrel flavors are bourbon, oak, char, and a light nuttiness. Next sip: dark fruits, cherries, dark chocolate, medium-roasted coffee, molasses, caramel, and leather. After a few nips, I notice vanilla, raisins, ginger, light smokiness, dark-roasted malts, bread, and earthiness.
The mouthfeel is chewy and thick, with a smooth, warm finish from the ABV. The low carbonation complements the barrel aging, enticing you to keep sipping.
Final Impression: Thus far, I have consumed quite a few variants from Goose Island; this particular one is in the middle of the pack. While the beer has a high coconut content and a ginger bite, it wasn't a favorite of mine. I am glad that the ginger was limited to small doses, because that would have made this beer undrinkable. Overall, a decent variant with lots of barrel flavors and balanced adjuncts.

L - pours a purply brown. Thick and impenetrably opaque. Thin ring of hot cocoa head; quickly dissipates. Swirling the glass leaves legs for days.

S - sweet bourbon and caramel erupts into coconut candy. Earthy and meaty. Like burying my nose in a fresh coconut.

T - coconut blondies, flakes and all. Milk chocolate and caramel syrup drizzled atop bourbon-soaked dark fruits and almonds. Excellent balance. Finishes sweet, but dry, begging another dangerous sip.

F - silky smooth, but with a bit of pep in its step. Pairs well with the dessert feel.

O - the coconut is tastefully balanced here. Does not overwhelm, and instead complements the rich, chocolatey bourbon character. It's not my favorite variant, but I can appreciate how well done it is.

1 PINT .9 FL. OZ. bottle
Served in a snifter
2024

This beer pours black and has a scant, mocha head that disappears quickly.

I get notes of dark chocolate, anise, oak, and I get some booze as it approaches room temperature.

Chocolate and vanilla right off the bat. I get some caramel and oak. The alcohol is well hidden in the flavor.

Medium bodied with a dry mouthfeel

It seems drier than other variants I recall having. It is good but not as transcendent as the first time I tried the original.

Poured into two snifters from a 1 pint 0.9-oz bottle well within its date range, gifted me by my Minnesotan son-in-law.

Look: Opaque black, with virtually no head or lacing of any kind.

Nose: Immediate bourbon, cooked sugar and cooked brown sugar.

Taste: The attack follows the nose very closely and adds a little coconut. The bourbon lingers throughout the taste, as does the sweetness through most of it. A little bitterness from the dark roast comes through in the finish to slightly balance the sweetness.

Mouthfeel. Thick, coating the tongue, and sufficient carbonation.

Overall: This is a very good dessert-style beer; in fact, it's probably enough for dessert just by itself. While I like the original BCBS better, this is an enjoyable variation.

I'm not normally a coconut fan, but I had never seen it on tap and figured this opportunity would unlikely happen again. As soon as I breathed in the aroma, I was glad I gave it a try.

Full in mouthfeel and rich in flavor, this stout I happily sipped over ninety minutes. The barrel was present but not too hot. Perfect power to complement the deep malty goodness with cocoa and coconut flavors.

Super enjoyable stout.

 

 

Nice full bodied stout. I enjoyed this in a snifter glass after another year of bottle conditioning in my wine fridge at approximately 44°F.

On the nose, I enjoy the coconut and definitely get that this is going to punch well above other similar barrel condition stouts based on the alcohol content alone. Through the first sip, I am greeted with a light acidity that fades relatively quickly. I get a lot of chocolate pudding, caramel nougat, and baking spice throughout the body. I definitely feel the barrel aging process working its magic during the middle of this pour, bringing out a bourbon character in the background of the body. Stepping into the finish the acidity slightly returns, but is whisked away by a ginger snap cookie flavoring that is nice and lingers long after the beer is gone.

Overall, I really like this beer as it fits well within my ideal flavor, profile of coconut and caramel, but is not overly interesting by any means. I’d prefer a bit less acidity throughout this glass.

16.9oz bottle. Label has "Chicago Made 2024'.
Black colored body, with a mahogany brown back lit edge. Brief lasting fizzy brown colored head, and this quickly becomes a mild surface storm and and interrupted ring. No lacing.
Aroma of bourbon barrel, oak, chocolate, some coconut, and a bit of ginger.
Taste is stout, indeed. somewhat sweet, with flavors of rich chocolate, bourbon barrel, oak, and a clear presence of coconut and a dash of ginger. Aftertaste stays sweet and bourbon soaked.
More than medium mouthfeel. Smooth texture. Low bitterness. Higher ABV% is sweetened for a balanced burn. Supportive carbonation.
Variant that delivers on the coconut and cacao additions, plus the bit of ginger spice.

 

 

Appearance - dark mahogany body with faint tan head

Smell - bourbon, dark chocolate, ginger

Taste - dark chocolate, almond, candied ginger, hint of coconut

Mouthfeel - full bodied, medium carbonation, dark chocolate and bourbon upfront, candied ginger on the back end

Overall - a good variant that was worth a try

Pruce Point - $16.99/ 16.9 oz bottle

Look: It pours very dark brown with a brown head. It has very low head retention.

Smell: It has strong roast, brownie and chocolate aromas up front with bourbon mixed in. There are also some strong dark cherry notes with noticeable alcohol and nuts. There are very low vanilla notes.

Taste: It has strong chocolate and roasted flavors. The macaroon flavors are well defined with bourbon and some vanilla. There is a touch of coconut and the alcohol is strong and very noticeable. There are some light dark cherry and brownie touches well in the background.

Feel: It has a full body on the thick side with very strong, but pleasant alcohol warming.

Overall, there are plenty of complex flavors. This is a great warming beer.

Pours a viscous ebony color with very little head. Mild ginger aroma with raisins. Upfront sweetness some coconut, charcoal and vanilla flavors. Full mouthfeel. A little cloying. Overall, solid.