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Bourbon County Brand Bramble Rye Stout
Goose Island Beer Co.
- From:
- Goose Island Beer Co.
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 12.7%
- Score:
- 96
- Avg:
- 4.35 | pDev: 10.8%
- Reviews:
- 257
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Mar 10, 2024
- Added:
- Feb 03, 2012
- Wants:
- 816
- Gots:
- 371
Imperial Stout aged in Heaven Hill rye whiskey barrels with raspberries & blackberries.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by WankelEngine:
Reviewed by WankelEngine from Illinois
4.3/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.3/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Written from notes taken 3/08/12
Poured from a 22oz bottle into a snifter
A: Black and oily. Bourbon county all the way.
S: Smells fairly fruity, dark roasted notes, figs, blackberries.
T: Fruitier than I imagined. Juicy raspberries and fresh blackberries. Tangy even. Nonetheless, it is still dark and heavy with chocolate and mild coffee notes. Finish is more bitter with dark chocolate but it is fruit that lingers.
M: Similar to the regular and coffee bourbon county, but ever so slightly thinner and stickier.
O: Pretty damn good. A different take on BCBS. Fruit flavors tend to dominate. Raspberry is sweeter and tangier than I imagine possible in a brew this heavy and dark. The flavors don't meld together well like in the Coffee, but they are still complementary.
May 17, 2012Poured from a 22oz bottle into a snifter
A: Black and oily. Bourbon county all the way.
S: Smells fairly fruity, dark roasted notes, figs, blackberries.
T: Fruitier than I imagined. Juicy raspberries and fresh blackberries. Tangy even. Nonetheless, it is still dark and heavy with chocolate and mild coffee notes. Finish is more bitter with dark chocolate but it is fruit that lingers.
M: Similar to the regular and coffee bourbon county, but ever so slightly thinner and stickier.
O: Pretty damn good. A different take on BCBS. Fruit flavors tend to dominate. Raspberry is sweeter and tangier than I imagine possible in a brew this heavy and dark. The flavors don't meld together well like in the Coffee, but they are still complementary.
More User Ratings:
Rated by moysauce from Illinois
4.25/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A little too jammy/syrupy. Would love to have this one with a few years of age.
Mar 10, 2024Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
4/5 rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle at share. Black pour, small beige head. Aroma opens with a hit of bourbon before revealing some berries and chocolate. Taste is fruity berries, chocoalte, cherries, roasty malts, bourbon and rye.
Dec 06, 2023Rated by pathman from Ohio
5/5 rDev +14.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +14.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
03/23/23 bottle @ home
Mar 24, 2023Reviewed by Whyteboar from Michigan
3.93/5 rDev -9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev -9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Not sure if I waited too long to drink this or if I drank it too soon.
The pour was very nice, the cappuccino brown head accented the ruby tinted stout black and it all looked great in the glass.
The taste was good but perplexing- the berries added an almost sour aspect but the whiskey barrels added a sharp warmth that brought the flavor back to stout land.
The feel was very good, just viscous enough for sipping and focusing on the taste.
Glad to have been able to try this,? I think it sounds better than it tastes, but it still tastes pretty good.
Feb 18, 2023The pour was very nice, the cappuccino brown head accented the ruby tinted stout black and it all looked great in the glass.
The taste was good but perplexing- the berries added an almost sour aspect but the whiskey barrels added a sharp warmth that brought the flavor back to stout land.
The feel was very good, just viscous enough for sipping and focusing on the taste.
Glad to have been able to try this,? I think it sounds better than it tastes, but it still tastes pretty good.
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts
4.09/5 rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bottled 8/23/18
And we’ve arrived at the last vintage BCBS bottle I picked up while I was in Chicago. I’ve heard really mixed things on this one, but I’m a sucker for a fruited Stout if done right. I’m also wondering how well that fruit has held up for 4 years. Let’s pop it open and find out
Pours a very dark brown with a finger of dark tan head that fades to a thin ring and leaves minimal lacing
It’s still nicely jammy in the nose, but the base beer is shining through quite a bit too. I’m picking up on aromas of blackberry jam, sweet bourbon, chocolate fudge, cherry cordial, tart raspberry, light coffee, vanilla, and toasted oak
I can see it beginning to unravel a bit in taste, the fruit has a slight medicinal quality but it’s masked by other complexities. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting tart raspberry, milk chocolate, fruity coffee, vanilla, rye whiskey, and light cherry. The swallow brings notes of blackberry jam, fruity coffee, tart raspberry, milk chocolate, toasted oak, vanilla, raisin, rye whiskey, and molasses
A medium body pairs with gentle tingling carbonation, resulting in a smooth beer with a bit of a boozy bite. Finishes neutral and lightly tart
It’s certainly not my favorite variant but it’s definitely a fun try. Well, time to move on to this years variants now
Dec 04, 2022And we’ve arrived at the last vintage BCBS bottle I picked up while I was in Chicago. I’ve heard really mixed things on this one, but I’m a sucker for a fruited Stout if done right. I’m also wondering how well that fruit has held up for 4 years. Let’s pop it open and find out
Pours a very dark brown with a finger of dark tan head that fades to a thin ring and leaves minimal lacing
It’s still nicely jammy in the nose, but the base beer is shining through quite a bit too. I’m picking up on aromas of blackberry jam, sweet bourbon, chocolate fudge, cherry cordial, tart raspberry, light coffee, vanilla, and toasted oak
I can see it beginning to unravel a bit in taste, the fruit has a slight medicinal quality but it’s masked by other complexities. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting tart raspberry, milk chocolate, fruity coffee, vanilla, rye whiskey, and light cherry. The swallow brings notes of blackberry jam, fruity coffee, tart raspberry, milk chocolate, toasted oak, vanilla, raisin, rye whiskey, and molasses
A medium body pairs with gentle tingling carbonation, resulting in a smooth beer with a bit of a boozy bite. Finishes neutral and lightly tart
It’s certainly not my favorite variant but it’s definitely a fun try. Well, time to move on to this years variants now
Reviewed by Billolick from New York
4.55/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.55/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
2018 version....
Pours near black, next to know head, or lace.
Loaded up with dark chocolate, and yes a load of berries and berry jam on the sniff.
On the palate, its fudge brownies, over the top berry jam goodness. World class sipper/night capper/dessert brew.
Would be awesome with a slice of death by chocolate cake...mighty fine stuff.
Jul 28, 2022Pours near black, next to know head, or lace.
Loaded up with dark chocolate, and yes a load of berries and berry jam on the sniff.
On the palate, its fudge brownies, over the top berry jam goodness. World class sipper/night capper/dessert brew.
Would be awesome with a slice of death by chocolate cake...mighty fine stuff.
Reviewed by NiceTaps from New Jersey
4.74/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.74/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
16.9 ounce bottle in a snifter glass. Bottling date of August 24, 2018, drunk on December 24, 2021.
Black coffee in color with varying hues of red and brown likely due from changing light. The pour had a bit of brown cap and lacing.
The berries are front and center followed by deep dark chocolate, complex sweetness, and some mellowed alcohol.
The raspberry and blackberry mix makes for prominent flavor. Flavors of molasses, caramelized buttery brown sugar, dark chocolate, and underlying rye whiskey.
Incredible smooth and medium body. Some chocolate syrup and whiskey barrel wood. Built for sipping.
Another outstanding BCBS variation.
Dec 25, 2021Black coffee in color with varying hues of red and brown likely due from changing light. The pour had a bit of brown cap and lacing.
The berries are front and center followed by deep dark chocolate, complex sweetness, and some mellowed alcohol.
The raspberry and blackberry mix makes for prominent flavor. Flavors of molasses, caramelized buttery brown sugar, dark chocolate, and underlying rye whiskey.
Incredible smooth and medium body. Some chocolate syrup and whiskey barrel wood. Built for sipping.
Another outstanding BCBS variation.
Reviewed by Roy_Hobbs from Connecticut
4.05/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.05/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours with distinct reddish / purple hues....almost as if some red wine crashed the party. No discernible head. Aroma is decadent. Very sweet, with berries clearly present. I keep going back and forth as to whether I'm smelling blackberries or raspberries, but in the end I'm not sure I'm picking up either distinctly, but rather an amalgamation of the two. Some rich chocolate notes lurk beneath.
Taste is berries, immediately followed by the rye barrels. This beer has a long finish, and only deep into that finish do I pick up the core, base stout flavors. Sweet overall, borderline syrupy, but it stays just on the right side of that line. Full bodied but not quite as chewy as the ABV might otherwise imply.
Overall this is tasty and worth a try, especially if you like berries.
Nov 25, 2021Taste is berries, immediately followed by the rye barrels. This beer has a long finish, and only deep into that finish do I pick up the core, base stout flavors. Sweet overall, borderline syrupy, but it stays just on the right side of that line. Full bodied but not quite as chewy as the ABV might otherwise imply.
Overall this is tasty and worth a try, especially if you like berries.
Reviewed by jcoleMA66 from Massachusetts
4.59/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.59/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2018 vintage picked up at Fulton St. taproom in October 2021.
A: pours black with some dark brown on the edges with no head
S: sweet berries with whiskey undertones. No sign of typical BCBS chocolate.
T: start of sip tastes like raspberry jam straight out of the jar. Mid palette brings milk chocolate, molasses and fig flavors. Spicy rye finish.
F: medium syrupy thickness with slight oak tannin and rye sharpness.
O: a solid BCBS variant with gobs of flavor that I’m happy to get the chance to try.
Oct 17, 2021A: pours black with some dark brown on the edges with no head
S: sweet berries with whiskey undertones. No sign of typical BCBS chocolate.
T: start of sip tastes like raspberry jam straight out of the jar. Mid palette brings milk chocolate, molasses and fig flavors. Spicy rye finish.
F: medium syrupy thickness with slight oak tannin and rye sharpness.
O: a solid BCBS variant with gobs of flavor that I’m happy to get the chance to try.
Reviewed by Sound_Explorer from Washington
4.17/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2018 draft in March 2021
Surprisingly well balanced with the roast, fruit, and alcohol across the aroma and taste/body. Other than the slight burn after and the stumbling it is rather easy drinking as well. Not a big fan of fruit in a beer like this but it is done well.
Mar 14, 2021Surprisingly well balanced with the roast, fruit, and alcohol across the aroma and taste/body. Other than the slight burn after and the stumbling it is rather easy drinking as well. Not a big fan of fruit in a beer like this but it is done well.
Reviewed by SierraNevallagash from Maine
4.27/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
2018 Vintage - 500ml bottle - poured into a snifter at 50°F.
Pours a deep, dark black walnut hue, sitting stout black in the glass, with faint reddish-maroon edges. No head formation, and just a razor-thin tan collar. Basic.
Nose: The signature BCBS base is evident, but there's some big changes. The roasted malt is very unique, lending neither substantial chocolate nor char. Instead, a huge molasses note sets the tone. Molasses from the jar. Sweet, tangy, dark brown sugar, with some caramelised sugar, muscovado sugar, coconut sugar, toasted toffee, and a faint savoury note. Malty. The blackberry lends this wonderful berry tang, with notes of blackberry jam, blackberry seeds, candied figs, and sweet raisiny Pedro Ximenez sherry. The barrel is lending a lot of vanilla.
Palate: Bramble Rye greets the palate with a delicate malt sweetness tasting remarkably similar to Tootsie Rolls. Still avoiding classic chocolate, coffee, it really leans more into malty light roast, toffee, and vanilla. The berries are front and center - tart, jammy, and bright. Blackberries upfront, with juicy, tangy, even seedy elements, and then shifting into raspberry - less tangy, and pairing nicely with the roast, finally showing some dark chocolate. Not at all dissimilar to those chocolate cherry cordials, but with black and raspberries. Tangy berry juice persists, as the roast shifts into cacao nib territory, and the rye barrel begins to emerge. The sweetness fades, as some bolder roast pairs with charred oak, barrel spice, vanilla, and some whiskey, lending a ton of Bourbon County character, backed by these tangy, juicy berries. The berries flow into the finish, until finally, the roast and barrel take over, reducing them to vague dark fruit. The barrel lingers for ages, with some faint rye spice peeking through at the end.
Mouthfeel/Body: It's possible time may have affected this one - I'm never know. At first, there was a surprising fluffy softness and even some dense chewiness, but this thinned out dramatically fast. Still absolutely full-bodied - slick, soft, and heavy, but tending a bit more fluid than some other BC offerings (Vanilla!). Definitely some sticky lips. Effervescence is very low - not quite still, but not too far. Finishes with some nice drying oak tannins.
Overall: Having tried Mon Cheri and really not enjoying it, I worried this might be similar. Not at all. The pairing of stout plus blackberry and raspberry just works exactly like you'd think. It's a the barrel BCBS that you squeezed berry juice into it. A really unique and enjoyable variant. Drink now, as this will bit,improve with further cellaring.
Feb 25, 2021Pours a deep, dark black walnut hue, sitting stout black in the glass, with faint reddish-maroon edges. No head formation, and just a razor-thin tan collar. Basic.
Nose: The signature BCBS base is evident, but there's some big changes. The roasted malt is very unique, lending neither substantial chocolate nor char. Instead, a huge molasses note sets the tone. Molasses from the jar. Sweet, tangy, dark brown sugar, with some caramelised sugar, muscovado sugar, coconut sugar, toasted toffee, and a faint savoury note. Malty. The blackberry lends this wonderful berry tang, with notes of blackberry jam, blackberry seeds, candied figs, and sweet raisiny Pedro Ximenez sherry. The barrel is lending a lot of vanilla.
Palate: Bramble Rye greets the palate with a delicate malt sweetness tasting remarkably similar to Tootsie Rolls. Still avoiding classic chocolate, coffee, it really leans more into malty light roast, toffee, and vanilla. The berries are front and center - tart, jammy, and bright. Blackberries upfront, with juicy, tangy, even seedy elements, and then shifting into raspberry - less tangy, and pairing nicely with the roast, finally showing some dark chocolate. Not at all dissimilar to those chocolate cherry cordials, but with black and raspberries. Tangy berry juice persists, as the roast shifts into cacao nib territory, and the rye barrel begins to emerge. The sweetness fades, as some bolder roast pairs with charred oak, barrel spice, vanilla, and some whiskey, lending a ton of Bourbon County character, backed by these tangy, juicy berries. The berries flow into the finish, until finally, the roast and barrel take over, reducing them to vague dark fruit. The barrel lingers for ages, with some faint rye spice peeking through at the end.
Mouthfeel/Body: It's possible time may have affected this one - I'm never know. At first, there was a surprising fluffy softness and even some dense chewiness, but this thinned out dramatically fast. Still absolutely full-bodied - slick, soft, and heavy, but tending a bit more fluid than some other BC offerings (Vanilla!). Definitely some sticky lips. Effervescence is very low - not quite still, but not too far. Finishes with some nice drying oak tannins.
Overall: Having tried Mon Cheri and really not enjoying it, I worried this might be similar. Not at all. The pairing of stout plus blackberry and raspberry just works exactly like you'd think. It's a the barrel BCBS that you squeezed berry juice into it. A really unique and enjoyable variant. Drink now, as this will bit,improve with further cellaring.
Bourbon County Brand Bramble Rye Stout from Goose Island Beer Co.
Beer rating:
96 out of
100 with
1205 ratings
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