Cherry Rye Bourbon County Brand Stout | Goose Island Beer Co.
Brewed by:
Goose Island Beer Co.
Illinois, United States | website
Style: American Double / Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 13.70%
Availability: Limited (brewed once)
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by ChugginOil on 11-22-2012
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.
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Reviews: 200 | Ratings: 1,388
4.48/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a midnight black color with a small moch head. Aroma is big and boozy with sweetness and dark cherry. Flavor is really nice, it follows the nose and the dark cherry flavor compliments the sweetness of the beer. Has a soft smooth finish and overall this is delicious.
★ 272 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a midnight black color with a small moch head. Aroma is big and boozy with sweetness and dark cherry. Flavor is really nice, it follows the nose and the dark cherry flavor compliments the sweetness of the beer. Has a soft smooth finish and overall this is delicious.
★ 272 characters
5/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
DLD bottle share. WOW! What a perfect complimentary duo of cherry and bourbon. This works so well for me, variants seemed slightly thicker from the cherries and slight but not overpowering sweetness marries so well with bourbon and stout.
★ 238 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
DLD bottle share. WOW! What a perfect complimentary duo of cherry and bourbon. This works so well for me, variants seemed slightly thicker from the cherries and slight but not overpowering sweetness marries so well with bourbon and stout.
★ 238 characters
5/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I'm finally giving a 5 rating. This 2012 offering pours a thick black color and coats the snifter with a thin slickness, underscoring a richness and depth of what it will taste like. There is a slight reddish hue. Scents of bourbon, maraschino cherries, and chocolate notes hit the nose immediately.
Beer is splendidly complex. Rich cherry notes perfectly align with the bourbon flavors that GI consistently churns out in their BCBS line. The addition of rye notes gives a bite that plays off the warming burn in the finish just right. I really cannot find anything I don't like in this beer. The bottle was split 4 ways, and I could have had more.
I think the aging and the liquid itself worked out perfect, and thus the score. This is as good as it gets for me. I enjoy complexity in my imperial stouts. I have now seen the top of the mountain and all that left is to find another peak. Cheers!
★ 910 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I'm finally giving a 5 rating. This 2012 offering pours a thick black color and coats the snifter with a thin slickness, underscoring a richness and depth of what it will taste like. There is a slight reddish hue. Scents of bourbon, maraschino cherries, and chocolate notes hit the nose immediately.
Beer is splendidly complex. Rich cherry notes perfectly align with the bourbon flavors that GI consistently churns out in their BCBS line. The addition of rye notes gives a bite that plays off the warming burn in the finish just right. I really cannot find anything I don't like in this beer. The bottle was split 4 ways, and I could have had more.
I think the aging and the liquid itself worked out perfect, and thus the score. This is as good as it gets for me. I enjoy complexity in my imperial stouts. I have now seen the top of the mountain and all that left is to find another peak. Cheers!
★ 910 characters
4.58/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bottled 11/12/12 and poured into my BCS 2015 snifter. Been sitting on this one since I acquired it almost 2 years ago so today (for whatever reason) was the day! Slightly oxidized and the rye barrel influence has faded no doubt but still subtle presence. Michigan cherries still might tasty, though!
★ 302 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bottled 11/12/12 and poured into my BCS 2015 snifter. Been sitting on this one since I acquired it almost 2 years ago so today (for whatever reason) was the day! Slightly oxidized and the rye barrel influence has faded no doubt but still subtle presence. Michigan cherries still might tasty, though!
★ 302 characters
3.72/5 rDev -16.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Black colored pour, small head on it, super thin, almost no lace/retention to speak of. Aroma was booze and cough syrup heavy kind of cherry. Not good cherry.
Flavor drops lots of sugar on the tongue, still seems like the booziest of all bourbon counties. Oak is overwhelmed. Fragmented tartness, this comes off as way darker cherry than the tart ones though. Low smooth carbonation that is on point for what it is (but also continues to make me think cough syrup at times). My least favorite bourbon county beer.
★ 525 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Black colored pour, small head on it, super thin, almost no lace/retention to speak of. Aroma was booze and cough syrup heavy kind of cherry. Not good cherry.
Flavor drops lots of sugar on the tongue, still seems like the booziest of all bourbon counties. Oak is overwhelmed. Fragmented tartness, this comes off as way darker cherry than the tart ones though. Low smooth carbonation that is on point for what it is (but also continues to make me think cough syrup at times). My least favorite bourbon county beer.
★ 525 characters
4.29/5 rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
L - Pours dark as night. Has a red, brown hue to it. Once in the glass, it almost appears more similar to a barley wine. Little to no head. Small ring of bubbles cling the circumference of the glass.
S - Very little bourbon left on the nose after a few years in the bottle. Cherry, chocolate, roasted notes.
T - Unbelievable amount of cherry presence still. Chocolate covered cherry tartness. Some bourbon, but it has faded. Definite rye spice follows the chocolate covered cherries.
F - As smooth as any of the Bourbon County series. Low carb, soft on the tongue.
O - Overall, this was a nice offering. I would have liked to try it when it was fresh to compare, but happy I had the opportunity. Thanks to a cool BA for helping me out :)
★ 743 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
L - Pours dark as night. Has a red, brown hue to it. Once in the glass, it almost appears more similar to a barley wine. Little to no head. Small ring of bubbles cling the circumference of the glass.
S - Very little bourbon left on the nose after a few years in the bottle. Cherry, chocolate, roasted notes.
T - Unbelievable amount of cherry presence still. Chocolate covered cherry tartness. Some bourbon, but it has faded. Definite rye spice follows the chocolate covered cherries.
F - As smooth as any of the Bourbon County series. Low carb, soft on the tongue.
O - Overall, this was a nice offering. I would have liked to try it when it was fresh to compare, but happy I had the opportunity. Thanks to a cool BA for helping me out :)
★ 743 characters
4.44/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Had on tap at Goose Island Rare Day. Very interesting version of BCBS. The cherries cut right through the middle of the flavor profile with a rounded tartness and sweetness. Like a chocolate covered cherry. Still some bourbon notes and hints of rye spice. Very complex BCBS.
★ 279 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Had on tap at Goose Island Rare Day. Very interesting version of BCBS. The cherries cut right through the middle of the flavor profile with a rounded tartness and sweetness. Like a chocolate covered cherry. Still some bourbon notes and hints of rye spice. Very complex BCBS.
★ 279 characters
4.84/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Thanks to BoldRulerVT again for pulling this one out of his cellar after aging it for 3 years. Shared around a campfire on Halloween night. Poured into teku and tulip glasses.
Pours a thick, oily black with a reddish edge showing when lifted up to the light. Has a very slight tan head, that dissipates leaving almost nothing.
The smell is amazing - cherries right off the bat followed by whiskey and chocolate.
Taste is sweet whiskey-laden cherries buried in chocolate and brown sugar. Just a tinge sweet, but not cloying. Super tasty sipper.
Mouth feel is perfect for a huge, high-ABV stout. Full bodied, silky, chewy, with lingering booziness.
Overall, a fantastic beer and quite a treat, which apparently will never be enjoyed again.
★ 751 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Thanks to BoldRulerVT again for pulling this one out of his cellar after aging it for 3 years. Shared around a campfire on Halloween night. Poured into teku and tulip glasses.
Pours a thick, oily black with a reddish edge showing when lifted up to the light. Has a very slight tan head, that dissipates leaving almost nothing.
The smell is amazing - cherries right off the bat followed by whiskey and chocolate.
Taste is sweet whiskey-laden cherries buried in chocolate and brown sugar. Just a tinge sweet, but not cloying. Super tasty sipper.
Mouth feel is perfect for a huge, high-ABV stout. Full bodied, silky, chewy, with lingering booziness.
Overall, a fantastic beer and quite a treat, which apparently will never be enjoyed again.
★ 751 characters
4.88/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
This beer was enjoyed with family and friends outside around a campfire in Vermont on Halloween.
Poured from the 22oz bottle into a snifter.
Pours a thick jet black with barely any head. What head there is a deep caramel color.
Aromas are deep dark roasted malt, whiskey and zing of cherries.
Taste is huge and incredible. Chocolate, whiskey, cherries and deep roasted malts abound. Incredible cherry flavor without being cloying.
Mouthfeel is perfect as with all BCBS. Silky and thick. Just right.
Overall this bee is incredible. Perfectly crafted with complex, deep flavors.
Only thing that could have helped with rating would be more head and maybe a touch more intense aromas.
It's damn near a perfect beer.
★ 712 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
This beer was enjoyed with family and friends outside around a campfire in Vermont on Halloween.
Poured from the 22oz bottle into a snifter.
Pours a thick jet black with barely any head. What head there is a deep caramel color.
Aromas are deep dark roasted malt, whiskey and zing of cherries.
Taste is huge and incredible. Chocolate, whiskey, cherries and deep roasted malts abound. Incredible cherry flavor without being cloying.
Mouthfeel is perfect as with all BCBS. Silky and thick. Just right.
Overall this bee is incredible. Perfectly crafted with complex, deep flavors.
Only thing that could have helped with rating would be more head and maybe a touch more intense aromas.
It's damn near a perfect beer.
★ 712 characters
3.94/5 rDev -11.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Bottle shared by Curran the other night, thanks man.
This one pours a dark, oily looking black, with a very small head, and no lacing.
Smells like fudgy chocolate, sweet rye whiskey, a bit of sweet cherry, and some caramel.
The cherry is way more subtle than I would've expected, but I guess that's the age on this, 2012. There's the typical fudge, vanilla, and caramel that you expect from Bourbon County, with a lighter amount of rye whiskey also than I'd expect. Don't get me wrong, this tastes really nice, it was enjoyable, but it's not up to the usual standard that you expect from Bourbon County. Probably one of the lesser variants.
This is pretty thick bodied, a bit oily and syrupy, with a lower level of carbonation.
Definitely tasty, but a little bit disappointing.
★ 782 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Bottle shared by Curran the other night, thanks man.
This one pours a dark, oily looking black, with a very small head, and no lacing.
Smells like fudgy chocolate, sweet rye whiskey, a bit of sweet cherry, and some caramel.
The cherry is way more subtle than I would've expected, but I guess that's the age on this, 2012. There's the typical fudge, vanilla, and caramel that you expect from Bourbon County, with a lighter amount of rye whiskey also than I'd expect. Don't get me wrong, this tastes really nice, it was enjoyable, but it's not up to the usual standard that you expect from Bourbon County. Probably one of the lesser variants.
This is pretty thick bodied, a bit oily and syrupy, with a lower level of carbonation.
Definitely tasty, but a little bit disappointing.
★ 782 characters
4.34/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Looks black with red tinge. Smells of cherries and rye. Rye spiciness up front with some cherry on the backend. Feel is of big spiciness mellowed by chocolate and cherry. Overall needs more cherry to balance out.
★ 212 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Looks black with red tinge. Smells of cherries and rye. Rye spiciness up front with some cherry on the backend. Feel is of big spiciness mellowed by chocolate and cherry. Overall needs more cherry to balance out.
★ 212 characters
4.99/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This is the best beer that I have ever had. Everything about it is spot on. It's still got the bourbon taste but the cherry flavor adds just the right amount of sweetness. If you ever see this bottle available for trade do it.
★ 229 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This is the best beer that I have ever had. Everything about it is spot on. It's still got the bourbon taste but the cherry flavor adds just the right amount of sweetness. If you ever see this bottle available for trade do it.
★ 229 characters
4.79/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Tastes like a delicious cherry chocolate boozy cake, this beer is fantastic and I would of definitely snagged a bunch of these when it came out. This aged amazing too
★ 166 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Tastes like a delicious cherry chocolate boozy cake, this beer is fantastic and I would of definitely snagged a bunch of these when it came out. This aged amazing too
★ 166 characters
4.52/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Great beer, but the cherry isn't that outspoken as I would've expected. There is a slight hint of it in the beer, but I would have liked it to be more present. Nevertheless is this still an awesome beer.
★ 203 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Great beer, but the cherry isn't that outspoken as I would've expected. There is a slight hint of it in the beer, but I would have liked it to be more present. Nevertheless is this still an awesome beer.
★ 203 characters
4.07/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
Great stout that was made not so great with the infusion of some off-brand cherry cough syrup. I was given fair warning, but I could not resist my compulsion to try every BCBS variant. Not worth the cost of admission, worst variant to date. Still scored above a 4 because the rating system is silly, if I was to give it a raw, 1 number score it would be 3.75ish.
★ 362 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
Great stout that was made not so great with the infusion of some off-brand cherry cough syrup. I was given fair warning, but I could not resist my compulsion to try every BCBS variant. Not worth the cost of admission, worst variant to date. Still scored above a 4 because the rating system is silly, if I was to give it a raw, 1 number score it would be 3.75ish.
★ 362 characters
4.33/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bomber poured into a matching BCBS snifter. The brew appears black in color with a dark brown head that is quick to fade.
The nose is filled with cherry and chocolate. Subtle whiskey accent along with vanilla and caramel. A strong cherry character is present smelling natural and pitted, bordering on over-ripe juiciness.
The taste includes a lot of over-ripe pitted cherries. Somewhat earthen with chocolate, roast, vanilla and caramel. It gets boozy and nearly medicinal as it warms up.
This is medium to full bodied with modest carbonation. A surprising amount of tart cherry quality that is mildly medicinal at times but well blended and enjoyable. Would not mind having this again but doubt id be willing to give up what it would take.
★ 743 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bomber poured into a matching BCBS snifter. The brew appears black in color with a dark brown head that is quick to fade.
The nose is filled with cherry and chocolate. Subtle whiskey accent along with vanilla and caramel. A strong cherry character is present smelling natural and pitted, bordering on over-ripe juiciness.
The taste includes a lot of over-ripe pitted cherries. Somewhat earthen with chocolate, roast, vanilla and caramel. It gets boozy and nearly medicinal as it warms up.
This is medium to full bodied with modest carbonation. A surprising amount of tart cherry quality that is mildly medicinal at times but well blended and enjoyable. Would not mind having this again but doubt id be willing to give up what it would take.
★ 743 characters
4.5/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: pours a dark walnut color. some reddish hues and brightness around the edges. small tan head forms but has a weak retention. dark and opaque.
Smell: cherry pie, whisky, chocolate and brown sugar.
Taste: opens with cherry and strong booze. chocolate and brown sugar round out the opening flavor. dark fruits come in along with a strong whisky. Booziness comes out throughout the taste
Mouthfeel: alcohol burn. thick and viscous. quite a bit of sweetness.
Overall: out of the bourbon county tasting night (all bottles from 08-14) the year one off is always the highlight. the berry ryes are all killer and this in no exception. the berries all hold up much better than the other flavored ones.
★ 710 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: pours a dark walnut color. some reddish hues and brightness around the edges. small tan head forms but has a weak retention. dark and opaque.
Smell: cherry pie, whisky, chocolate and brown sugar.
Taste: opens with cherry and strong booze. chocolate and brown sugar round out the opening flavor. dark fruits come in along with a strong whisky. Booziness comes out throughout the taste
Mouthfeel: alcohol burn. thick and viscous. quite a bit of sweetness.
Overall: out of the bourbon county tasting night (all bottles from 08-14) the year one off is always the highlight. the berry ryes are all killer and this in no exception. the berries all hold up much better than the other flavored ones.
★ 710 characters
4.83/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Had on tap at the Hopleaf.
Look is black as night, but also transparent and red when looked at on certain angles.
Smell filled with strong black cherry and chocolate notes.
The taste of this thing is fantastic. Chocolate covered cherries with no boozy burn. Extremely drinkable for a 13% beer.
Feel is very smooth. Not complaints on that end.
All in all, it lived up to the hype and then some. Glad I finally go to check this off my list of wants. Would obviously drink again if it somehow fell in to my lap.
★ 515 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Had on tap at the Hopleaf.
Look is black as night, but also transparent and red when looked at on certain angles.
Smell filled with strong black cherry and chocolate notes.
The taste of this thing is fantastic. Chocolate covered cherries with no boozy burn. Extremely drinkable for a 13% beer.
Feel is very smooth. Not complaints on that end.
All in all, it lived up to the hype and then some. Glad I finally go to check this off my list of wants. Would obviously drink again if it somehow fell in to my lap.
★ 515 characters
4.4/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Phenomenal beer! But side by side with CCB's life is like, this is just a good beer. More cherry, and equal to less mouthfeel. I wish I was able to try it fresh. Before ABInBev....
★ 181 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Phenomenal beer! But side by side with CCB's life is like, this is just a good beer. More cherry, and equal to less mouthfeel. I wish I was able to try it fresh. Before ABInBev....
★ 181 characters
5/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Perfect across the board, just like every Bourbon County stout I've had the pleasure of trying. This one was aged for a little over two years, only adding to the excellence.
★ 173 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Perfect across the board, just like every Bourbon County stout I've had the pleasure of trying. This one was aged for a little over two years, only adding to the excellence.
★ 173 characters
4.39/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Bottle from Greg, thank you very much!
Pours a viscous black color, which turns mahogany at the edge of the glass. In an unusual manner for Bourbon County, this variant produces actually a small, dark brown head immediately after pouring.
Has Amarena like cherry aromas, which blend well into the Bourbon qualities, with vanilla, oak, more molasses than cocoa nibs and calming, earthy, toasted malts. I am not yet entirely sure, if the sherries push it a little to far, or if it just adds character to the beer. It certainly confirms the sweet, desert like character of the beer, while at the same time it distracts from the fantastic chocolate and malt qualities of the regular Bourbon County. It certainly goes well with the intriguing rye barrel, while reminding me of a fruit liqueur, which got a decent amount of heat to it, among wooden vanilla notes.
First of all, the mouthfeel of this is incredibly smooth, while it ends a bit hotter than expected. The beer leaves the palate with a warming alcohol glow on its way down to the belly.
The cherries are noteable from the very beginning, they form an elementary part of the foundation of the brew, instead of acting as a gimmick. They do come along with a ripe, slightly fermented, sticky Amarena sweetness, blending a little bumpy into the chocolate qualities of the beer, as the cherries seem to be a bit too present on the tongue, due to their slightly tart fruit sugar sweetness, which is a bit too much to handle for the malts. The barrel though comes out very well, while its appearance changes into a liqueur, sweeter direction, with vanilla and a gentle amount of wood to it. Bakers chocolate, as well as scorched, earthy malts no longer act actively on their own, but do play the counterpart to the cherries, and are bound to balance the brew. During the finish, due to the enhancing barrel character, the cherries reach their peak. An almost sour, burning hot, fermented fruitiness sets itself above all other flavors, while earthy malts tend to shine still through. This leads to a long, fruity Amarena finish, ending with slightly delayed, earthy cherry-stone hints among creamy bakers chocolate.
★ 2,168 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Bottle from Greg, thank you very much!
Pours a viscous black color, which turns mahogany at the edge of the glass. In an unusual manner for Bourbon County, this variant produces actually a small, dark brown head immediately after pouring.
Has Amarena like cherry aromas, which blend well into the Bourbon qualities, with vanilla, oak, more molasses than cocoa nibs and calming, earthy, toasted malts. I am not yet entirely sure, if the sherries push it a little to far, or if it just adds character to the beer. It certainly confirms the sweet, desert like character of the beer, while at the same time it distracts from the fantastic chocolate and malt qualities of the regular Bourbon County. It certainly goes well with the intriguing rye barrel, while reminding me of a fruit liqueur, which got a decent amount of heat to it, among wooden vanilla notes.
First of all, the mouthfeel of this is incredibly smooth, while it ends a bit hotter than expected. The beer leaves the palate with a warming alcohol glow on its way down to the belly.
The cherries are noteable from the very beginning, they form an elementary part of the foundation of the brew, instead of acting as a gimmick. They do come along with a ripe, slightly fermented, sticky Amarena sweetness, blending a little bumpy into the chocolate qualities of the beer, as the cherries seem to be a bit too present on the tongue, due to their slightly tart fruit sugar sweetness, which is a bit too much to handle for the malts. The barrel though comes out very well, while its appearance changes into a liqueur, sweeter direction, with vanilla and a gentle amount of wood to it. Bakers chocolate, as well as scorched, earthy malts no longer act actively on their own, but do play the counterpart to the cherries, and are bound to balance the brew. During the finish, due to the enhancing barrel character, the cherries reach their peak. An almost sour, burning hot, fermented fruitiness sets itself above all other flavors, while earthy malts tend to shine still through. This leads to a long, fruity Amarena finish, ending with slightly delayed, earthy cherry-stone hints among creamy bakers chocolate.
★ 2,168 characters
4.77/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Poured from a bomber on 12/31/14
A&S: Pours with a very small (almost nonexistent) mocha head, as is pretty usual for these beers. Fresh cherry and rye dominate the nose, followed by some chocolate and a little vanilla.
T&M: Amazing! The cherry flavor has held up very well two years in and is still quite strong. The cherry has a very natural flavor and wasn't artificial-tasting at all. It added significant sweetness to the beer and just a little tartness. The malt taste and rye spice balance perfectly with the sweet/tart cherry flavors to mask the high ABV, but there is a small amount of alcohol taste. And of course the usual BCBS flavors are there as well. Has a lot of complexity.
O: Unbelievably good, but definitely a cherry bomb. I could easily see where someone might prefer less cherry sweetness and a little more of the regular BCBS character, but I absolutely loved it. If you like the idea of this being on the sweet side and pretty cherry-forward, pull the trigger on that trade you've been putting off while you still can.
★ 1,070 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Poured from a bomber on 12/31/14
A&S: Pours with a very small (almost nonexistent) mocha head, as is pretty usual for these beers. Fresh cherry and rye dominate the nose, followed by some chocolate and a little vanilla.
T&M: Amazing! The cherry flavor has held up very well two years in and is still quite strong. The cherry has a very natural flavor and wasn't artificial-tasting at all. It added significant sweetness to the beer and just a little tartness. The malt taste and rye spice balance perfectly with the sweet/tart cherry flavors to mask the high ABV, but there is a small amount of alcohol taste. And of course the usual BCBS flavors are there as well. Has a lot of complexity.
O: Unbelievably good, but definitely a cherry bomb. I could easily see where someone might prefer less cherry sweetness and a little more of the regular BCBS character, but I absolutely loved it. If you like the idea of this being on the sweet side and pretty cherry-forward, pull the trigger on that trade you've been putting off while you still can.
★ 1,070 characters
3.98/5 rDev -11%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Well, it (mostly) accomplishes what it sets out to do -- cherry-laced BCS. I say mostly because I'm not sure I caught a ton of rye barrel influence. It might've been there, but it's hard to distinguish confirmation bias with actual rye barrel presence. Whatever the case, I just thought the cherry a little too forward/dominant, not to mention a little too tart (a note I don't tend to like in stouts). Mouthfeel was slick, if a bit scuffed up from the acidity of the cherries/tartness. Take it all with a grain of salt -- rare do I enjoy a fruited stout. So it was with this bad boy. Cool to try, though.
★ 605 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Well, it (mostly) accomplishes what it sets out to do -- cherry-laced BCS. I say mostly because I'm not sure I caught a ton of rye barrel influence. It might've been there, but it's hard to distinguish confirmation bias with actual rye barrel presence. Whatever the case, I just thought the cherry a little too forward/dominant, not to mention a little too tart (a note I don't tend to like in stouts). Mouthfeel was slick, if a bit scuffed up from the acidity of the cherries/tartness. Take it all with a grain of salt -- rare do I enjoy a fruited stout. So it was with this bad boy. Cool to try, though.
★ 605 characters
5/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Wow!! This is good! 8 oz draft pour into sniffer.
First in the nose is cherries, then some dark chocolate with vanilla, bourbon, & oak rounding it out. Almost no lacing but did coat glass. Appearance was dark, almost allowed no light to pass. Taste; Mmm! A little bitterness from chocolate mixed well with tart and sweetness of cherries. Oak and vanilla from bourbon with slight warming from bourbon also.
★ 406 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Wow!! This is good! 8 oz draft pour into sniffer.
First in the nose is cherries, then some dark chocolate with vanilla, bourbon, & oak rounding it out. Almost no lacing but did coat glass. Appearance was dark, almost allowed no light to pass. Taste; Mmm! A little bitterness from chocolate mixed well with tart and sweetness of cherries. Oak and vanilla from bourbon with slight warming from bourbon also.
★ 406 characters
Cherry Rye Bourbon County Brand Stout from Goose Island Beer Co.
4.47
out of 5
based on 1,388 ratings.
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This is probably the next best thing to prop 14. Pours typical bc motor oil. Smells like a cherry fudge with spirit and a nice spice character. The taste is a cherry cordial soaked in whiskey and coffee. Delicious.
★ 214 characters