When was Goose Island Bourbon County Stout first bottled

Agreed. I did an '05-'12 vertical last year, and you're right, the '05 and '06 were pretty bad. I remember soy sauce-esque flavors. '07 was pretty right on. '08 was a little underwhelming. The '09 and '11 were killer!

 

You guys don't mess around.

 

ISO: your vert; FT: my car

 

Bourbon County, along with every other GI product, used to be bottled with a twist-off. I think 2007 or 2008 was the year BCBS changed to a pry-off cap. He's definitely not the only person to note problems with pre-2008 BCBS.

Though I've long wished for a return to the old labels for their Belgian beers, I actually like the new BCBS label. The old one was good but the lack of cursive was a bad choice, plus the current label seems befitting of a beer aged in whiskey barrels. The post-2008 labels for Matilda and Pere Jacques are terrible, however. I still have an empty 2008 Matilda around for the memories. The four-pack packaging was even better:



Also, I've never stopped kicking myself for not getting one of the old Matilda glasses when I had the chance:

 

I opened a 2008 over the holidays this year with some friends, and it was a twist off. We also opened an '09, '10, and '11, and you could notice some hints of oxidation in the '08.

 

I just hosted a '05-'13 + all variants tasting two weekends ago. Unlike others, the '05 and '06 were just fine - no hint of spoilage or oxidation. That said, they weren't anyone's favorite, but by no means undrinkable. Tasty, but past their prime compared to the other vintages.

And as others noted, '03 and '04 are ghost bottles, '05 is the first that was distributed. It looks just like the '06-'08 except there's no year printed around the neck.

 

I remember trying some at the GI brewpub - from a bottle - had to be in the '03-'04 timeframe.

 

Holy old thread revival batman. Just had to chime in. Cracked a 22oz bottle of 09 yesterday for #stoneADAMS engagement. Damn was it ever tasty. After that we opened a 2010 BA santas and it almost tasted watered down. Oops, wrong order. Either way, both were great, but that 09 was magnificent.

 

2008 is still holding up very nicely had one last October

 

Is there really 2004 bottles ?? Me and my buddies have 03 and then 5-15 and every variant now. Just looking for a 04 if it really exists. I see no check in on untappd and saw other peoples comments that there is no bottle of 04.

 

still have a few more left...of the 07-current, 08' will forever be the king

 

My tasting group did 06-15 earlier this year. I believe everything 09 and prior were screw caps and dead flat, still tasty though.

 

I have this glass. I bought it in 2008 at the old Clark St. location. Still drink out of it today

 

Sheffield's in Chicago has (had?) an ancient BCS prototype bottle in their cellar...white label with Bourbon County Stout written out from a typewriter (!).

I believe it was from 2003 if my beer-addled memory is correct.

 

I can. After a couple years bcbcs tastes like green pepper dipped in chocolate.