Goose Island Bourbon County - 2024 (Chicagoland)

With that much BCS, it may be a bit less like a confessional and a bit more like roleplay.

 

We'll be at session 1.. anyone else?

 

So is rare day just a new name for prop day this year?

 

Prop day... Rare day... call it whatever you want. I still find myself calling it Prop day

 

Close. I believe the 1st one in 2015 was Rare Day and then they changed to Prop because Rare wasn’t a yearly occurrence so it’s Prop Day unless they have a new Rare to release.

 

AM session here. I didn't go last year, but the times I've gone in the past, we were allowed to bring backpacks in. Assume that was still allowed last year?

Also, anyone seen any details regarding the vendor collab stuff? Wondering what the Co-op hot sauce is this year.

 

They are selling the sets at both locations for $213.68 w/ tax and fees before any tip. You don't need an Oznr log in to complete.

Warning: if you select the Fulton Taproom for pickup, if you don't pick up on 11/29, you forfeit without refund. You have between 11/29-12/15 if you place the order at Salt Shed before losing without refund.

https://shop.oznr.com/merchants/gooseislandpub/ml/gooseislandpub/item/3249005

https://shop.oznr.com/merchants/gooseislandfulton/ml/gooseislandfulton/item/3246907

I received my brother's tasting notes for the five, and I'm passing because they seem too sweet for my preferences. Really wish rye was clean, no vanilla. Hated 2018. He didn't like it either compared to the other four.

Ranked in order of his preference. He wasn't offered the rare until the second tasting, didn't get notes for that one.

1. Cask Finish: Zebra Barrel, infrared caramel barrel Bardstown. Similar aroma with fruity cherry notes. Nice balance, lean sweet. 16%, outstanding. Slight alcohol burn at end, not overpowering for 16%.
2. Regular: Lots of molasses on the nose. Ebony. Nice smooth sweetness. Char barrel, chocolate, Madagascar Vanilla. Dry finish, high level.
3. Macaroon: Fresh coconut on the nose, nice sweetness up front. Cinnamon, chocolate, spice. Ginger spiciness at the end. Finish is a nice meld of all flavors.
4. Proprietor: Barleywine - First non stout Prop. Sweet dried fruit on nose, supposed to be sweet Mexican candy. Tamarind, not a typical barleywine. Candied fruit, brown sugar. Dr finish, has some warming/mixed alcohol burn. 14.7%. Different, like the heat at the end.
5. Vanilla Rye: Vanilla marshmallow on the nose. Muted sweetness up front. Vanilla prominent but some marshmallow tones in a good way. Sweetness through the finish. Rye is prominent throughout. Different, but good.

 

A friend of mine who's tasted them all said "Regular" is her favorite, BY FAR. I trust her palate. I'm looking forward to grabbing a bottle.

 

For Rare Day, it says bags are allowed, just checked, but do I need a bag for the bottles?
Or do they provide one for pickup?

 

The bottles should come in a fancy box with a handle

 

...and it starts with Original.

50°, dry, and gray. Perfect match.

 

Rare 24 is pretty good,I get fusel alcohol on the nose and some booze on the pallet it will probably be better with some age on it IMO. Vanilla Rye is Vanilla Marshmallow on the nose and not getting much Rye on the pallet, it will do but not the OG.The confessional is pretty much the same as the mystery pour and both lines are insane already.

 

Just got a pour if 2012 Cherry Rye from. Scuba Steve well past it's prime but can tick it at least.

 

I'm sorry we missed you.

 

Session 2 mystery was coffee around 4pm. Wonder if it changes. Mystery pours were free as well as Honkers inside the taproom. Prop bar had ‘21-‘24 on draft.

 

The coffee was crazy fresh tasting. It was weird for how old a coffee variant should be at this point.

 

Every time I open a 2012-2014 coffee, it tastes fresh. I’ll die on this hill. It’s still better - NOW - than any fresh BA coffee stout from any brewery that I have tried. Just a few weeks back I got a text from another BA that essentially said the same thing. It’s amazing and delicious.

 

Maybe it was 2022?

 

AM session reporting back in here. Had a pretty good time yesterday. Got around to everything no problem. As I suspected, based on past experiences, certain vendor lines and other attractions were long as the morning developed. Best to hit those things first if so desired. Bardstown Bourbon Co (actual Bourbon not the beer), confessional, and mystery pour were pretty long all day and we mostly avoided. We hit Scuba Steve at one point and got 2012 Cherry Rye. Way past it's prime. Like cherries tossed with nickels. The Mystery pour we got was the Easter Basket chocolate Prop. It was still very choclately. Buzzed Aldrin was handling out 2019 Rye at one point. It was pretty meh for me at that point in the day. Shortly after he was pouring 2018 Vanilla. The subsequent Cuvee of vanilla and chocolate was pretty good.

Of the new line, I really enjoyed Rare and VR. I thought VR was pretty great. Original seemed a little roastier/smokey than usual but was pretty good. Macaroon was better than I expected, but also had near the end of our session, so hard to give real feedback there. I did not love Prop. The biggest disappointment of the day for me was the Bardstown Cask Finish. I had high hopes for it because I particularly love their rye whiskey, and rye things in general. We were all pretty underwhelmed. I'm hopeful that a second go with a cleaner palate will yield a different experience because I'll probably grab one on BF. Lines for the 2024 line up were pretty much non-existent, which was great. Rocks glass looks pretty cool.

I'm excited for the Co-op hot sauce which is made with Prop 24 this year. Seems a perfect match. All in all, super fun day and glad I went through the money effort to get there again.

EDIT: free Honkers pours are always a nice touch and was tasting good yesterday too.

 

This thread needs more opinions/rankings of the lineup. Let's hear em folks!