Thoughts on Goose Island's 2022 Bourbon County (BCBS) Lineup?

We we’re probably there at the same time. Were you there at opening?

 

feels dumb to quote myself, but I think the biscotti variant is pretty good, if not a little on the sweet side. I’m glad I got the one but also glad I stopped at one.

 

I’m thinking there’s some variation in these. Have heard both sides of reviews for Biscotti and Coffee, with the same pros and cons. For Biscotti it’s either an anise bomb, or it’s heavy on chocolate and delicious. With coffee it’s either the best of the bunch, or thin with not much coffee flavor

 

Got there exactly at 9:04 haha. Had a Fox Farm hoodie on

 

Forgive my ignorance, how do I know which barrel my 12 ounce bottles are?

 

Ah, just missed. Was there before open, walked in, picked up everything and left. No idea how much they had so I got there very early. Last year they only a case of each variant and I wanted to be sure to get the barleywine.

 

Should be on the bottle label where the drink by date and ABV are listed. Will say “HH” “WT”, etc. or “GI” if blended

 

my bottle was "drink by" 9/7/24, so I assume from the "consume within 2 years" on the label it was bottled 9/7.

It was pretty mediocre. not terrible, but the coffee made it overly bitter and harsh, and I think it'd be better without it. Also pretty thin, even by bcbs standards.

 

Many thanks, I have GI!

 

Interesting. So far I’ve seen 9/5 and 9/7 get “poor” ratings and a confirmed 9/6 get a good one. I have a 9/6 and a 9/8. Drinking the 9/6 in about an hour and will share my scientific findings

 

Shit, read your post and thought "damn, so I had a presumably good one at 9/6", then saw I wrote 9/7. Double checked the bottle and it's actually 9/6. I could just be overly critical, because the person I shared it with thought it was good. I didn't hate it, but it didn't live up to my high expectations.

 

My data is flawed . Opening mine now

 

Update: The Coffee is really good imo

 

While not thrilled that it's like $10 more than regular, I'm glad they brought back coffee this year. Maybe next year the barleywine will finally return? If not, I hope they at least rebrew another classic like vanilla or rye barrel. Have a simple tried-and-true variant to go alongside the new concoctions.

 

I’m willing to bet Vanilla will be back next year. If not, it’ll be a companion like a vanilla/cinnamon or something

 

Wrong thread?

 

Cross post from the impy stout thread.

Doing a blind side by side of the 2022 regular Bourbon County Stout versus the 30th anniversary. The latter is pretty clearly an egregious money grab, picking out special barrels just can't justify a 3x markup. I am curious to see how different they are though.



If nothing else, they are definitely distinct from one another. #1 is very dark chocolate forward, it's deeply rich and has some subtle fig and toffee. Booze is strong but not hot, with light oak and vanilla. #2 is a little drier with less of the decadent chocolate, less layers, and more naked heat. The mouthfeel on #1 is a little more full, but both are above average for a BA stout. I prefer #1, and by a decent margin. But I'd be happy to have either one in my glass.

The reveal




Ok, I preferred the special anniversary edition. This year was my first since 2013 going Bourbon County hunting. I'd forgotten how good they are. They do have plenty of stiff competition these days, I doubt I'll be back out again next year. Going to enjoy the hell out of all I got this year though! Keeping a world-class Barrel program going for 3 decades is quite an accomplishment.

 

Banner haul for me this year- I ended up snagging a case of the Coffee, 6 bottles each of the Sir Issacs and Biscotti, five 30 year Anniversaries and 3 Barleywines. For the original- two 4 packs and eight 16.9oz bottles. Omaha ended up getting everything but the Chicago only Prop. The pocketbook definitely took a hit, but it’s only one time a year- at least that’s how I justify this indulgence in my mind, lol. Cheers everyone!

 

First BCBS in 10 to 15 years... GI blend per the bottle. This is a very good to outstanding stout, up there with WWS (have never had OG, only variants)... And worth the pickup of a bottle or 4 pack.