Bourbon County Stout lineup.
It’s that time of year again! Goose Island just dropped its 2023 Bourbon County Stout lineup, and this year looks like it’s going to be a good one.
« As architects of bourbon barrel-aged stout, our 2023 line-up could not be more reflective of what we strive to achieve here at Goose Island Beer Co,” Todd Ahsmann, President of Goose Island Beer Co. said in a statement. “From our Original Stout to our exceptional variants, and to our newest innovation, Bourbon County Cask Finish Stout, our 2023 line-up showcases the work and dedication that goes into every pour of the original bourbon barrel-aged stout.”
While regular Bourbon County is certainly a beer to look forward to, the real stars of the show are often the variants of the beer. Previous releases have included beer finished in Old Forester Birthday Bourbon barrels and Blanton’s barrels, and even a “Classic Cola Stout” that attempted to capture the essence of a whiskey + cola cocktail in beer form.
The beer was originally created in 1992 to celebrate Goose Island’s 1,000 batch of beer and was an instant hit. It was also so unusual at the time that the beer was disqualified from winning an award at the Great American Beer Festival because there literally wasn’t a category for bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout.
The brewery creates new offerings each year, and what it has in store is often a surprise for beer enthusiasts — at least until now. While the beers won’t go on sale until Black Friday, we’re getting a preview of what this year’s offerings will be.
The original Bourbon County Stout for 2023 is aged in a mix of emptied bourbon barrels from Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, Four Roses, and Wild Turkey. Beer stays in the barrels for an average of 12 months.
Beyond the original Bourbon County Stout, this year Goose Island is releasing a “Bananas Foster Stout” (Yes, please), as well as variants finished in 2-Year Eagle Rare and Angel’s Envy casks.
We’ll also get a “Backyard Stout.” Inspired by the 2013 recipe for Goose Island’s Backyard Rye, the beer is blended with mulberries, boysenberries, and marionberries. And, of souse, Chicago-area residents can look forward to a new release of Goose Island’s Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Stout.
“For me, Backyard Stout was something I worked on in my first year with Goose Island, and bringing that beer back fills me with warm memories of learning the craft of barrel aging. It’s also an amazing beer, and we can’t wait to be able to share that with a wider audience this year,” says Daryl Hoedtke, Senior Brewmaster for Goose Island Beer Co.
Here’s the full rundown of what you can expect from each variant this year with descriptions for the brewery:
Bourbon County Stout
2023 Bourbon County Brand Original Stout
ABV: TBD
Availability: National markets
Format: 16.9oz bottle & draft
Tasting Notes: Vanilla, cocoa, cherry, caramelized sugar & almond
After crafting the very first bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout, Goose Island’s brewers learned that to have the best beer, you start with the best possible ingredients. Barrels are such an important ingredient, and Goose continues to use only the best their friends on the bourbon trail have to offer.
2023 Bourbon County Brand Original Stout is aged in a mix of freshly emptied bourbon barrels from Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, Four Roses and Wild Turkey distilleries.
Barrel-aged for an average of 12 months, Bourbon County Original Stout boasts deeply developed flavors of fudge, vanilla, and caramelized sugar with a rich, decadent mouthfeel.
2023 Bourbon County Brand Eagle Rare 2-Year Reserve Stout
ABV: TBD
Availability: National markets
Format: 16.9oz bottle
Tasting Notes: Robust oak, toasted almond, & warming vanilla
With a heritage rooted in authenticity and a commitment to craftsmanship, Eagle Rare captures the essence of American history with its Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey. Just as bourbon is a uniquely American product, Bourbon County Brand Stout is distinctly Chicago. From the carefully selected American oak barrels sourced from Eagle Rare in Kentucky, to the distinct combination of Chicago’s unique climate and original imperial stout recipe crafted here; 2023 Bourbon County Brand Eagle Rare 2-Year Reserve Stout epitomizes a proud American legacy.
Aged for two years in extraordinary Eagle Rare 10-year-old barrels, each sip is a culmination of the brewers’ passion, intricately woven together with the nuanced flavors imparted by these remarkable barrels. Bourbon County Eagle Rare Reserve Stout is an incredibly complex and boldly rich stout that celebrates the essence of American brewing at its finest.
2023 Bourbon County Brand Angel’s Envy 2-Year Cask Finish Stout
2023 Bourbon County Brand Angel’s Envy 2-Year Cask Finish Stout
ABV: TBD
Availability: National markets
Format: 16.9oz bottle
Tasting Notes: Cherry, spice & cocoa
Introducing the newest addition to the Bourbon County family: Goose Island’s first-ever “Cask Finish” stout. Inspired by the artistry of their friends at Angel’s Envy, the brewers embarked on a journey to further develop the complexity of barrel-aged stout by introducing never-before-used finishing barrels. The beer starts in freshly emptied barrels that once held Angel’s Envy Kentucky straight bourbon. After aging in those for a year, the beer was transferred to a second set of Ruby Port wine barrels where it patiently matured for another year. This finishing process refined and amplified the flavors of cherry, spice, and cocoa within this aged stout. 2023 Bourbon County Brand Angel’s Envy 2-Year Cask Finish Stout is a testament to Goose Island’s legacy as the originators of bourbon barrel-aged stout.
2023 Bourbon County Brand Bananas Foster Stout
2023 Bourbon County Brand Bananas Foster Stout
ABV: TBD
Availability: National markets
Format: 16.9oz bottle & draft
Tasting Notes: Ripe bananas, toasted almond, brown sugar & cinnamon
Ingredients: Banana, almond, cassia bark & natural flavor
Welcoming back another member of the family this year, 2023 Bourbon County Brand Bananas Foster Stout makes its debut on the national stage. This recipe was first released in 2017 as Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Stout only to Chicago drinkers. Beloved by many, that release is especially near and dear to innovation brewer Quinn Fuechsl’s heart.
At the time when Goose Island first released this beer, the brewery hadn’t experimented with bananas much. However, Quinn had a good feeling that the fruit, along with almond and cassia bark, would be perfect ingredients in a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout — indeed, he was right. Sure to bring a bit of flair to your palate, this decadent pour is well-balanced with deep caramelization, aromas of fresh baked banana bread and warm notes of cinnamon and almond.
2023 Bourbon County Brand Backyard Stout
2023 Bourbon County Brand Backyard Stout
ABV: TBD
Availability: National markets
Format: 16.9oz bottle & draft
Tasting Notes: Chocolate, vanilla & berry fruit
Ingredients: Mulberry, boysenberry & marionberry
Feeling nostalgic this year, Goose’s brewers dove into the Bourbon County vault and pulled out an iconic recipe. In 2013, the brewery released “Backyard Rye” and senior innovation manager Mike Siegel found himself hand picking mulberries off trees just steps away from the Goose Island Barrel House in Chicago. Inspired by that initial release and by his own childhood memories of picking fruit in his own backyard, Mike set to work on this year’s 2023 Bourbon County Brand Backyard Stout.
This barrel-aged stout is first aged in bourbon barrels for at least one year, and then finished and blended with mulberries, boysenberries and marionberries. Each addition of berry contributes its own distinct flavor profile, with some adding sweetness and others providing acidity and complexity. A taste of the past, this imperial stout is a balanced and nuanced play on fresh fruit, vanilla, and chocolate.
2023 Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Stout
2023 Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Stout
ABV: TBD
Availability: Chicago market
Format: 16.9oz bottle & draft
Tasting Notes: Toasted rice, dried fruit, vanilla custard & warming spice
Ingredients: Cassia bark, toasted rice, raisins & natural flavor
Year after year, Proprietor’s Stout is an homage to the adventurous craft beer community in Chicago. 2023 Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Stout embodies that spirit while subtly evoking a comforting sense of home and the holidays.
In the heart of Chicago winter, the Goose team was inspired by the warming flavors of a classic dessert: rice pudding. Never having used rice as an ingredient in a stout before, the brewers were excited for the opportunity to brew these flavors into a beer worthy of the city of Chicago.
Using a combination of cassia bark, brown sugar, raisins and toasted rice, the final recipe is a taste of home cooking. This stout wraps you in a culinary blanket of toasted rice, vanilla custard, dried fruit, and baking spices. Proprietor’s is Goose’s love language, Chicago.
