Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Macaroon Stout 500ML

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Macaroon Stout 500ML is a barrel-aged imperial stout at 14.6% ABV, brewed in Chicago and aged one full year in bourbon barrels with cocoa nibs, candied ginger, and toasted coconut. This limited annual release carries a 4.3 rating on Untappd from nearly 17,000 reviews, placing it among the most celebrated variants in the Bourbon County lineup.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.6%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout  |  Brewery: Goose Island Beer Co.

Production & Heritage

Goose Island Beer Co. was founded in 1988 in Chicago by John Hall. Brewmaster Greg Hall first aged an imperial stout in Jim Beam bourbon barrels in 1992, a decision widely credited with launching the entire bourbon barrel-aged stout category in American craft beer. The Macaroon variant was inspired by Goose Island employee Paul Spiller's memories of late-night baking sessions with his mother. Production involves aging the base imperial stout for a full year in bourbon barrels, then conditioning it on rich cocoa nibs, sweet candied ginger, and toasted coconut — a combination designed to evoke a chocolate-dipped coconut macaroon.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich dark chocolate and warm bourbon spirit lead immediately, followed by layers of toasted coconut and candied ginger. As the beer warms in the glass, a subtle current of vanilla and charred oak emerges underneath.

Taste: The entry is dominated by dense, bittersweet chocolate and a distinct bourbon warmth. Mid-palate, candied ginger introduces a surprising spicy sweetness alongside stone fruit and butterscotch toffee. Toasted coconut rounds out the peak, weaving through notes of licorice and vanilla pulled from the barrel wood.

Finish: Long and warming, with persistent bitter chocolate roastiness and lingering coconut cream. The bourbon character reasserts itself alongside charred oak, leaving a toffee-like sweetness that slowly fades.

How to Drink Macaroon Stout

Pour into a snifter or tulip glass at 50–55°F to let the complex adjunct character unfold — a slight warming in the hand opens up the coconut and ginger aromatics considerably. A Macaroon Stout float with a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream amplifies the chocolate and coconut beautifully. A Black Velvet variation blending the stout with dry sparkling wine creates striking contrast between richness and effervescence. Served alongside a square of dark ginger chocolate, it functions as a complete dessert course.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who collects Bourbon County variants
• Replacing the dessert course at a dinner party
• Vertical tastings comparing annual BCBS releases side by side
• Cellar aging to track flavor development over one to three years

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Macaroon Stout taste like? Dense dark chocolate and warm bourbon form the backbone, layered with toasted coconut, candied ginger, stone fruit, and butterscotch toffee. The finish is long and roasty with lingering coconut cream and charred oak sweetness.

How does Macaroon Stout compare to the original Bourbon County Brand Stout? The original BCBS focuses on a straightforward interplay of chocolate, vanilla, and bourbon barrel character without additional adjuncts. Macaroon Stout builds on that same barrel-aged base but adds cocoa nibs, candied ginger, and toasted coconut for a distinctly dessert-forward profile.

Is Macaroon Stout good for sipping neat? At 14.6% ABV with layers of barrel, chocolate, and coconut complexity, it rewards slow, contemplative sipping from a snifter at cellar temperature rather than quick consumption.

Where is Macaroon Stout made? Macaroon Stout is brewed by Goose Island Beer Co. in Chicago, Illinois, a brewery founded in 1988 that has been owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev since 2011.

What foods pair well with Macaroon Stout? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cocoa nib character; coconut flan mirrors and extends the toasted coconut notes; smoked brisket contrasts the sweetness with savory depth; aged Gouda echoes the caramel and toffee undertones; and ginger snap cookies amplify the candied ginger element.

What sizes does Macaroon Stout come in? Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Macaroon Stout is released in 500ml bottles as part of the annual Bourbon County Brand Stout limited lineup.

Is Macaroon Stout worth the price? Macaroon Stout positions as a premium limited-release barrel-aged imperial stout, and its year-long bourbon barrel aging with specialty adjuncts places it in line with other high-end craft stout releases — strong community ratings on both Untappd and BeerAdvocate suggest solid value within that tier.

Why Macaroon Stout?

What separates Macaroon Stout from the crowded barrel-aged stout field is precision of concept: a full year in bourbon barrels provides foundational warmth and vanilla-oak structure, while the cocoa nib, candied ginger, and toasted coconut additions are calibrated to genuinely evoke a chocolate-dipped coconut macaroon rather than simply pile on sweetness. With a 4.3 Untappd rating across nearly 17,000 reviews and strong BeerAdvocate scores reaching as high as 4.5 out of 5, this variant has earned consistent critical and community praise. As part of the Bourbon County Brand Stout series — the lineup widely credited with launching the barrel-aged stout movement over three decades ago — Macaroon Stout carries real heritage credibility alongside a flavor profile distinct enough to stand entirely on its own.