Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Reserve Eagle Rare 2 Year Reserve Stout 16.9OZ

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Reserve Eagle Rare 2 Year Reserve Stout 16.9OZ is a 14.5% ABV imperial stout aged for two full years in Eagle Rare 10-year-old bourbon barrels. This limited variant earns a 4.6 out of 5 on Untappd across more than 10,000 ratings, placing it among the most acclaimed entries in the Bourbon County lineup.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  2-Year Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout  |  Brewery: Goose Island Beer Company

Production & Heritage

Goose Island Beer Company was founded in 1988 by John Hall in Chicago, Illinois, and is now owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev. The original Bourbon County Brand Stout debuted in 1992 to mark the brewery's 1,000th batch, making it one of the pioneering barrel-aged stouts in American craft beer. The Eagle Rare 2 Year Reserve variant takes the base imperial stout and ages it for a full two years in barrels that previously held Eagle Rare 10-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon — roughly double the aging time of the standard Bourbon County release — drawing deeper extraction of oak tannins, vanillin compounds, and residual bourbon character from the wood.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich bourbon and dark chocolate dominate the nose immediately, followed by waves of warming vanilla and toasted almond. Subtle dried fruit and fig notes emerge as the beer opens up in the glass.

Taste: The entry is thick and viscous, coating the palate with sticky toffee pudding, crème brûlée sweetness, and fudge-like chocolate. At mid-palate, robust oak and roasted almond take hold, balanced by a noticeable bourbon warmth and hints of cherry and marzipan. The sweetness never overwhelms thanks to barrel char and a firm tannic backbone from the extended aging.

Finish: Long and warming, with lingering vanilla, espresso-like coffee bitterness, and toasted coconut from the oak. The bourbon heat persists gently, fading into dried fruit and a subtle barrel-char smokiness.

How to Drink Eagle Rare Reserve Stout

Pour this stout into a snifter or tulip glass at cellar temperature — around 50–55°F — to let the full aromatic complexity develop. Drinking it neat and unrushed is the ideal approach for a beer of this density and depth. While not a typical cocktail ingredient, barrel-aged stouts of this caliber work in a few creative applications: a Stout Float with high-quality vanilla bean ice cream to complement the existing vanilla and toffee notes; a Black Velvet variation blended with dry champagne for a rich, effervescent contrast; or an Affogato-style pour over espresso gelato to amplify the coffee and chocolate undertones.

Best For

• Annual Bourbon County Brand Stout release-day celebrations with fellow collectors
• Gifting a serious craft beer enthusiast who values barrel-aged stouts
• Pairing with a curated dessert course at an intimate dinner gathering
• Adding to a cellar collection for vertical tastings alongside other BCBS variants

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Eagle Rare Reserve Stout taste like? It delivers a rich, layered profile of fudge, sticky toffee, toasted almond, and warming vanilla, with a firm oak backbone and noticeable bourbon heat from two years in Eagle Rare barrels.

How does Eagle Rare Reserve Stout compare to the original Bourbon County Brand Stout? The original BCBS is typically aged for a shorter period and presents a more straightforward bourbon-and-chocolate character, while the Eagle Rare 2 Year Reserve pushes deeper into oak tannins, vanilla, and dried fruit complexity due to its extended barrel time in premium 10-year bourbon barrels. InsideHook described it as "basically an amped up version of the original — more vanilla, more oak."

Is Eagle Rare Reserve Stout good for sipping neat? At 14.5% ABV with extraordinary depth and complexity, this stout is purpose-built for slow, contemplative sipping from a snifter at slightly below room temperature.

Where is Eagle Rare Reserve Stout made? It is brewed by Goose Island Beer Company in Chicago, Illinois, using barrels sourced from Buffalo Trace Distillery's Eagle Rare bourbon program in Frankfort, Kentucky.

What foods pair well with Eagle Rare Reserve Stout? Dark chocolate truffles mirror the fudge and cocoa notes. Smoked brisket stands up to the barrel char and bourbon warmth. Crème brûlée echoes the beer's caramelized vanilla character. Blue cheese provides a sharp, salty counterpoint to the sweetness. Pecan pie aligns with the toasted nut and toffee flavors.

What sizes does Eagle Rare Reserve Stout come in? This release is packaged in a 16.9-ounce (500ml) bottle, which is the standard format for Bourbon County Brand Stout variants.

Is Eagle Rare Reserve Stout worth the price? It positions as an ultra-premium, limited-release barrel-aged stout within the Bourbon County portfolio, and the two-year aging period in sought-after Eagle Rare barrels places it at a higher value tier than the standard BCBS — a positioning supported by its strong community ratings and collectibility.

Why Eagle Rare Reserve Stout?

The defining differentiator here is time: two years in Eagle Rare 10-year bourbon barrels is a significant commitment that yields a stout with substantially more barrel integration than most competitors in the category. That extended aging draws out layers of oak, vanilla, and dried fruit that shorter-aged stouts simply cannot replicate. With a 4.6 rating on Untappd from over 10,000 reviewers, this variant has earned genuine consensus among barrel-aged stout devotees. For collectors and enthusiasts who track the annual Bourbon County releases, the Eagle Rare 2 Year Reserve represents one of the lineup's most ambitious and rewarding expressions.