Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Backyard Stout 16.9OZ

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Backyard Stout 16.9OZ is a 17% ABV bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout blended with mulberries, boysenberries, and marionberries in a 16.9 oz (500 ml) bottle. It earned 97 points from Tastings.com and carries strong community acclaim on BeerAdvocate, where ratings range from 4.37 to 4.49 out of 5.

Quick Facts: ABV: 17%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois, USA  |  Imperial Stout, Barrel-Aged  |  Brewery: Goose Island Beer Company

Production & Heritage

Goose Island, founded in 1988 on Chicago's North Side and now part of the Anheuser-Busch InBev family, has produced its Bourbon County Brand Stout series since 1992 — widely credited as the first commercially released bourbon barrel-aged beer. The Backyard Stout begins as a classic Bourbon County base aged in bourbon barrels for at least one year, then is blended with mulberries, boysenberries, and marionberries. The mulberries are hand-picked from trees growing steps away from the Goose Island Barrel House in Chicago, a personal touch championed by senior innovation manager Mike Siegel and a nod to the original 2013 Backyard Rye release that inspired this expression.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Deep waves of dark chocolate and espresso open the nose, followed by bourbon-soaked vanilla, caramel, and a layer of black cherry sweetness. The berry blend adds a subtle jammy undertone that distinguishes it immediately from the standard Bourbon County release.

Taste: The entry is thick and coating, with bittersweet chocolate and roasted malt giving way to a mid-palate surge of dark fruit — think blackberry compote and chocolate-covered cherries. Boysenberry tartness and bourbon warmth compete for attention as the beer reaches its peak, creating a layered interplay of sweet, tart, and boozy at 17% ABV.

Finish: Long, warming, and decadent, with dark chocolate raspberry nougat lingering alongside gentle barrel char and residual berry sweetness. The finish stays slightly tart, preventing the richness from becoming cloying.

How to Drink Backyard Stout

Pour into a snifter or tulip glass at cellar temperature (50–55°F) to let the barrel and berry aromatics open fully; this beer rewards slow, deliberate sipping. A small pour over a single large ice cube can temper the 17% heat and bring the fruit notes forward. For a decadent dessert float, spoon a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream into a glass and pour the Backyard Stout over it — the chocolate-cherry character pairs naturally with the cream. It also works as a bold substitute for stout in a Beer Flip, shaken with a whole egg, demerara syrup, and nutmeg, where its viscosity creates a silky texture. Finally, try it in a Stout Affogato cocktail alongside a shot of espresso and coffee liqueur, letting the berry notes cut through the roast.

Best For

• Sharing among craft beer collectors during a vertical tasting of Bourbon County variants
• Pairing with a rich chocolate dessert course at a dinner party
• Gifting a barrel-aged stout enthusiast who values limited and specialty releases
• Slow sipping on a cold evening as a standalone after-dinner indulgence

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Backyard Stout taste like? It delivers rich dark chocolate, espresso, and bourbon warmth layered with boysenberry, mulberry, and marionberry fruit that recalls chocolate-covered cherries. A slight tartness from the berries balances the heavy sweetness and 17% ABV warmth.

How does Backyard Stout compare to regular Bourbon County Stout? The standard Bourbon County Brand Stout focuses on chocolate, vanilla, and bourbon barrel character without added fruit, while the Backyard Stout introduces mulberries, boysenberries, and marionberries that add a tart, jammy dimension. Reviewers consistently note that Backyard Stout is creamier and more fruit-forward, making it a distinctly different drinking experience despite sharing the same barrel-aged base.

Is Backyard Stout good for sipping neat? Yes — its 17% ABV, dense body, and layered flavor profile make it an ideal slow-sipper best enjoyed at cellar temperature in a snifter or tulip glass. Pouring small amounts and allowing the beer to warm slightly in the glass reveals additional complexity over time.

Where is Backyard Stout made? It is brewed and barrel-aged by Goose Island Beer Company in Chicago, Illinois. The mulberries used in the blend are hand-picked from trees located near the Goose Island Barrel House on the city's South Side.

What foods pair well with Backyard Stout? Dark chocolate truffles complement its cocoa and berry intensity. A rich flourless chocolate cake mirrors the dense mouthfeel. Blue cheese provides a salty counterpoint to the fruit sweetness. Smoked brisket stands up to the barrel and roast character. Cherry or berry cobbler echoes the fruit blend directly.

What sizes does Backyard Stout come in? The Backyard Stout is released in a 16.9 oz (500 ml) bottle, which is the standard format for Goose Island's Bourbon County Brand specialty variants.

Is Backyard Stout worth the price? It positions as a premium limited-release barrel-aged stout within the Bourbon County lineup, and its 97-point Tastings.com score and strong community ratings support its place at the upper end of the specialty beer market. The hand-picked local fruit and extended bourbon barrel aging justify its standing among collectors and enthusiasts who value rare, small-batch releases.

Why Backyard Stout?

The defining detail of this release is the use of hand-picked mulberries harvested from trees just steps from the Goose Island Barrel House — a hyper-local ingredient that no other major brewery replicates at this scale. Combined with boysenberries and marionberries layered onto a Bourbon County base aged over a year in bourbon barrels, it produces a stout that scores 97 points from Tastings.com and earns consistent praise across rating platforms. The Backyard name traces back to the 2013 Backyard Rye, linking this beer to one of the most celebrated entries in Bourbon County history. For anyone seeking a barrel-aged stout that goes beyond the classic chocolate-and-bourbon template, this expression delivers a fruit-forward complexity that stands apart in a crowded category.