Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Reserve Blanton's Stout 16.9OZ

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Reserve Blanton's Stout 16.9OZ is a barrel-aged imperial stout at 15.4% ABV, aged for 18 months in Blanton's Original Single Barrel Bourbon barrels. This limited Reserve variant earned a perfect 100 score on BeerAdvocate, placing it among the most acclaimed barrel-aged stouts ever released.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15.4%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout  |  Brewery: Goose Island Beer Co. (Anheuser-Busch InBev)

Production & Heritage

Goose Island Beer Co., founded in Chicago in 1988, has produced its Bourbon County Brand Stout since 1992, widely credited as the first bourbon barrel-aged beer of its kind. The Reserve Blanton's edition rests for 18 months in barrels sourced specifically from the center-cut middle sections of Blanton's legendary Warehouse H — the same rickhouse once reserved for ambassadors, dignitaries, and friends of the Blanton family. The result is a stout that carries the distinctive single-barrel bourbon character Blanton's is known for, layered into Goose Island's dense, high-gravity imperial stout base.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Deep dark chocolate leads, followed by warm baking spices — clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon — with undertones of sweet tobacco and leather. A wave of vanilla and caramel rounds out the nose as it opens.

Taste: The entry is rich and semi-sweet, with chocolate and toffee arriving immediately on the palate. Mid-palate brings dark cherry, candied fruit, and plum alongside fig and raisin notes, all underpinned by a pronounced bourbon warmth. A subtle molasses and brown sugar sweetness emerges at the peak, giving the stout a decadent, port-like density.

Finish: Long and warming, with oak and leather lingering alongside traces of vanilla and dark chocolate. The bourbon barrel influence persists through the finish, lending a gentle heat that fades slowly into baking spice.

How to Drink the Blanton's Reserve Stout

Serve at cellar temperature, around 50–55°F, in a tulip or snifter glass to concentrate the complex aromatics. This is a sipping beer by design — its 15.4% ABV and layered flavor profile reward patience. For a dessert pairing approach, pour it alongside a chocolate torte or pecan pie where the stout's caramel and dark fruit notes can play off the sweetness.

Best For

• Gifting a serious craft beer collector during the holiday season
• Sharing as the centerpiece of a barrel-aged stout tasting lineup
• Cellaring for one to three years to observe flavor evolution
• Pairing with a multi-course dessert spread at a dinner party

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Blanton's Reserve Stout taste like? It delivers rich dark chocolate, toffee, and bourbon warmth layered with dark cherry, fig, and baking spices like clove and cinnamon. A semi-sweet, port-like character with vanilla and caramel carries through the entire palate.

How does the Blanton's Reserve compare to the original Bourbon County Brand Stout? The Blanton's Reserve variant is noticeably sweeter than the original BCBS, with more pronounced vanilla, caramel, and dark fruit from the 18-month aging in Blanton's single-barrel bourbon barrels. The original tends toward a drier, more roasty chocolate profile, while this Reserve edition carries additional complexity from the Warehouse H barrel selection.

Is the Blanton's Reserve Stout good for sipping neat? Absolutely — at 15.4% ABV with 18 months of barrel aging, this stout is built for slow, contemplative sipping at cellar temperature rather than casual drinking.

Where is the Blanton's Reserve Stout made? It is brewed by Goose Island Beer Co. in Chicago, Illinois, using bourbon barrels sourced from Buffalo Trace's Blanton's single-barrel bourbon program in Frankfort, Kentucky.

What foods pair well with the Blanton's Reserve Stout? Dark chocolate truffles complement the stout's cocoa and vanilla notes. Smoked brisket stands up to its barrel-aged intensity. Blue cheese such as Roquefort echoes the beer's rich, slightly sweet character. Pecan pie mirrors its caramel and brown sugar notes. Crème brûlée pairs naturally with the vanilla and toffee from the Blanton's barrels.

What sizes does the Blanton's Reserve Stout come in? This release is available in a 16.9-ounce (500ml) bottle, the standard format for Bourbon County Brand Stout variants.

Is the Blanton's Reserve Stout worth the price? This positions as an ultra-premium, limited-release barrel-aged stout within the Bourbon County lineup, and its perfect 100 BeerAdvocate score and use of highly sought-after Blanton's barrels place it at the top tier of the category in both rarity and critical acclaim.

Why the Blanton's Reserve Stout?

The combination of Goose Island's pioneering barrel-aged stout program with barrels from one of bourbon's most coveted single-barrel expressions creates something genuinely rare. The 18-month aging period in center-cut Warehouse H Blanton's barrels imparts a complexity that standard bourbon barrel stouts simply cannot replicate. A perfect 100 score on BeerAdvocate across over 100 ratings confirms this is not just hype — it is one of the highest-rated barrel-aged beers ever produced. For collectors and enthusiasts of the Bourbon County series, the Blanton's Reserve represents the pinnacle of what the program can achieve.