Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Special #4 16.9OZ

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Special #4 16.9OZ is a bourbon barrel-aged imperial oatmeal stout bottled at 10.1% ABV in a 16.9 oz (500ml) format. Rated 4.4 out of 5 on Untappd across more than 30,000 reviews, this limited release layers Intelligentsia Coffee, Ethiopian single-origin beans, and bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup over a crystal oat base for a stout that deliberately evokes a diner breakfast in liquid form.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10.1%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Oatmeal Stout  |  Brewery: Goose Island Beer Company

Production & Heritage

Goose Island Beer Company was founded in 1988 by John Hall in Chicago, Illinois, and has been part of the Anheuser-Busch InBev portfolio since 2011. The original Bourbon County Stout, first brewed in 1992, is widely credited as one of the pioneering bourbon barrel-aged stouts in American craft brewing. Special #4 diverges from the flagship recipe by building on an oatmeal stout base that uses crystal oats for a distinctly nutty character and silky mouthfeel. After aging in bourbon barrels, the beer receives additions of Intelligentsia cold coffee and single-origin Ethiopian coffee beans from the Metad Buku lot, chosen specifically for their fruity coffee character. The final layer is bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup sourced from Bissell Maple Farm in Ohio, which rounds out the interplay between nutty oats and coffee into a cohesive, breakfast-inspired flavor profile.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A wave of espresso and dark-roasted malt meets the glass first, followed by dates, raisins, and molasses. Bourbon barrel influence shows up as toffee, maple, and a gentle vanilla sweetness beneath toasted grain notes.

Taste: The entry is rich and full-bodied, led by dark roasted coffee and raw cacao bitterness that quickly gives way to a mid-palate of caramel, toffee, and maple. Nutty flavors — cashew, marzipan, toasted cereal grain — dominate the peak alongside vanilla, leather, and raisin sweetness. The crystal oats provide a creamy, almost velvety texture that carries the flavors evenly across the tongue.

Finish: Long and warming, with lingering dark chocolate, tobacco, bourbon warmth, and a persistent maple-coffee sweetness. The oat smoothness tempers any residual bitterness, leaving a clean, dessert-like close.

How to Drink Special #4

This stout is best served at cellar temperature, around 50–55°F, in a snifter or tulip glass to concentrate its complex aromatics. Pouring slowly to minimize excessive head allows the full range of coffee, maple, and barrel notes to emerge. Given its layered sweetness and robust body, it stands on its own without any additions, though a small piece of dark chocolate alongside it can amplify the cacao and coffee notes.

Best For

• Annual Bourbon County Stout release day celebrations and vertical tastings
• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who collects barrel-aged stouts
• Pairing with a weekend brunch spread as a dessert beverage
• Adding to a curated beer cellar for short-term aging (1–3 years)

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Special #4 taste like? Special #4 delivers bold dark-roasted coffee, marzipan-like nuttiness, and bourbon barrel-aged maple sweetness over a creamy oatmeal stout body. Underlying notes of dark chocolate, toffee, dates, and raisins add layers of complexity throughout.

How does Special #4 compare to the original Bourbon County Stout? The original Bourbon County Stout focuses on straightforward bourbon barrel character with chocolate and vanilla, while Special #4 introduces crystal oats for a smoother mouthfeel and adds Intelligentsia Coffee and bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup for a distinctly nutty, breakfast-inspired profile. Special #4 is generally considered more experimental and layered than the flagship.

Is Special #4 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its 10.1% ABV is manageable, and the complex interplay of coffee, maple, and barrel-aged flavors rewards slow, deliberate sipping at cellar temperature.

Where is Special #4 made? Special #4 is brewed by Goose Island Beer Company in Chicago, Illinois. The bourbon barrels used for aging and the maple syrup sourced from Bissell Maple Farm in Ohio are key out-of-state contributions to the recipe.

What foods pair well with Special #4? Pecan pie complements the nutty, maple sweetness; a classic diner-style bacon and pancake plate mirrors the breakfast theme the brewers intended; dark chocolate truffles amplify the cacao and espresso notes; aged cheddar contrasts the sweetness with sharp, savory richness; and vanilla bean ice cream turns this into a rich float-style dessert pairing.

What sizes does Special #4 come in? Special #4 is released in the standard Bourbon County 16.9 oz (500ml) bottle format.

Is Special #4 worth the price? Special #4 positions as a limited, specialty variant within the Bourbon County lineup, placing it in the premium tier for barrel-aged stouts. Its unique combination of Intelligentsia Coffee, Ethiopian single-origin beans, and bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup from a named farm justify its positioning among collectors and enthusiasts who value ingredient-driven releases.

Why Special #4?

What separates Special #4 from the extensive Bourbon County variant library is its deliberate flavor architecture — the brewers designed each adjunct to reinforce the others rather than compete. The crystal oats provide the canvas, the dual-format Intelligentsia Coffee adds depth and fruity acidity, and the Bissell Maple Farm bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup ties everything together into a cohesive experience. With a 4.31 out of 5 on BeerAdvocate and a 4.4 on Untappd from over 30,000 ratings, this variant has earned strong critical and community approval. For collectors of the annual Bourbon County releases, Special #4 stands out as one of the more conceptually ambitious entries in the series.