Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout 16.9OZ

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout 16.9OZ is a barrel-aged imperial stout from Chicago brewed at 14.1% ABV and packaged in a 16.9 oz (500 ml) bottle. Widely recognized as the beer that launched the bourbon barrel-aged stout category in 1992, it holds a perfect 100 score on BeerAdvocate across more than 13,000 ratings — one of only a handful of beers to achieve that distinction.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~14.1% (varies by vintage)  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout  |  Brewery: Goose Island Beer Co.

Production & Heritage

Goose Island Beer Co., founded in Chicago in 1988, produced the first bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout in 1992 under the direction of then-brewmaster Greg Hall — widely credited as the birth of barrel-aged beer in modern American brewing. The base stout is built on a malt bill of 2-row barley, black malt, caramel malt, chocolate malt, Munich 10, and roasted barley, then aged for approximately 12 months in a rotating selection of bourbon barrels sourced from distilleries including Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, Four Roses, and Wild Turkey. Each year's vintage reflects subtle variations in barrel character, resulting in slight ABV shifts — recent vintages have ranged from 14.1% to 14.7%.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Deep waves of fudge brownie and dark chocolate rise first, followed by toasted vanilla, charred oak, and a subtle smokiness. A caramelized sugar sweetness lingers underneath, with hints of dried stone fruit emerging as the beer warms.

Taste: The first sip delivers a dense, almost chewy entry of molasses, toffee, and bittersweet cocoa. At mid-palate, bourbon-barrel character takes over — vanilla, toasted almond, and a gentle burn of oak tannin build into a peak of caramelized sugar and dark cherry. The mouthfeel is rich and viscous without becoming cloying, balanced by a measured roast bitterness.

Finish: Long and warming, with charred oak, espresso, and residual vanilla that persist well after each sip. A faint smokiness and a whisper of dried fruit close out the experience cleanly.

How to Drink Bourbon County Stout

Pour into a snifter or tulip glass at 50–55°F to let the full aromatic complexity open up; allowing it to warm slightly in the glass reveals additional layers of caramel and dried fruit. Bourbon County Stout is best appreciated on its own as a slow sipper, though it also works in creative beer cocktails: a Stout Float with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream amplifies its dessert-like richness; a Beer Old Fashioned using a small pour of the stout in place of bitters adds barrel-aged depth to the classic template; and a Black Velvet variation — layered with dry sparkling wine — creates a dramatic contrast of roast malt and bright acidity.

Best For

• Annual Black Friday release day traditions and vintage collecting
• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates barrel-aged rarities
• Pairing with a dessert course at a dinner party
• Side-by-side vertical tastings comparing multiple Bourbon County vintages

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bourbon County Stout taste like? Bourbon County Stout delivers an intensely rich profile dominated by dark chocolate, fudge, vanilla, and toffee, with prominent charred oak and bourbon warmth from 12 months of barrel aging. Dried fruit, toasted almond, and a roasty espresso bitterness round out a thick, decadent mouthfeel.

How does Bourbon County Stout compare to The Bruery's Black Tuesday? Both are high-ABV, bourbon barrel-aged imperial stouts with cult followings and limited annual releases. Bourbon County Stout is generally considered the originator of the style (dating to 1992) and tends to run slightly lower in ABV than Black Tuesday, which often exceeds 19% and leans sweeter with more prominent residual sugar.

Is Bourbon County Stout good for sipping neat? Yes — at 14.1% ABV with extraordinary complexity, it is specifically designed to be savored slowly from a snifter or tulip glass, much like a fine digestif. Allowing it to warm from cellar temperature to around 55°F unlocks the most nuanced barrel character.

Where is Bourbon County Stout made? Bourbon County Stout is brewed by Goose Island Beer Co. in Chicago, Illinois. The brewery was founded in 1988 and has produced this flagship barrel-aged stout since 1992.

What foods pair well with Bourbon County Stout? Flourless chocolate cake highlights the stout's cocoa and toffee notes. Sharp aged cheddar or Gruyère creates a savory counterpoint to barrel sweetness. Smoked brisket matches the beer's charred oak character. Crème brûlée echoes its caramelized sugar and vanilla. Pecan pie amplifies the toasted nut and molasses undertones.

What sizes does Bourbon County Stout come in? The standard format is the 16.9 oz (500 ml) bottle, which is the primary release size for the annual vintage.

Is Bourbon County Stout worth the price? Bourbon County Stout positions as a premium, limited-release barrel-aged beer — its pricing reflects single-barrel sourcing from top-tier bourbon distilleries, a 12-month aging program, and once-a-year availability. For collectors and barrel-aged beer enthusiasts, its perfect BeerAdvocate score and status as the category's originator place it firmly among the most respected beers in its class.

Why Bourbon County Stout?

No barrel-aged stout conversation begins without this beer. Goose Island invented the style in 1992, and more than three decades later, Bourbon County Brand Stout remains the benchmark against which every bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout is measured. Its perfect 100 rating on BeerAdvocate — earned across more than 13,000 reviews — speaks to a level of consistency and quality that few beers at any price point can claim. The annual rotation of premium bourbon barrels from Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, Four Roses, and Wild Turkey ensures each vintage carries genuine whiskey pedigree, making every release both a collectible and a world-class drinking experience.