Goose Island Beer Company Bourbon County Stout (2021) – Imperial Stout at 14.4% ABV (C$29.95 at Wine and Beyond, 500 ml, packaged on 22-Jul-2021, best before 22-Jul-2026, acquired 26-Nov-2021, reviewed 27-Nov-2021)
Appearance: clear deep brown with a short fine medium beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bourbon, chocolate, oak, vanilla, red berries. (9/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium-full slick body, moderate carbonation, lingering warming finish. (4/5)
Yes, I know, ABInBev is the devil, and I usually boycott them. But, it’s coming on that time of the year and I felt like a change from the IPAs and Pales I’ve been focussing on lately, OK? This is pretty much the poster child for why Imperial Stouts are stupidly overrated on all the various sites: they’re sweet, sticky, and boozy, and will get you cross-eyed drunk in no time flat. Is this any better than any number of other examples? Nope. Was it worth, not just the ridiculous price tag, but also taking an hour on Friday to go line up and get a couple? Eh… maybe. The bourbon helps, not gonna lie. I’ll leave the other one for a year or five, see what happens. (I’m going to go out on a limb here, and predict: not a whole lot.) (17/20)
This will be my 5,138th unique Untappd check-in.
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
4 replies on “Goose Island Beer Company Bourbon County Stout (2021) – Imperial Stout at 14.4% ABV”
Believe it or not, the NLC just had some of these come in and were only $22.99. Strange to see a cheaper price in Newfoundland. I was tempted to buy it, but I guess I won’t now based on your review. A few others available here that are just as good and a lot cheaper. Lots of new beers here in NL now especially if you like IPAs and sours.
Well, I’m not sure I’d actually recommend against buying it – I just wouldn’t rank it as “step over a family member” good. 🙂
And yeah, I’m looking forward to seeing what’s available from NLC when I come home in three weeks.
local craft scene has changed a lot here in the last few years. Just go to your closest Marie’s Mini Mart they have coolers of NL beers only. You might want to look for Boomstick’s Barrel aged beers, a Jack Daniels and Buffalo Trace both are still left over at the NLC, plus a new Belgian Quad, all $13 for 500ml bottle. Iron Rock put out an oak aged belgian Triple for $20 in 750 ml., all 10% ABVs. Lots of sours and IPAs
Yeah, it’s come a long way since the days of our craft beer buyer’s club. I think the biggest shock for me was finding a bottle of Sam Adams Utopias at the NLC, but it’s great just having some selection these days.