Goose Island Beer Co. Archives

Notes on beers brewed by

Goose Island Beer Co.

Bourbon County Brand
Classic Cola Stout

Apr 16, 2023

2021. Drink by 09 AUG 26. I've always been almost 100% indifferent to every Bourbon County variant since the beginning. Having said that, if I see a bottle that I haven't tried, AND its a reasonable (often meaning markdown) price, then I'll give it a whirl. This was 'discounted' to $14.99. Pour is as expected with a jet black body and a forced head, meaning that it has a lovely mocha depth but only results after I give it a ridiculously aggressive pour. It also fades badly and leaves no lace....

Bourbon County Double Barrel Toasted Barrel

Jan 9, 2022

2021 Vintage. Approx. $55 for the bottle. Ouch. Jet black pour - of course - head can be created with an aggressive pour. It’s tan. Nose is pretty solvent like. The legs on the beer are great, and obviously a function of the ABV but they are wine like. To its credit this is extraordinarily smooth, it hides the alcohol very well, and does not burn. The bourbon is definitely smoothed out very well, and there is no aggression at all. In a year or so, I’d imagine it will even out a lot more, and...

Bourbon County
Brand Stout 2019

Dec 12, 2021

So I looked to see how many notes that I had for BCBS over the years and I see only these from 2006. Has it really been that long? Was this close to the first year of BCBS? I suspect the answers are, "Well, yes", and "Almost". Full disclosure. I'm not a pant-wetting fan boy for hyped beer - never have been - and I'm not much of a fan of booze-aged/infused/barrel beers (with the exception of a good wine barrel) if I'm honest, so that odds are stacked against BCBS from the outset with me. That...

Night Stalker

Aug 10, 2010

22 oz bottle purchased on a recent trip to NY. Pour is a very standard, jet black with a little ring of mocha lace that settles around the edges of beer, plus a thin film over most of the surface of the beer. Some decent alcohol legs on the side of the glass. Definitely menacing and viscous. Nose and tastes reflect one another with all of the usual dark, roasted malt and chocolate notes that one would associate with this kind of beer, but with the added hop element that one usually does NOT...

Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout

Aug 10, 2010

Another example of how strangely one can get to taste these beers that are highly sought after without even trying. I got to get a decent taste of this at a recent BA gathering in Charleston, but given the size of the pour, and the number of other beers being consumed, I decided to pass on taking formal notes or writing a review. I did make some mental notes. Then, a few days later, I unexpectedly got another chance to try the beer in a better light and make these observations. Not much to...

Pere Jacques

Mar 19, 2010

12 oz single from Jungle Jim's, Cincinnati, OH, USA. 2009 vintage. Bottled on 10/05/09. Also has 2019 printed next to it which I first thought might be a BB date, but that would contradict the text on the label that says it will develop in the bottle for up to 5 years. Maybe a batch #. Poured into the Terrapin snifter the beer ultimately settles to take on the appearance of a cognac. Still, light copper colored body with zero hint of head or lace. Strange since it suggests a MUCH higher ABV. A...

Sofie

Mar 7, 2010

Delighted to pick this 22 oz bottle up from Jungle Jim's in Cincinnati. Presentation is great with the green gold and white label adding a classy touch to the beer. The paper is a little higher quality too, with that slightly textured, cotton effect. Bottled on Oct 23, this is a 2009 vintage. Pour is a beautiful, rich, yellow golden body with a nice, bright white head. Lace and retention are very good. Smashing looking beer. Nose has light straw amongst the mild funk and barnyard notes. Some...

Matilda

Feb 19, 2008

=== 2007 Vintage, Updated Review 02/09 === VERY similar (almost identical) experience as detailed below. I don't dislike this beer, but I must admit I don't quite understand it. === Original Review 02/08 === 12oz single, thanks to Mikesgroove for this little gift! 07/27/05 dot-matrixed on the rear label as the bottling date, Batch #? 0850, and the label claims the "Flavor will continue to develop over five years" - plenty of time then. Big foamer. Poured into a regular wine glass, the...

Oatmeal Stout

Feb 14, 2008

12oz single - part of a recent trade. Thanks. Dark, dark brown body with very little head and no lace. A few reddish brown highlights near the bottom of the glass. A bit flat in the glass, not much life. A nice, rich alcohol in the nose. A little prickly carbonation that takes away from the smoothness of the body. A little mild roastiness, but not a great deal - somewhat thin. Some mild smoke. A little sweet chocolate but not much. The overwhelming feel of this beer is somewhat flat. It is...

Summertime (German Style Kölsch Bier)

Nov 12, 2007

Thanks to Vancer as part of CEO/Old Farts BIF. 12oz single bottle. Poured into the Tucher Weizen, 0.5L glass. Pale golden body, distinct lack of head, carbonation and lace despite an aggressive pour. Cloudiness present. Extremely mild beer - very little hop profile; rather bland. Some sweetness, but also muted. The style is obviously a subtle one, but this seems to be especially bland. Very light soap; very light citrus. Best when very cold, a summer quencher and no more.

312 Urban Wheat

Nov 2, 2007

From Vancer as part of CEO BIF. 12 oz bottle. Poured aggressively into the Tucher Weizen glass. Good looker - pale banana yellow body and the classic, Hefe/Weizen-like head. Apart from the look (which I think is good) this is an amazingly non-descript beer. To call it bland is an understatement. Now, without question some of this is down to the style (that I have never been able to fathom), but even so this beer is just plain uninteresting. It's not bad, but it's just got no character. A lack...

Harvest Ale

Sep 29, 2007

Thanks to Vancer as part of the CEO/Old Farts BIF. 12 oz bottle. This is a tricky one. From the name I was expecting some kind of Fest/Autumn/spiced brew. In the bottle I got what amounted to an American IPA. Good color, decent head and some retention amongst the lace. A lot of bitterness for an ESB. Some hint of the classic English malts, but these are eclipsed by a lot of stinging bitterness. OK, but not really my favorite combination of flavors and certanly not true to my interpretation of...

Trinity Red Ale

May 21, 2007

Wasn't expecting much, as I picked this up as a split sixer from Trader Joe's for $1.09, but was actually quite surprised. Great looking pour. Fantastic deep brown color and a very nice, large and substantial head that leaves some nice lacing. Aroma and tastes are halfway between an amber/red and brown ale. Some dry character as one would expect from an amber/red, but also some nice malt which gives it a little more brown ale character. The smell and the tastes are definitely not huge (it's...

Nut Brown Ale

Dec 1, 2006

12 oz bottle bought as a single at Liquor Barn, Lexington, KY, USA. Solid offering of the style. Pour is really dark brown. Small head with very little lacing. Plenty of mild, smoky malts. Delicious. Good caramel malts apparent too. Good bitterness and malt balance with some chocolate and some mild coffee notes.

Honker’s Ale

Nov 12, 2006

12 oz single from Liquor Barn, Lexington, KY, USA. I don't know if this is your typical English bitter, in fact I know it's NOT, but nevertheless it is a pretty nice drink. Nice light color, but a fast fading head. A small amount of lacing. To me this drinks more like a hybrid English/American IPA. It lacks the biscuit malt subtlety of a typical English Pale Ale or Bitter, and it fails to deliver that mild fruity aftertaste, but it does compensate for some of those shortfalls with pleasing...

India Pale Ale

Nov 11, 2006

On draft at Mellow Mushroom in Lexington with BEERchitect. Very good value at about $2.00 a pint! Fairly standard looking in terms of the color, but the head & lacing was superb. The lacing was both extensive and sticky. Aroma was overwhelmingly that of orange zest. Delicious to look and to smell. I'd surprised if these attributes could be reproduced quite so well in the bottle. In terms of taste it drank like a quality American micro IPA. Nothing really special, but solid, realiable everyday...

Bourbon County Brand Stout

Jun 23, 2006

I knew this was going to be huge, and I was not disappointed. Inky black pour with a small tinge of cognac brown in a ring at the top of the pour after the dark tan head has disappeared. The smell and the taste are quite exceptional. Layer after layer of bourbon, alcohol, vanilla, cream, chocolate and sugar. Amazingly complex and complete. Despite all of this, the beer is still exceptionally drinkable - by that I mean it is massive, but everything blends together perfectly to make you want to...

Christmas Ale

Oct 7, 2005

2003 edition (I think). BB 03/28/04. Beautiful red/brown dark color with a smashing looking head, lovely thick, tan color with some nice lacing. Rich, smooth fruit and marzipan aroma. Mouthfeel is good, but it doesn't quite live up to the smell which is much, much richer. To be fair it would be difficult for the taste to match the smell. Taste is perfect for the style. Lots of cascading fruits, with a drier than expected hop based finish. A really interesting beer, it has a dark Belgian fruity...