Goose Island Beer Co. just released its list of 2023 Bourbon County Brand Stouts, and if there’s one word I’d use to describe them it’s, well, “safe.” And that’s not a bad thing. The Chicago-based brewer’s recent forays into flavors mirroring biscotti, tiki drinks, cola and strawberry ice cream bars have had mixed results. This year, aside from a bananas Foster variant, the gambling with flavor profiles is relatively modest, with a fairly straightforward lineup of six variants that includes a pair of familiar faces. Here’s a list of them all so you know what to expect on Black Friday (Nov. 24) when they’re released nationwide – an event that’s still one of the key anchors of the biggest beer “holidays” of the year. In Milwaukee, of course, we’ll be swinging by the bottle shop after Lakefront Brewery’s annual Black Friday release party that morning.
Bourbon County Brand Original Stout
Description: The standard BCBS, an imperial stout aged for an average of 12 months in Wild Turkey, Heaven Hill, Four Roses and Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels.
First Impression: Original’s flavors of dark chocolate and caramel sweetness rarely miss the mark, and I don’t expect the 2023 version to go astray either.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Bourbon County Brand Eagle Rare 2-Year Reserve Stout
Description: This stout has been aged for two years in 10-year-old Eagle Rare barrels.
First Impression: Eagle Rare barrels should certainly be excellent aging vessels. Goose Island mentions tasting notes of robust oak, toasted almond and vanilla. This might the bold variant that tastes even better after some time in the cellar.
Bourbon County Brand Angel’s Envy 2-Year Cask Finish Stout
Description: A variant that has been aged for a year in Angel’s Envy barrels before being transferred to Ruby Port wine “finishing” barrels for another year.
First Impression: Is a fair amount smooth dark fruit sweetness an effect of aging in wine barrels? We’ll have to wait until Black Friday to find out. The finishing barrels should certainly add a layer or two of flavor to the stout.
Bourbon County Brand Bananas Foster Stout
Description: This recipe was originally used for the 2017 Proprietor’s Stout and now it’s back. It is made with bananas, almonds and cinnamon-like cassia bark.
First Impression: I really liked the original version of this, but I’m a big fan of bananas. This is a variant that might need to be drunk right away, before the banana flavor falls off.
Bourbon County Brand Backyard Stout
Description: Similar to the Backyard Rye released in 2013, though it’s aged in bourbon barrels instead of the Templeton Rye barrels of its forebear. The 2023 variant includes a similar mix of fruit, though, with mulberry, boysenberry and marionberry.
First Impression: If you like fruit covered in dark chocolate, it’s a safe bet you’ll like this. The original iteration was very good – one of the most popular Bourbon County variants during the beer’s golden age – and I expect this to be too.
Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Stout
Description: Modeled after rice pudding, this Chicago-exclusive variant is made with toasted rice, cassia bark, raisins and brown sugar.
First Impression: The most adventurous of the bunch sounds fine to me with tasting notes described as toasted rice, vanilla custard and warming spice.
