Goose Island Brewing Company: Bourbon County Brand Releases

Be vewwy, vewwy quiet. We’we hunting Bourbon County Brand stouts on the Windowsill today!

As a certified beer nerd, I have to do my best to get all those hard-to-find-brews, so… Yes. I hunted around town to bring home some Bourbon County Brand Stouts and its variants. This year, I was able to snag the 2018 Bourbon County Brand Stout, as well as the Bourbon County Brand Wheatwine and Bourbon County Brand Midnight Orange Stout flavors from Goose Island Beer Company. Although I haven’t tasted them, and won’t for a while, but I’m happy to add them to my collection. For this photo, I threw in the 2017 Bourbon County Brand Stout, which I bought last year, and the 2016 Bourbon County Brand Stout, which my good buddy Tom gifted me last year. You like?

Now, this release is not without controversy in the craft beer community. You see, back in 2011, the Chicago-based brewery was purchased… by Anheuser-Busch InBev. Yep… Big Beer. For many craft enthusiasts, this was the end of the Goose. No Big Beer will touch their lips, and so, no matter how good a Goose beer is, the Goose is dead to them. I respect that, but for me? If you take the time and care to make a beer like this, you’re still making craft. It’s craft supported by a giant corporation—the enemy of small batch and craft breweries everywhere—but it’s still a work of art. I still believe this beer is great, and I’ll continue to try to snag some every year… Big Beer or not.

What do you guys think? Should BCB lovers be ousted from the craft beer community? Or is it OK to lust after this quality stout every Black Friday? While you mull it over, check out some more information about the releases I’ve been able to score so far.

2016 Bourbon County Brand Stout

Goose Island Beer Company: 2016 Bourbon County Brand Stout
Goose Island Beer Company: 2016 Bourbon County Brand Stout. (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

Style: Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels

Special Notes: Aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels that are at least 4 years old.

Hops: Millennium

Malts: 2-Row, Black Malt, Caramel, Chocolate, Munich 10, Roasted Barley

ABV: 13.8%

IBU: 60

Availability: No longer in production.

@untappd says: 4.55/5

2017 Bourbon County Brand Stout

Goose Island Beer Company: 2017 Bourbon County Brand Stout
Goose Island Beer Company: 2017 Bourbon County Brand Stout (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

Style: Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels

Special Notes: Aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels that are at least 4 years old.

Hops: Millennium

Malts: 2-Row, Black Malt, Caramel, Chocolate, Munich 10, Roasted Barley

ABV: 14.1%

IBU: 60

Availability: No longer in production.

@untappd says: 4.49/5

2018 Bourbon County Brand Stout

Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Stout
Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Stout (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

Style: Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels

Special Notes: Aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels that are at least 4 years old.

Hops: Millennium

Malts: 2-Row, Black Malt, Caramel, Chocolate, Munich 10, Roasted Barley

ABV: 14.7% or 15.2%

IBU: 60

Availability: Limited… like go now!

@untappd says: 4.51/5

2018 Bourbon County Brand Midnight Orange Stout

Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Midnight Orange Stout
Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Midnight Orange Stout (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

Style: Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels

Special Notes: Spanish orange zest and chocolate added. It’s the first time fruit zest has been part of the recipe. Aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels that are at least 4 years old.

Hops: Millennium

Malts: 2-Row, Caramel, Chocolate, Debittered Black, Munich, Roast Barley

ABV: 15.2%

IBU: 60

Availability: Even more limited… Why are you still reading?

@untappd says: 4.29/5

2018 Bourbon County Brand Wheatwine Ale

Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Wheatwine Ale
Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Wheatwine Ale (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

Style: Wheatwine Aged in Bourbon Barrels

Special Notes: The Wheatwine Ale is making its debut in 2018 as the first of the Bourbon County Brand brews to deviate from the imperial stout recipe since the Barleywine debuted back in 2013. Aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels that are at least 4 years old.

Hops: Pilgrim

Malts: 2-Row, White Wheat

ABV: 15.4%

IBU: 60

Availability: Even more limited… Why are you still reading?

@untappd says: 4.17/5

2018 Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout

Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout
Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

Style: Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels

Special Notes: Grade A vanilla beans from Madagascar. The vanilla stout makes its return to the Bourbon County Brand release after several years off the roster.

Hops: Millenium

Malts: 2-Row, Black Malt, Caramel, Chocolate, Munich, Roast Barley

ABV: 14.9%

IBU: 60

Availability: Did I get the wrong one?

@untappd says: 4.57/5

You might as well check them out on my Instagram page, too!

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. Goose Island Brewing Company: Bourbon County Brand Releases . Be vewwy, vewwy quiet. We’we hunting stouts on the Windowsill today! . As a certified beer nerd, I have to do my best to get all those hard-to-find-brews, so.. Yes. I hunted around town to bring home some Bourbon County Brand Stouts and its variants. This year, I was able to snag the original, as well as the Wheatwine and Midnight Orange flavors from Goose Island Beer Company. Although I haven’t tasted them, and won’t for a while, but I’m happy to add them to my collection. For this photo, I threw in the 2017 BCB Stout, which I bought last year, and the 2016 BCB, which my good buddy @one_ill_tom gifted me last year. You like? . Now, this release is not without controversy in the craft beer community. You see, back in 2011, the Chicago-based brewery was purchased… by Anheuser-Busch InBev. Yep… Big Beer. For many craft enthusiasts, this was the end of the Goose. No Big Beer will touch their lips, and so, no matter how good a Goose beer is, the Goose is dead to them. I respect that, but for me? If you take the time and care to make a beer like this, you’re still making craft. It’s craft supported by a giant corporation—the enemy of small batch and craft breweries everywhere—but it’s still a work of art. I still believe this beer is great, and I’ll continue to try to snag some every year… Big Beer or not. . What do you guys think? Should BCB lovers be ousted from the craft beer community? Or is it OK to lust after this quality stout every Black Friday?

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