Dogfish Head Craft Brewery: World Wide Stout (10-Year Challenge)

2009 and 2019 World Wide Stout from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Style: Wheat Wine Aged in Bourbon Barrels

Special Notes: “A very dark beer brewed with a ridiculous amount of barley.”

Malts: Barley

ABV: 15 -20%

IBU: 70

Availability: Yearly release

@untappd says: 4.43 (2009) and 4.35 (2019)

If there’s one thing I enjoy, it’s a dumb social media trend. Lately, I’ve noticed everyone posting their photos from 2009 alongside their photos from 2019, aka the 10-Year-Challenge. Just because my Windowsill wasn’t around 10 years ago—I moved into this house about 7 years ago—doesn’t mean I can’t participate.

I decided to dig deep into my cellar for this challenge. A few months ago, I took a trip to Harry’s Wine & Liquor Market in Fairfield, CT and found out they were opening up their cellar. Excitedly, I rummaged through that area of the shop and picked up a 2009 World Wide Stout from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (along with a 2016 version). What a find!

Just the other day, I took a trip to Wine and Beyond because I heard they were going out of business. While the sales weren’t all that great (there are minimum prices for alcohol), I did pick up a bottle of the 2019 World Wide Stout for a couple of dollars off the regular price. Now, in all their glory… the 10-Year Beer Challenge!

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery World Wide Stouts
Check out my entire collection of the World Wide Stouts; a 2009, a 2016, 2 Oak Aged Vanillas from 2017 and the 2019. (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

Do you have any beers in your cellar that you could do the 10-year-challenge with? Let me know in the comments below!

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Goose Island Beer Company: 2019 Bourbon County Brand Wheatwine Ale

Goose Island Beer Company: 2019 Bourbon County Brand Wheatwine Ale

Style: Wheat Wine Aged in Bourbon Barrels

Special Notes: The Wheatwine Ale is back for its second year. This year, it is aged in Larceny wheated bourbon casks from Heaven Hill.

Hops: Millennium

Malts: 2-Row, White Wheat

ABV: 15.4%

IBU: 60

Availability: Very limited release

@untappd says: 4.16/5

I know. I know. I said yesterday that I only wanted the two variants I bought yesterday—the Mon Chéri and the Café de Olla—and that I was happy to leave Total Wine without the Wheatwine variant. I know! I said that maybe when I got my bonus in two weeks, I’d go back and try to find more variants. Stop judging me!

Goose Island Brewing Company: 2019 Bourbon County Brand Wheatwine Ale
Look how pretty it is. How could I leave it at the store like a heartless bastard? (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

Today, my wife and I went to the vet to pick up the memorial prints they made us for Brutus (our birdy that we had to put down last week). Afterward, we decided to stop by Stop & Shop for groceries. We were in a different town, so we popped Stop & Shop into the GPS and went. Guess where it was! Yep… the same shopping plaza as Total Wine. I said to myself OK. I’ll pop in. They’ll be sold out, and I won’t be able to buy it. And I’ll be happy to go home. Turns out they had the Wheatwine Ale. So now I do too. I’m only one man. I’m weak!

Anyway, this one is different from last year’s award-winning release because it is aged in Larceny wheated bourbon casks from Heaven Hill. I hope it’s good!

Did you guys find any others on Day 2? Let me know in the comments below!

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Goose Island Beer Company: 2019 Bourbon County Brand Stout Release

Goose Island Beer Company 2019 Bourbon County Brand Stouts

Style: Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels

Hops: Millenium

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

ABV: 14.4%

IBU: 60

Availability: No longer in production.

@untappd says: 4.54/5

If you guys recall from last year, I managed to track down every single Bourbon County Brand Stout release from Goose Island Beer Company. This year, with that hunt out of my system, I decided not to go all-out crazy on Black Friday, setting my sights on the regular release and two variants—the Brand Café de Olla Stout and the Brand Mon Chéri Stout.

2016 - 2019 Bourbon County Brand Stouts from Goose Island Beer Company
My entire collection of Bourbon County Brand Stouts and variants from 2016 through 2019. Not bad, right? (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills.com)

According to Goose Island, the Café de Olla is inspired by the traditional Mexican beverage of the same name. They added coffee beans and cold coffee to regular BCBS and then added cassia bark, orange peel and panela sugar to make it even better. The Mon Chéri, meanwhile, is billed by the brewery as a “love letter from our brewer, Quinn, to his wife who loves cherries.” It’s made with Balenton and Montmorency cherries with a bit of brown sugar added for flavor.

Thankfully, my local Total Wine in Norwalk, CT had everything I wanted! They also had the Bourbon County Wheatwine, but I decided to save myself $25 and just stick to the ones I had my heart set on. That being said, I do get my bonus in a couple of weeks…perhaps the hunt will be back on then?

Are you guys on the hunt for this year’s releases? Let me know in the comments below!

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Goose Island Beer Company: Proprietor’s Bourbon County Brand Stout (2018)

Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Proprietor's Bourbon County Brand Stout

Style: Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels

Special Notes: Brewed with a combination of dark chocolate and two types of cocoa nibs. Only released in Chicago.

Hops: Millenium

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

ABV: 14.4%

IBU: 60

Availability: No longer in production.

@untappd says: 4.54/5

It may have taken me three months, but the 2018 Bourbon County hunt is over!

As the great Beatles song says, sometimes you can only get by “with a little help from [your] friends.” Back on December 1, I posted what I thought would be the last 2018 Goose Island Beer Company Bourbon County Stout I would be able to find, the Bourbon County Brand Reserve. I was content with that. After all, I’d been able to procure the Bramble Rye Stout, the Coffee Barleywine, the Vanilla, the Midnight Orange, the Wheatwine Ale and the original. Seven out of eight ain’t bad, right?

Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Proprietor's Bourbon County Brand Stout
Look at this lovely box! (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

A month later, I got a random DM from my good buddy, @bedwetr7 aka Josh. He had seen in my Instagram stories that I was hoping to score a Proprietor’s—a story I had posted mostly as a shot in the dark—and he’d answered my call.

Josh contacted me saying that he’d bought one with me in mind, if I was interested in a trade. All Josh wanted was some Trillium brews. I was pretty shocked. The Proprietor’s goes on Ebay for tons of money, after all. To get an offer for a fair amount of brews was great. Thankfully, I don’t live prohibitively far away from either Trillium location, and I’m always looking for a reason to go to them. I asked Josh to cellar my stout for a month while I planned a road trip to Canton. Two Saturdays ago, I went (you’ve been seeing the fruits of that trip for the last 9 days). A week later, I shipped out his beers, and he shipped me mine.

Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Proprietor's Bourbon County Brand Stout
And yes, this beautiful bottle was inside! (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

Last night, I got my end of the trade, and completed the greatest beer hunt of my Windowsill’s young life. So, what makes the Proprietor’s so special? Every year, Goose Island makes a special version of their Bourbon County Brand Stout for the ones they consider “the adventurous beer lovers who responded so favorably to our first batch of Bourbon County Brand Stout in the early 90s, and who loyally, year after year, share our passion for bourbon barrel-aged stout.”

The Proprietor’s is always the best of the best, made with unique ingredients from the rest and a special recipe put together by Brian LaGro. For 2018, the magic word is chocolate. It uses a combination of dark chocolate and two kinds of cocoa nibs. It’s rich, decadent and includes all the chocolate flavors, from “silky milk chocolate” to “deep and earth dark chocolate.”

Head over to Instagram to see this one it all its glory. Make sure you follow Beers on Windowsills for more great beer!

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. Goose Island Beer Company: Proprietor’s Bourbon County Brand Stout (2018) . It may have taken me three months, but the 2018 Bourbon County hunt is over! . As the great Beatles song says, sometimes you can only get by “with a little help from [your] friends.” Back on December 1, I posted what I thought would be the last 2018 Bourbon County Stout I would be able to find, the Reserve. A month later, I got a random DM from my good buddy, @bedwetr7 aka Josh. He had seen in my Instagram stories that I was hoping to score a Proprietors—a story I had posted mostly as a shot in the dark—and he’d answered my call. . Josh contacted me saying that he’d bought one with me in mind, if I was interested in a trade. All Josh wanted was some Trillium brews. I was pretty shocked. The Prorpiertor’s goes on Ebay for tons of money, afterall. To get an offer for a fair amount of brews was great. Thankfully, I don’t live prohibitively far away from either Trillium location, and I’m always looking for a reason to go to them. I asked Josh to cellar my stout for a month while I planned a road trip to Canton. Two Saturdays ago, I went (you’ve been seeing the fruits of that trip for the last 9 days). A week later, I shipped out his beers, and he shipped me mine. . Last night, I got my end of the trade, and completed the greatest beer hunt of my Windowsill’s young life. So, what makes the Proprietor’s so special? Every year, Goose Island makes a special version of their Bourbon County Brand Stout for the ones they consider “the adventurous beer lovers who responded so favorably to our first batch of Bourbon County Brand Stout in the early 90s, and who loyally, year after year, share our passion for bourbon barrel-aged stout.” . The Proprietor’s is always the best of the best, made with unique ingredients from the rest and a special recipe put together by Brian LaGro. For 2018, the magic word is chocolate. It uses a combination of dark chocolate and two kinds of cocoa nibs. It’s rich, decadent and includes all the chocolate flavors, from “silky milk chocolate” to “deep and earth dark chocolate.” . ABV: 14.4, IBU: 60, No longer in production . @untappd says: 4.54/5

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Boulder Beer Company: Killer Penguin

Boulder Beer Company: Killer Penguin

Style: American Style Barleywine

Special Notes: Bottled in 2009 and 2014, respectively

Hops: Nugget, Willamette, Cascade

Malts: Pale Malt, 70/80 Crystal Malt

ABV: 10.0% at bottling

IBU: 2009 – N/A, 2014 – 60

Availability: These are no longer in production, but the Killer Penguin is released every fall/winter

@untappd says: 2009 – 3.84/5, 2014 – 3.81/5

Last week, I debuted my Cellar on the Sill series with a lovely brew from Avery Brewing Company. Today, it’s Boulder Beer Company’s turn to get dusted off and prepared to shine.

Established in 1979, Boulder is known as Colorado’s first microbrewery. It was started by two physics professors, Randolf Ware and David Hummer, and their associate, Alvin Nelson. At the time it was established, it was only the 43rd licensed brewery in the United States. For context, there are now at least 41 in just Colorado, according to wikipedia. The company has undergone several name changes, from Boulder Brewing Company to Boulder Beer Company to Rockies Brewing Company and then back to Boulder Beer in 2005.

The Killer Penguin, of which I have two different bottles on the sill today, is their Barleywine Style Ale. It’s a limited small-batch release which, according to Boulder Beer, is a “dark garnet red in color with a candied-fruit like aroma and flavor.” Boulder says it’s big and smooth, and “perfect to share among friends.” It’s one of their most rare and sought-after bottled beers. The 2009 bottle says they only brewed one 50-barrel batch per year. Not sure if that still holds true, though.

Colorado Beer Company: Killer Penguin
Look at those badass labels! (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

The first bottle you see is from 2009, and was gifted to me by great friend of the Windowsill, @one_ill_tom. He bought it on a trip to upstate New York, from a random bottle store that had a cellar sale. Aside from the coloring of the label, you can also see that this Killer Penguin was part of BBC’s Looking Glass Series of more experimental brews.

By the time the 2014 bottle came around, things got different. The label is darker and more menacing, and, frankly, better drawn. You can even see the Penguin’s other eye. The Looking Glass Series label is also gone… guess that branding was no longer being highlighted.

I’m not sure if I am going to open these, or try a little harder to collect more from other years, but whenever I do open them, I’ll definitely do a vertical tasting and let you guys know!

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. Cellar on the Sill – Boulder Beer Company: Killer Penguin 2009 and 2014 . Last week, I debuted my Cellar on the Sill series with a lovely brew from Avery Brewing Company. Today, it’s Boulder Beer Company’s turn to get dusted off and prepared to shine. . Established in 1979, Boulder is known as Colorado’s first microbrewery. It was started by two physics professors, Randolf Ware and David Hummer, and their associate, Alvin Nelson. At the time it was established, it was only the 43rd licensed brewery in the United States. For context, there are now at least 41 in just Colorado, according to wikipedia. The company has undergone several name changes, from Boulder Brewing Company to Boulder Beer Company to Rockies Brewing Company and then back to Boulder Beer in 2005. . The Killer Penguin, of which I have two different bottles on the sill today, is their Barleywine Style Ale. It’s a limited small-batch release which, according to Boulder Beer, is a “dark garnet red in color with a candied-fruit like aroma and flavor.” Boulder says it’s big and smooth, and “perfect to share among friends.” It’s one of their most rare and sought-after bottled beers. The 2009 bottle says they only brewed one 50-barrel batch per year. Not sure if that still holds true, though. . The first bottle you see is from 2009, and was gifted to me by great friend of the Windowsill, @one_ill_tom. He bought it on a trip to upstate New York, from a random bottle store that had a cellar sale. Aside from the coloring of the label, you can also see that this Killer Penguin was part of BBC’s Looking Glass Series of more experimental brews. ABV: 10.0%, IBU, N/A, @untappd says: 3.84/5 . By the time the 2014 bottle came around, things got different. The label is darker and more menacing, and, frankly, better drawn. You can even see the Penguin’s other eye. The Looking Glass Series label is also gone… guess that branding was no longer being highlighted. ABV: 10.0%, IBU, 60, @untappd says: 3.81/5. . I’m not sure if I am going to open these, or try a little harder to collect more from other years, but whenever I do open them, I’ll definitely do a vertical tasting and let you guys know!

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Avery Brewing Company: The Czar (2013, Batch 12)

Avery Brewing Company: The Czar

Style: Imperial Stout

Special Notes:  German hops, English yeast, Imported malts and Rocky Mountain water

Hops: Hallertau

Malts: Chocolate, Special Roast, Black, Victory, 2-Row

Yeast: London Ale

ABV: 10.3% (when bottled)

IBU: 55

Availability: Good luck!

@untappd says: 4.07/5

Today, we have a bottle of Avery Brewing Company’s The Czar, an Imperial Stout… from 2013! I got this baby from my good friend Tom, who graciously gifted it to me for my birthday this past summer.

Not all of my beers are for drinking, but I still want to show them off, so we’re starting a new recurring series on the Windowsill. These won’t be reviews, just an exhibition of sorts. Let’s call it… Cellar on the Sill!

The wax-sealed top of the Czar bottle
That wax seal tells you all you need to know, right? (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

The Czar is part of Avery’s Dictator Series (along with the Maharaja Imperial IPA and the Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest), which was discontinued in 2017 (except for the Maharaja). It’s name, and the art on the label, is inspired by Russia’s last emperor, Nicholas II. Long story short, the House of Romanov ran Russia for over 300 years, until a guy named Vladimir Lenin came along and riled up the proletariat—that’s the working class—to the point of inciting a Karl Marx-inspired communist revolution.

Lenin wasn’t a fan of the Romanovs, and said specifically that Nicholas II was “the most evil enemy of the Russian people, a bloody executioner, an Asiatic gendarme…a crowned robber.” When the revolution hit, the Romanov family was gruesomely executed, ending the House of Romanov’s reign.

Tsar Nicholas II on the bottle label
Look at this mug. (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

Politics aside, the Czar is a pretty solid representation of Nicholas II. For one, it’s an Imperial Stout, which was essentially invented by British brewers in the late 17th century so that they could ship their stouts to then Russian dictator Peter the Great. It’s brewed with German Hallertau hops and English London Ale yeast, which fits into Nicholas II’s family tree, since he was first cousins with both England’s King George V (seriously, have you seen the resemblance?) and Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm II. Royals gonna royal, I guess?

There’s more to this beer than a good name, though. I can’t give a full review until I try it, but from what I hear, it’s one of the better Imperial Stouts out there. I wonder how it has aged? Hopefully better than the 300-year Romanov family reign. I don’t need a revolution in my stomach!

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. Avery Brewing Company: The Czar (2013, Batch No. 12) . Not all of my beers are for drinking, but I still want to show them off, so we’re starting a new recurring series on the Windowsill… Cellar on the Sill! . Today, we have a bottle of Avery Brewing Company’s The Czar, an Imperial Stout… from 2013! I got this baby from my good friend @one_ill_tom, who graciously gifted it to me for my birthday this past summer. . The Czar is part of Avery’s Dictator Series (along with the Maharaja Imperial IPA and the Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest), which was discontinued in 2017 (except for the Maharaja). It’s name, and the art on the label, is inspired by Russia’s last emperor, Nicholas II. Long story short, the House of Romanov ran Russia for over 300 years, until a guy named Vladimir Lenin came along and riled up the proletariat—that’s the working class—to the point of inciting a Karl Marx-inspired communist revolution. . Lenin wasn’t a fan of the Romanovs, and said specifically that Nicholas II was “the most evil enemy of the Russian people, a bloody executioner, an Asiatic gendarme…a crowned robber." When the revolution hit, the Romanov family was gruesomely executed, ending the House of Romanov’s reign. . Politics aside, the Czar is a pretty solid representation of Nicholas II. For one, it’s an Imperial Stout, which was essentially invented by British brewers in the late 17th century so that they could ship their stouts to then Russian dictator Peter the Great. It’s brewed with German Hallertau hops and English London Ale yeast, which fits into Nicholas II’s family tree, since he was first cousins with both England’s King George (seriously, have you seen the resemblance?) and Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm II. Royals gonna royal, I guess? . There’s more to this beer than a good name, though. I can’t give a full review until I try it, but from what I hear, it’s one of the better Imperial Stouts out there. I wonder how it has aged? Hopefully better than the 300-year Romanov family reign. I don’t need a revolution in my stomach! . ABV: 10.3% (in 2013), IBU: 55, No longer available . @untappd says: 4.07/5

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Goose Island Beer Company: Bourbon County Brand Reserve (2018)

Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Reserve Stout

Style: Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels

Special Notes: Aged in 12-year-old Elijah Craig Barrel Proof bourbon barrels.

Hops: Millenium

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

ABV: 15.2%

IBU: 60

Availability: Good luck!

@untappd says: 4.63/5

One last hunt on the Windowsill!

One thing beer hunting has taught me, it’s to never give up. This beer is proof that it pays to keep working the internet and the phones when you’re trying to track down specialty brews. Being that I don’t want to pay over $100 or more for the Chicago-only Proprietor’s Stout (that’s what “empty” bottles are selling for on Ebay), the acquisition of this 2018 Bourbon County Brand Reserve brings to an end my hunt for this year’s BCBs from Goose Island Beer Company. It was a fun ride, too!

Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Reserve Stout
Look at this silver sensation… (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

How did I get the 2018 Reserve? I went back to a watering hole that had previously been emptied—the East Side Grocery on 2nd between 74th and 75th. Knowing they were expecting another shipment, I called them Thursday afternoon, and they graciously held me a bottle. Store policy dictated that I also had to buy another flavor in order to get the 2018 Reserve, which I suppose is fair enough. I ended up deciding on another bottle of the regular Bourbon County Brand Stout, which was the cheapest option available. Good to have another one for cellaring anyway, right?

I have to give yet another shout out to Windowsill Hero, Kristena, who once again saved me a 30-block trek to the Upper East Side of Manhattan. She actually also saved me from not getting the 2018 Reserve at all. As it turns out, through what I assume is a miscommunication, when she got to the store, they didn’t have my bottle held, and claimed to never have heard of any Kristena. Did she give up? No! Like any true Windowsiller, she—in her own words—caused a scene until they “magically found” one last bottle behind the counter. She made the clerk so nervous that he had to call the owner… twice! Anyway, she bought it, and delivered it to my desk the next day. Hero! It’s good to have friends who enjoy a good treasure hunt!

Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Reserve Stout Box
You know it’s quality because of all the paragraphs. (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

The difference between the 2018 Reserve and the 2018 regular is all in the barrels. The recipe for both beers is exactly the same. Same malts, same hops, same aging time. Other than the packaging—how cool is that box and the silver label?—the only distinction between the two is that the 2018 Reserve is aged in 12-year-old Elijah Craig Barrel Proof bourbon barrels. The Elijah Craig won whiskey of the year from Whisky Advocate, which is basically the top prize in the industry. I bet it’s gonna be smooth. I hope so, anyway… it was pricey!

Anybody want to send me the Proprietor’s Stout? Lol. Worth a shot, I think!

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Goose Island Beer Company: Bourbon County Brand Reserve (2018) . One last hunt on the Windowsill! . One thing beer hunting has taught me, it’s to never give up. This beer is proof that it pays to keep working the internet and the phones when you’re trying to track down specialty brews. Being that I don’t want to pay over $100 or more for the Chicago-only Proprietor’s Stout (that’s what “empty” bottles are selling for on Ebay), the acquisition of this 2018 Bourbon County Brand Reserve brings to an end my hunt for this year’s BCBs from Goose Island Beer Company. It was a fun ride, too! . How did I get the 2018 Reserve? The East Side Grocery on 2nd between 74th and 75th. Knowing they were expecting another shipment, I called them Thursday afternoon, and they graciously agreed to hold me a bottle. . I have to give yet another shout out to Windowsill Hero, Kristena, who once again saved me a 30-block trek to the Upper East Side of Manhattan. She actually also saved me from not getting the 2018 Reserve at all. As it turns out, through what I assume is a miscommunication, when she got to the store, they didn’t have my bottle held, and claimed to never have heard of any Kristena. Did she give up? No! Like any true Windowsiller, she—in her own words—caused a scene until they “magically found” one last bottle behind the counter. She made the clerk so nervous that he had to call the owner… twice! Anyway, she bought it, and delivered it to my desk the next day. Hero! It’s good to have friends who enjoy a good treasure hunt! . The difference between the 2018 Reserve and the 2018 regular is all in the barrels. Other than the packaging—how cool is that box and the silver label?—the only distinction between the two is that the 2018 Reserve is aged in 12-year-old Elijah Craig Barrel Proof bourbon barrels. The Elijah Craig won whiskey of the year from Whisky Advocate, which is basically the top prize in the industry. I bet it’s gonna be smooth. I hope so, anyway… it was pricey! . Anybody want to send me the Proprietor's Stout? Lol. Worth a shot, I think! . ABV: 15.2%, IBU: 60, Availability? Good luck! . @untappd says: 4.63/5

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Goose Island Beer Company: Bourbon County Brand Bramble Rye Stout (2018)

Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Bramble Rye Stout

Style: Rye Whiskey Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout

Special Notes: Additions of blackberry and raspberry juice and pureé

Hops: Columbus

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

ABV: 12.7%

IBU: 60

Availability: Extremely limited availability

@untappd says: 4.27/5

I’m still hunting down the BCB releases for my Windowsill!

BeerMenus saves the day again! I sat down to eat my lunch today, which gave me an opportunity to search for more places around my office that might be carrying Goose Island Beer Company’s 2018 Bourbon County Brand releases. Again, I hit upon a local shop with several of the variants, including the Bramble Rye Stout! The place, Malt & Mold-Gramercy on 2nd Ave between 21st and 22nd, is a small shop that sells two basic things: Craft beer (the Malt part of the name) and Cheese (the Mold part of the name). I’d never heard of it, but it ended up being pretty awesome. Check out the beer and cheese gift baskets they do!

Malt & Mold refrigerator full of Bourbon County Brand releases
Just a portion of the Bourbon County Brand releases I found at Malt & Mold. (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

As any good hunter knows, if you have the chance to get your prey, you take it. I called up Malt & Mold to confirm that they, indeed, had the Bramble Rye, and had them hold me a bottle. I gathered my heavy jacket (it’s cold out there in these NYC streets), and my hat, and started the roughly 24-block-walk. I hustled all the way, making it basically in 20 minutes. I couldn’t browse long because I had to get back to the office, but the little I did see was pretty impressive. Lots of solid craft beer, including what looked like the remnants of several cases of the BCB releases and even the 2018 Founders CBS (You’ll be mine soon, horse). In short order, I picked up the bottle from behind the counter and paid for it. I returned to work feeling great… the thrill of the successful hunt! I may or may not have changed the lyrics to “Bamboleo” by the Gypsy Kings to “Bramble-eyo.” Reports of that are, and will remain, forever unconfirmed.

Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Bramble Rye Stout
Don’t worry, I didn’t drink it at the office! (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

The Bramble Rye is a little bit different than the other BCB stouts. First of all it’s aged in rye whisky barrels, rather than the traditional bourbon barrels used for the other variants. Secondly, Goose Island brewed this one with additions of blackberry and raspberry—in both juice and pureé form. The fruity stout is something I haven’t been able to taste too often, but I’m excited to crack this one open, and soon.

What’s your favorite variant so far? What has been the toughest to track down?

Check this one out on Instagram right now! You can also see the other variants!

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. Goose Island Beer Company: Bourbon County Brand Bramble Rye Stout (2018) . I’m still hunting down the BCB releases for my Windowsill! . @beermenus saves the day again! I sat down to eat my lunch today, which gave me an opportunity to search for more places around my office that might be carrying Goose Island Beer Company’s 2018 Bourbon County Brand releases. Again, I hit upon a local shop with several of the variants, including the Bramble Rye Stout! The place, @maltandmold on 2nd Ave between 21st and 22nd, is a small shop that sells two basic things: Craft beer (the Malt part of the name) and Cheese (the Mold part of the name). I’d never heard of it, but it ended up being pretty awesome. . As any good hunter knows, if you have the chance to get your prey, you take it. I called up Malt & Mold to confirm that they, indeed, had the Bramble Rye, and had them hold me a bottle. I gathered my heavy jacket (it’s cold out there in these NYC streets), and my hat, and started the roughly 24-block-walk. I hustled all the way, making it basically in 20 minutes. I couldn’t browse long because I had to get back to the office, but the little I did see was pretty impressive. Lots of solid craft beer, including what looked like the remnants of several cases of the BCB releases. In short order, I picked up the bottle from behind the counter and paid for it. I returned to work feeling great… the thrill of the successful hunt! . The Bramble Rye is a little bit different than the other BCB stouts. First of all it’s aged in rye whisky barrels, rather than the traditional bourbon barrels used for the other variants. Secondly, Goose Island brewed this one with additions of blackberry and raspberry—in both juice and pureé form. The fruity stout is something I haven’t been able to taste too often, but I’m excited to crack this one open, and soon. . What’s your favorite variant so far? What has been the toughest to track down? . ABV: 12.7%, IBU: 60, Limited availability . @untappd says: 4.27/5

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Goose Island Beer Company: Bourbon County Brand Coffee Barleywine (2018)

Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Coffee Barleywine

Style: English Style Barleywine Aged in Bourbon Barrels

Special Notes: Finca La Soledad coffee from Guatemala.

Hops: Pilgrim

Malts: 2-Row, C-120, Caracrystal wheat, Dark Chocolate, Superior Pale

ABV: 15.1%

IBU: 60

Availability: Super limited availability

@untappd says: 4.3/5

Another day, another BCB release hunted down!

As the great Beatles song says, “I get by with a little help from my friends.” Every good beer hunter knows that sometimes you have to rely on the eyes, ears and hell sometimes even the feet and money of your buddies to get those rare brews. That’s how I ended up getting my hands on this bottle of the 2018 Bourbon County Brand Coffee Barleywine from Goose Island Beer Company.

I have the luxury of working in Midtown Manhattan—ok it’s not always a luxury—with access to an entire city’s worth of craft beer. A quick search on BeerMenus revealed the existence of a little bodega named the East Side Grocery, on 2nd Avenue, between 74th and 75th on the Upper East Side. Not only did the site say the grocery had the Bourbon County Brand Stout, it also said they’d gotten the Barleywine, the Bramble Rye Stout AND the BCBS Reserve. Say what?

Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Coffee Barleywine
Another day, another Bourbon County Brand release at my desk. (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to make the 30-block walk. Rather than give up, I did some digging and found a friend that lived near the store. Kristena didn’t know she was going to be a Windowsill hero when she woke up yesterday, but she stepped up to the challenge and, although the bodega was out of the Reserve and the Bramble Rye, she snagged me the Coffee Barleywine on her way home!

The exciting part about this beer is that it’s the first ever Bourbon County Coffee Barleywine release. It’s a traditional, malt forward English-style Barleywine aged in 4+ year old Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels. Goose Island worked with Chicago’s Intelligentsia Coffee, flying all the way to Guatemala to source some of the world’s best coffee—Finca La Soledad. I’ve never had a coffee barleywine before, and I can’t wait to try it!

Pop over to Instagram to see our other 2018 Bourbon County Brand Releases. Make sure you like and follow!

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. Goose Island Beer Company: Bourbon County Brand Coffee Barleywine (2018) . Another day, another BCB release hunted down! . As the great Beatles song says, “I get by with a little help from my friends.” Every good beer hunter knows that sometimes you have to rely on the eyes, ears and hell sometimes even the feet and money of your buddies to get those rare brews. That’s how I ended up getting my hands on this bottle of the 2018 Bourbon County Brand Coffee Barleywine from Goose Island Beer Company. . I have the luxury of working in Midtown Manhattan—ok it’s not always a luxury—with access to an entire city’s worth of craft beer. A quick search on @beernenus revealed the existence of a little bodega named the East Side Grocery, on 2nd Avenue, between 74th and 75th on the Upper East Side. Not only did the site say ESG had the BCBS, it also said they’d gotten the Barleywine, the Bramble Rye Stout AND the BCBS Reserve. Say what? . Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to make the 30-block walk. Rather than give up, I did some digging and found a friend that lived near the store. @kmagrips didn’t know she was going to be a Windowsill hero when she woke up yesterday, but she stepped up to the challenge and, although the bodega was out of the Reserve and the Bramble Rye, she snagged me the Coffee Barleywine on her way home! . The exciting part about this beer is that it’s the first ever Bourbon County Coffee Barleywine release. It’s a traditional, malt forward English-style Barleywine aged in 4+ year old Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels. Goose Island worked with Chicago’s Intelligentsia Coffee, flying all the way to Guatemala to source some of the world’s best coffee—Finca La Soledad. I’ve never had a coffee barleywine before, and I can’t wait to try it! . ABV: 15.1%, IBU: 60, Super limited availability . @untappd says: 4.3/5

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Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout

Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout

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

Thought I was done with these on the sill, but surprise, surprise!

There’s only one thing better than scoring a specialty release beer on the day it hits stores: Getting one of the rare variants three days after it reaches shelves! Thanks to my good buddy, Brian, and a well-placed day off from my day job, I managed to snag the Goose Island Beer Company Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout from Ridgefield Wine & Spirits in Ridgefield, CT.

Goose Island Beer Company: 2018 Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout
Got my bottle and headed back home! (Credit: Martin Stezano/Beers on Windowsills)

I was driving around town after running some errands, when I got the word from Brian. I immediately drove to get some coffee—a little Nitro from Donut Crazy in Westport—and then made the roughly 30-minute drive to Ridgefield. Although the cashier temporarily put a fright in me by saying the system showed they didn’t have any left, she quickly asked the manager and he came out from the back with a bottle for me. I snagged the second-to-last one!

I will be reposting this once I taste it—probably some time in early 2019—but I was too proud of my find to not share it with you guys. Like the other Bourbon County Brand Stouts, this one is aged in bourbon barrels that are at least four years old. However, Goose Island’s brewers decided to add Grade A vanilla beans from Madagascar to the mix. The vanilla variant has been gone from the Bourbon County Brand release lineup for a number of years, but it’s back for 2018… and on my Windowsill.

Check me out on Instagram. Like and follow my account for more great Bourbon County Brand finds!

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. Goose Island Beer Company: Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout (2018) . Thought I was done with these on the sill, but surprise, surprise! . There’s only one thing better than scoring a specialty release beer on the day it hits stores: Getting one of the rare variants three days after it reaches shelves! Thanks to my good buddy, @itsmeitsbmd1085, and a well-placed day off from my day job, I managed to snag the Goose Island Beer Company Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout from Ridgefield Wine & Spirits in Ridgefield, CT. . I was driving around town after running some errands, when I got the word from Brian. I immediately drove to get some coffee—a little Nitro from @donutcrazy in Westport—and then made the roughly 30-minute drive to Ridgefield. I snagged the second-to-last bottle! . I will be reposting this once I taste it—probably some time in early 2019—but I was too proud of my find to not share it with you guys. Like the other Bourbon County Brand Stouts, this one is aged in bourbon barrels that are at least four years old. However, Goose Island’s brewers decided to add Grade A vanilla beans from Madagascar to the mix. The vanilla variant has been gone from the Bourbon County Brand release lineup for a number of years, but it’s back for 2018… and on my Windowsill. . ABV: 14.9%, IBU: 60, Extremely limited availability . @untappd says: 4.57/5

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