Year of New Beer: Bourbon County Brand Special #4 Stout, Goose Island Beer Co (Chicago)

Written By: Dion on 12/09/2020

Everything I love about the original Bourbon County stout is here...roasty malts, rich chocolate, with hints of vanilla, oak, and bourbon. Adding in subtle coffee and maple syrup only improves it, in my opinion. Subtlety is key here. The coffee isn't intrusive, instead giving off a nutty, earthy element, with traces of fruit, almost berry-like. The maple syrup does add a gentle sweetness, but I could have easily attributed it to the caramel-like influence one often gets from a bourbon barrel aged beer. Doesn't drink nearly as big as its ABV would indicate. Rich, roasty, and delicious through the finish. My favorite of the variants to this point.