Beer of the Week: Goose Island Beer Co 2017 Bourbon County Brand Stout

Chicago’s original craft beer company, Goose Island Beer Co. first launched in 1988. Pioneers of barrel-aged beer, the brewery have introduced a wide portfolio of beers to the UK since launching on this side of the Atlantic, including their core Goose IPA and Honkers Ale.

Following the colossal success of the brewery’s first launch of Bourbon County Brand Stout in the UK – traditionally released in the US on Black Friday – Goose Island have released yet another for 2017. Last year’s UK Bourbon County Brand Stout launch was limited to 100 bottles, all sold in less than one hour (that equates to 14ml sold per second). This year’s release is expected to be equally popular, and will be released on Friday 24^th November.

Brewed with Millennium bittering hops from the US, this year’s Bourbon County Brand Stout was aged in bourbon barrels for between eight to twelve months, boasting a fierce 14.1 per-cent ABV. On pour, the liquid is thick and black, topped with a tan head. On the nose, notes of coffee, dark chocolate, vanilla, oak, pine, liquorice and black treacle are completed with a rich smokiness. Each of these aromas develop on the palate, with complex, full-bodied flavour. On the tongue, the beer’s bitterness is balanced with some malt sweetness. This then develops with a long, oily, bittersweet finish.

Speaking on the launch, Goose Island Principal Brewmaster Jared Jankoski said: “We’re really excited to be bringing Bourbon County Brand Stout to the UK again. It had such a great reception last year. The 2017 edition is deliciously smooth, with notes of vanilla and chocolate which gets more noticeable with every sip. We hope you enjoy this year’s 2017 variant as much as we’ve enjoyed brewing and of course, tasting it!”

Goose Island Brewing Co.’s 2017 Bourbon County Brand Stout will be available on Friday 24^th November at Ghost Whale in Brixton, Kill The Cat in Shoreditch and from beerhawk.co.uk. RRP £20, 500ml. Goose Island Tap House in Balham will also host a UK exclusive County Brand Stout 2017 barrel tapping on Friday 24^th November at 8pm.

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Light beer can fuck off