Goose Island Black Friday Bourbon County Stout Release – 2023

(Courtesy Goose Island Beer)

Standing in lines for Goose Island’s annual Black Friday Bourbon County Stout Release, is for many beer lovers a rite of passage

And although many in the craft beer community dismiss Goose Island (now owned by AB InBev) as no longer being ‘craft beer,’ their annual Bourbon County Brand release still generates a great deal of buzz.

But one of the benefits of Goose Island’s alignment with Anheuser-Busch InBev is distribution which ensures that its yearly Goose Island Bourbon County Stout variations are widely available on Black Friday, that’s WIDELY AVAILABLE as in coast-to-coast.

In August the Chicago-based brewery renowned for championing America’s first barrel-aged stout, announced that it releasing a total of seven different variations of the barrel-aged brand along with its classic in 2023…

As always, this year’s Bourbon County release sounds interesting.

They’re all aggressively high octane, with ABVs that hover around 15% and in a departure to recent years there are no Barleywines or Wheatwines in the mix, this time around Goose Island is doing what it does best and sticking with stouts.

• 2023 Bourbon County Brand Original Stout
• 2023 Bourbon County Brand Eagle Rare 2-Year Reserve Stout
• 2023 Bourbon County Brand Angel’s Envy 2-Year Cask Finish Stout
• 2023 Bourbon County Brand Bananas Foster Stout
• 2023 Bourbon County Brand Backyard Stout
• 2023 Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Stout

And here are Goose Island’s descriptions of this year’s lineup which as usual will become available nationally on Black Friday, with the exception of its Proprietor’s Bourbon County Stout which, as a gift to its hometown fans, is a Chicagoland exclusive release…

2023 Bourbon County Brand Original Stout

Bourbon County Original Stout is aged in a mix of freshly emptied bourbon barrels from Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, Four Roses and Wild Turkey distilleries.⁠ Barrel aged for an average of 12 months, Original boasts deeply developed flavors of fudge, vanilla, and caramelized sugar with a rich, decadent mouthfeel.

2023 Bourbon County Brand Eagle Rare 2-Year Reserve Stout

Aged for two years in extraordinary Eagle Rare 10-year-old barrels, each sip is a culmination of our passion, intricately woven together with the nuanced flavors imparted by these remarkable barrels. Eagle Rare Reserve is an incredibly complex and boldly rich stout that celebrates the essence of American brewing at its finest.

2023 Bourbon County Brand Angel’s Envy 2-Year Cask Finish Stout

Introducing the newest addition to the Bourbon County family: our first-ever “Cask Finish” stout. The beer starts in freshly emptied barrels that once held Angel’s Envy Kentucky straight bourbon. After aging in those for a year, the beer was transferred to a second set of Ruby Port wine barrels where it patiently matured for another year.  By replicating Angel Envy’s finishing process, we refined and amplified the flavors of cherry, spice, and cocoa within this aged stout.

2023 Bourbon County Brand Bananas Foster Stout

This recipe was first released in 2017 as Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Stout only to Chicago drinkers. Sure to bring a bit of flair to your palate, this decadent pour is well-balanced with deep caramelization, aromas of fresh baked banana bread and warm notes of cinnamon and almond.

2023 Bourbon County Brand Backyard Stout 

This barrel-aged stout was first aged in bourbon barrels for at least one year, and then finished and blended with mulberries, boysenberries and marionberries. Each addition of berry contributes its own distinct flavor profile, with some adding sweetness and others providing acidity and complexity.

A taste of the past, this imperial stout is a balanced and nuanced play on fresh fruit, vanilla, and chocolate.

2023 Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Stout

Always the most prized of Goose Island’s annual Bourbon County Stout release, this year’s Chicagoland-only Proprietor’s Stout is an homage to the adventurous craft beer community in Chicago and a respite from the winter’s they endure.

Using a combination of cassia bark, brown sugar, raisins and toasted rice, the final recipe is a taste of home cooking. This stout wraps you in a culinary blanket of toasted rice, vanilla custard, dried fruit, and baking spice

“Every one of these incredible stouts in our 2023 Bourbon County Brand line-up is a testament to what we at Goose Island have built over the years, as well as what is yet to come,” said John Zadlo, Senior Brand Manager. “Continuously determined to explore the full range of both barrel and variant expressions, we tirelessly strive to push the boundaries of what beer can be.” –