(Courtesy Goose Island Beer)

Signaling summer’s eventual departure and the onset of the fall, Goose Island Beer has announced this year’s Bourbon County lineup.

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.

According to the Chicago-based brewery renowned for championing America’s first barrel-aged stout, Goose Island will be releasing five different variations of the barrel-aged brand this year along with its classic in 2023…

“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,” said John Zadlo Senior Brand Manager at Goose Island Beer. “Looking back at our legacy as innovators in craft beer, we are excited to have the opportunity to share our evolution with you this year.”

And here’s what will become available on Black Friday 2023….

• 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

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.