Goose Island - Bourbon County Stout (2012)

Deliberately left for a friday chill out out after a grinding working week... It is one I've been meaning to try for a good while but just never got around to picking it up so getting it as a present was perfect. At 15% abv it ain't exactly one to take lightly. So, the following below is based on the whole temperature range from the cellar at about 10c through to 20c room temperature. Ok, on with the show...

Woooft, lots of bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, coconut and malts from the pour.

This one pours like engine oil (thick black) with a tan head that vanished 30 secs after. Heavy with bourbon and roasted malt on the intake along with oak, vanilla, coffee, nestle condensed milk ! and a touch of dried fruit. Very long warm aftertaste that leaves you smacking your lips, consisting of the bourbon calmed down a bit/more subdued, chocolate, vanilla and a dab of coconut. Low low carbonation, thick bodied to almost as described above 'engine oil' with a full on double cream like mouthfeel, which is better than it sounds, small sips only !  While you can feel the alcohol presence from the very first sip, to me it is well hidden and does not impair the other flavours.

I took 85 mins drinking the 355ml bottle which just might be the longest I have taken to drink 355ml of anything. It is nice just to sit back, sip and enjoy a beer and come to the conclusion only a third of the way down that what you are drinking is absolute sheer class in a glass. If you don't like the taste of bourbon then I would suggest you avoid this one as it is very prominent. I would buy this one again as it is probably perfect for putting down the cellar for a couple of years. Summing up, world class stout to be sipped and savoured...I'm left wanting more as I have forgot to mention the 'finish' above, good enough reason ?

This scored a perfect 10/10 on the 'it could not be anything else, it's bloody marvelous' Beerometer,

Alc : 15%
Where to buy CPH : Bought in Høkeren, Ravnsborggade 13, 2200 N