Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout - 2015

This is the 2015 vintage of Goose Island's Bourbon County Brand Stout. It is a 13.7% ABV stout aged in bourbon barrels. I really like the embossed bottle they have this year.

The beer pours black in color with some very dark ruby and brown around the edges when held to the light. There is a short head of dark brown foam that is relatively thin and not long-lasting. The aroma is dark brown sugar, molasses, dark fruits, raisins, dark cherries, and figs. Over all the other aromas is a waft of bourbon and vanilla. The taste follows the aromas, darkened sugars, dark fruits, along with very dark roasted malts, char, almost coffee. On the finish is the bourbon. The beer drinks very smooth. At first it feels almost still, and then there is a soft, buzzing, subtle tingle of carbonation. The beer is sweet, but not cloying. This is very, very nice, although not mind-blowing. It will be a good one to see how it develops in the bottle.