Goose Island brewer's notes: "Everyday Goose Island smells the wonderful coffee roasting next to our brewery at Chicago's Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea.
This world class roaster puts the same passion and skill into their
coffee as Goose Island does with its beer. This excellent stout is made
with a different coffee from our friends next door each year. With the
change in coffee comes a change in the flavor profile, making each
release truly unique from the previous years.
Recipe Information:
Style: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Coffee Stout
Alcohol by Volume: 15%
International Bitterness Units: 60
Color: Midnight
Hops: Willamette
Malt: 2-Row, Munich, Chocolate, Caramel, Roast Barley, Debittered Black
Coffee: 2010 Release - Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso Beans"
Another bottle I acquired in a trade, Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout (BCBCS) is brewed annually since 2010 in the fall/early winter months. It sees mostly Midwest and East coast distribution, and is one of those bottles that people tend to chase down; it flies off the shelves (if it even makes it to the shelf.) I'm fortunate to have a bottle of this, and so happy to finally try it for the first time!
Appearance: Pours opaque, jet black, like motor oil. A lacy tan head of about one finger in height eventually recedes to a thin tan ring, and no lacing is left on the sides of the glass.
Smell: Bold notes of coffee, dark fruit, molasses, and bourbon.
Taste: The bourbon flavor is massive and immediately apparent. Though the coffee is also noticeable, it's also less than I would have expected, especially considering this is meant to be a coffee stout. It's probably from the age -- the coffee has faded over time. There isn't a huge presence from the barrel itself -- not a lot of woody or earthy notes. Other than the bourbon and coffee, there is a sweetness from the roasted malt that tastes like dark chocolate, and molasses like in the nose.
Mouthfeel: Pretty standard on the palate. Rich and creamy, thick and viscous. The huge body carries the big flavors well.
Overall: This was really good, although I wish I hadn't hung onto it for as long as I did. I would have liked to taste more of the coffee. My mistakes aside, this brew nicely balances all of the heavy-hitting flavors and drinks really smoothly, especially considering the high ABV on it. I have a 2012 that hopefully I'll be able to open fresh and get more of the coffee, and I'll definitely be seeking it out in the upcoming years!
4.5/5
Recipe Information:
Style: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Coffee Stout
Alcohol by Volume: 15%
International Bitterness Units: 60
Color: Midnight
Hops: Willamette
Malt: 2-Row, Munich, Chocolate, Caramel, Roast Barley, Debittered Black
Coffee: 2010 Release - Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso Beans"
Another bottle I acquired in a trade, Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout (BCBCS) is brewed annually since 2010 in the fall/early winter months. It sees mostly Midwest and East coast distribution, and is one of those bottles that people tend to chase down; it flies off the shelves (if it even makes it to the shelf.) I'm fortunate to have a bottle of this, and so happy to finally try it for the first time!
Appearance: Pours opaque, jet black, like motor oil. A lacy tan head of about one finger in height eventually recedes to a thin tan ring, and no lacing is left on the sides of the glass.
Smell: Bold notes of coffee, dark fruit, molasses, and bourbon.
Taste: The bourbon flavor is massive and immediately apparent. Though the coffee is also noticeable, it's also less than I would have expected, especially considering this is meant to be a coffee stout. It's probably from the age -- the coffee has faded over time. There isn't a huge presence from the barrel itself -- not a lot of woody or earthy notes. Other than the bourbon and coffee, there is a sweetness from the roasted malt that tastes like dark chocolate, and molasses like in the nose.
Mouthfeel: Pretty standard on the palate. Rich and creamy, thick and viscous. The huge body carries the big flavors well.
Overall: This was really good, although I wish I hadn't hung onto it for as long as I did. I would have liked to taste more of the coffee. My mistakes aside, this brew nicely balances all of the heavy-hitting flavors and drinks really smoothly, especially considering the high ABV on it. I have a 2012 that hopefully I'll be able to open fresh and get more of the coffee, and I'll definitely be seeking it out in the upcoming years!
4.5/5
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