Every November on the day after Thanksgiving, we celebrate the American consumerist tradition of Black Friday by waiting in line at big box stores and occasionally erupting into fisticuffs over LCD TV deals. That day also marks the release of Goose Island Beer Co.’s annual Bourbon County Stout lineup, a fan favorite that has achieved cult-like status in the beer world over the years. We have the early details to share, and there are some exciting new variants on the way.
Bourbon County Stout first came out more than 30 years ago in 1992, but the Chicago brewery started releasing it as a collection of variants in 2010, the year before it was acquired by beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev. The through line of these stouts are that most of them are aged in used whiskey barrels that come from well-known distilleries like Heaven Hill, James B. Beam Distilling Co., Angel’s Envy, and Buffalo Trace. Those casks were used this year as well, but there’s a new partner for one of the variants—Bardstown Bourbon Company, the fantastic operation located in the heart of bourbon country that contract distills, sources barrels, and produces its own excellent whiskeys. “Our 2024 Bourbon County Brand family takes us on a compelling journey in barrel aging,” said senior brand manager John Zadlo in a statement. “This year’s lineup is an exploration of the unique ways we at Goose Island highlight the story of grain in our barrel-aged beers.” This comes after last year’s release of BBC Collaborative Series bourbon that was finished in barrels previously used to age Bourbon County Stout, so this isn’t the first time the two brands have worked together.
There are five different Bourbon County Stout variants being released this year. The heart of the lineup is the classic Bourbon County Brand Original Stout, and the 2024 release was aged in “freshly emptied bourbon barrels” from Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, Four Roses, and Wild Turkey for about 16 months. Tasting notes describe vanilla, cherry, cocoa, toasted almond, and caramelized sugar on the palate. According to Goose Island president Todd Ahsmann, this year’s version is not to be missed. “While I admittedly find myself reaching for Original Bourbon County Stout time and time again, this year’s vintage really stands out,” he said.
The rest of the lineup takes things in some interesting sounding directions. The Vanilla Rye Stout is back after a six-year absence, and according to the brewery it’s a return to the version that appeared ten years ago in 2014. It’s a rye imperial stout that was aged in rye whiskey barrels for a year and then finished with Madagascar vanilla beans. The rye barrel aging is said to bring a dose of spice to the sweet vanilla on the palate. Next up is Macaroon Stout, which was inspired by Goose Island employee Paul Spiller’s memories of baking with his family. This imperial stout was aged for a year in bourbon barrels before cocoa nibs, candied ginger, and toasted coconut were added to try to replicate the flavors of a macaroon in sudsy form.
Proprietor’s Stout was created in 2013 as Chicago-exclusive release, and that remains true this year, albeit with a twist, with the debut of Proprietor’s Barleywine Ale. Brewer Colby Magratten was inspired by Mexican candy, taking barleywine aged in bourbon barrels and blending it with tamarind, lime, Guajillo chiles, and piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar). And last but not least is the BBC collab Bardstown Cask Finish Stout, which the brand says follows a similar trajectory as the distillery’s Origin Series rye whiskey. Goose Island’s imperial stout was aged in BBC rye whiskey barrels and then finished in the same hybrid oak and cherrywood casks that are used to finish the whiskey. “It’s incredible to see how stout can be transformed—first by American oak, then by cherrywood,” said BBC VP of development Dan Callaway. “Cheers to the Goose Island team for their innovation and attention to detail, creating a magnificent release.”
You’ll have to wait until Friday, November 29 to try the new Bourbon County Stout collection, but you can still find last year’s variants available to purchase from websites like Total Wine. Pick up a few to see how they compare to this year’s release.
