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Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Goose Island Reveals Its 2025 Bourbon County Stout Lineup
The 2025 Goose Island Bourbon Country Stout Lineup. Goose Island Beer Co. Every fall, craft beer lovers anxiously await one of the most anticipated beer drops of the year, the limited release bottlings from the Goose Island Beer Co. under its Bourbon County Stout Brand. What started in 1992 as a bold experiment aging an imperial stout in bourbon barrels, something unheard of at the time, has become a full-blown cultural moment. Seriously, people stand in lines, undergo lotteries, and chase the limited allocations of bottles coast to coast. This year's lineup should only keep the hype alive. What began as one beer has grown into a family of brews, each with its own unique story and aging journey. At its heart remains the Original Stout, the base beer that launched a genre. But surrounding it are five additional expressions, each drawing from new inspirations, ingredient combinations, and barrel-aging partnerships. Perhaps the biggest news this year is that, for the first time ever, Original Stout will be offered in a four-pack of 10-ounce bottles nationwide. It's a smart move by Goose Island, designed to give fans more flexibility with a brew known for its potent ABV. "This new bottle of our Original Stout has been years in the making, and it's breaking down barriers for beer lovers to enjoy this beer during more occasions," said Todd Ahsmann, President of Goose Island Beer Co. It's a subtle shift, but an important one, reflecting how craft beer drinking has evolved. Drinkers are looking for more tasting flights, more shared pours, and more casual access. By downsizing its flagship beer, it's delivering that to its fans. Goose Island Bourbon County Original Stout. Goose Island Beer Co. As always, the Original sets the tone. Aged for approximately 12 months in a blend of freshly emptied barrels from Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, Four Roses, and Wild Turkey, it boasts deep flavors of fudge, vanilla, cherry, and toasted almond, all wrapped in a rich, viscous body. There's a reason it remains one of the benchmarks for bourbon barrel-aged beer. But from there, the rest of its lineup gets imaginative. Each of the following limited-release brews is available nationwide and comes in both 16.9 oz bottles and on tap, except for the Proprietor's Stout. It is only being offered in Goose Island's home market of Chicago. The 2025 Bourbon County Brand Cherries Jubilee Stout is a flambéed dessert in a bottle. Aged in bourbon barrels, then finished in cognac casks, this stout is blended with Montmorency cherries, citrus, and panela sugar, layering cocoa and dark fruit over a silky finish. It's an elegant beer, channeling the same dessert-inspired energy Goose Island often taps into with finesse. The Chocolate Praline Stout doubles down on decadence. Aged in freshly emptied bourbon barrels and dosed with cocoa nibs, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, and dates, it transforms the base stout into a candy shop tour of rich fudge and chewy toffee with subtle nutty undertones. Each year, the brewery's hometown gift ventures into interesting territory, and this year's Proprietor's Stout shouldn't disappoint. Brewer Colby Magratten drew inspiration from her aunt's beehives and homemade baklava for a release featuring walnuts, pistachios, cassia bark, and honey. The result is warm and spiced, evoking the flavors of toasted nuts, caramelized honeycomb, and comforting baking spices. Goose Island also continues to spotlight their most crucial collaborator in all of this: the barrel. Nowhere is that clearer than in the Double Barrel Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Stout. This variant takes the Original through two consecutive rounds of aging in Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond barrels. The result is a bold brew with tastes of vanilla, toasted marshmallow, and a pronounced oak finish that amplifies the bourbon experience. It's a love letter to American whiskey, and the 1897 law helped define what bourbon would become: the Bottled-in-Bond Act. Then there's the Parker's Heritage Reserve Stout, perhaps the most nuanced and contemplative beer in the lineup. Aged for a full two years in barrels that previously held Parker's Heritage Collection 17th Edition 10-Year Rye, this release is as much about patience as it is about collaboration. The extended time in rye barrels teases out layers of dried fruit, marzipan, cocoa, and complex rye spice. It's a slow sipper, designed for reflection, and honors the legacy of the late master distiller Parker Beam. The 2025 Goose Island Bourbon County Stout Lineup. Goose Island Beer Co. "This year's Bourbon Country Brand Stout lineup showcases how Goose Island, and our barrel aging program, is constantly evolving," says John Zadlo, Senior Brand Manager at Goose Island. "Each release in this family of stouts highlights and elevates the signature expressions that emerge as our Original Stout ages. The beauty of barrel aging lies in its variations and uniqueness, something only achieved through a combination of experience, exceptional ingredients, outstanding barrels, and time." As the bourbon barrel-aged stout space continues to evolve, Goose Island remains its compass point. The 2025 lineup reinforces their foundational role in the category, while offering new formats and flavors to keep things fresh. Whether you're a collector eyeing the Reserve, a dessert stout lover chasing Chocolate Praline, or someone just excited to share a 10-ounce Original fireside, this year's releases should have something for you. While the actual release date for the 2025 Bourbon County Brand Stouts it normally falls around Prohibition Repeal Day, which falls on December 5. So, if you're a lover of big, bold, brews circle the date and make a plan, because if there's one thing history tells us, these bottles won't sit on shelves for long. Follow here for the most up to date information about the ever changing beer, wine and spirits industry. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes Tequila Vs Mezcal: A Guide To When And How To Drink Each Forbes These Are The Best Bourbons Of 2025 (So Far), According To Spirits Competitions Forbes Athletic Brewing's Non-Alcoholic Beer Boom: Big Growth Ahead Forbes How To Read A Bourbon Label
Forbes
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Goose Island's 2025 Bourbon County Stout Lineup Is Stacked With Praline, Cherries, And Rye Barrel Magic
2025 Bourbon County Stout lineup Goose Island If there's one beer release that turns stout fans into full-on line campers each fall, it's Goose Island's Bourbon County Stout. For more than three decades, this legendary brew has been the ultimate reward for waiting out the chill—an imperial stout so rich, boozy, and barrel-kissed that it basically invented its own category. And this year, Goose Island is back with a lineup that's bigger, bolder, and, thanks to some new packaging, even easier to enjoy. Bourbon County Stout has one of those 'happy accident' origin stories that became craft beer legend. Back in 1992, Goose Island brewmaster Greg Hall had the wild idea to pour a rich, boozy stout into used Jim Beam bourbon barrels—something nobody else was really doing at the time. The result? A smooth, complex beast of a beer, bursting with vanilla, oak, chocolate, and (of course) bourbon — and it was a hit. Since then, Bourbon County Stout has spawned all kinds of barrel-aged spinoffs—think coffee, cherries, and even wheatwine—and helped kick off the barrel-aging craze that's now a craft beer staple. 'Having been fortunate enough to try the very first Bourbon County Stout in 1992 when it was draft-only at our pub, I've witnessed the birth—and every evolution—of Bourbon County Brand Stout,' Todd Ahsmann, President of Goose Island Beer Co said in a statement. 'As pioneers of barrel-aged stouts, we've always evolved to meet the moment and the drinker. This new bottle for our Original Stout has been years in the making, and it's breaking down barriers for beer lovers to enjoy this beer during more occasions.' That's right: new packaging. For the first time ever, the Original Bourbon County Stout will be available in a four-pack of 10-ounce bottles, perfect for sipping fireside or sharing at a tasting without committing to a whole bomber yourself. Goose Island is also rolling out a full slate of variants this year, each one dialed in to highlight a different aspect of what makes Bourbon County so iconic. 'At Goose Island, we consider the barrel to be an ingredient—and not just any barrel,' Mike Siegel, Senior Innovation Manager said in a statement. 'We seek out the best and prioritize relationships with the distilleries that craft them. Heaven Hill produces world-class whiskey across a range of brands, including several we've partnered with for Bourbon County over the years, such as Elijah Craig, Old Fitzgerald, Larceny, and Rittenhouse Rye. This year, we're releasing two new beers aged in their barrels: one highlighting the distillery itself with Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond, and another aged in barrels from the Parker's Heritage Collection 10-year 17th Edition Rye Whiskey—one of their most prized annual releases, and a barrel we've long hoped to work with for Bourbon County." 2025 Bourbon County Stour lineup Goose Island From a praline-packed stout brimming with cocoa nibs and roasted nuts to a Cherries Jubilee variant finished in cognac barrels, the lineup reads like a greatest hits album with a few brand-new tracks you'll want to blast on repeat. Here's a closer look at every Bourbon County variant hitting shelves this year and what Goose Island has to say about them: 2025 Bourbon County Brand Original Stout Bourbon County Stout Goose Island ABV: Coming Soon Availability: National Markets Format: 4-pack 10-oz bottle & draft Tasting Notes: Vanilla, cherry, cocoa, toasted almond & caramelized sugar Style: Imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels After crafting the very first bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout, Goose Island understands that great beer begins with the best ingredients– which is why the brewery continues to source only the freshest and finest from trusted partners along the bourbon trail. 2025 Bourbon County Brand Original Stout was aged in a blend of freshly emptied barrels from Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, Four Roses, and Wild Turkey. With an average aging time of 12 months, this stout delivers deeply developed flavors of fudge, vanilla, and caramelized sugar—all wrapped in a rich, decadent mouthfeel. 2025 Bourbon County Brand Cherries Jubilee Stout Cherries Jubilee Goose Island ABV: Coming Soon Availability: National Markets Format: 16.9oz bottle & draft Tasting Notes: Burnished cocoa & vibrant dark stone fruit with a caramelized citrus finish Style: Imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels, finished in cognac barrels with Montmorency cherries, citrus & panela As stout ages, Goose Island's brewers often observe a range of fruit expressions that emerge from the barrel and from time itself. Inspired by the flambéed dessert classic Cherries Jubilee, 2025 Bourbon County Brand Cherries Jubilee Stout captures the essence of cognac-soaked cherries and caramelized citrus. The beer began its aging journey in freshly emptied bourbon barrels, which impart rich layers of oak, warm vanilla, and subtle baking spice. It was then finished in cognac barrels, adding elegant notes of dried fruit and contributing to a rich, full mouthfeel. Following the aging process, the stout was blended with Montmorency cherries, citrus, and panela–resulting in a velvety, decadent beer with flavors of candied dark cherry, soft vanilla, and a caramelized citrus finish. 2025 Bourbon County Brand Chocolate Praline Stout Chocolate Praline Stout Goose Island ABV: Coming Soon Availability: National Markets Format: 16.9oz bottle & draft Tasting Notes: Rich fudge with toasted marzipan & chewy toffee Style: Imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels with cocoa nibs, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews & dates Bourbon County Brand Stout is a beer crafted for aging. Over time, Goose Island's imperial stout undergoes an incredible transformation within the barrel. With patience and time, the beer not only absorbs the character of the freshly emptied bourbon barrels, but also develops expressions of toasted marzipan and dried fruit—signature to Original Stout. Goose Island brings these flavors to the forefront with 2025 Bourbon County Brand Chocolate Praline Stout. First aged in freshly emptied bourbon barrels, this stout draws inspiration from the underlying decadence of chocolate, caramel, and roasted nuts found in Original. Layered with a blend of cocoa nibs, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, and dates, this full-bodied stout showcases the classic flavors of a chocolate praline while embracing the subtle nuances imparted by the bourbon barrel. 2025 Bourbon County Brand Proprietor's Stout Proprietor's Stout Goose Island ABV: Coming Soon Availability: Chicago Market Format: 16.9oz bottle & draft Tasting Notes: Caramelized honeycomb, baking spice & roasted candied nuts Style: Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels with walnuts, pistachios, cassia bark & honey Inspired by the beehives on her aunt's Rhode Island homestead, Goose Island brewer Colby Magratten was immediately drawn to the flavors of crisp and nutty homemade baklava—an idea she knew would be perfect for 2025 Bourbon County Brand Proprietor's Stout. First aged in bourbon barrels and then finished with walnuts, pistachios, cassia bark, and honey, each ingredient was carefully chosen to complement the aged imperial stout: toasted nuts highlight its warm, nutty character; cinnamon enhances the spice of the bourbon barrel; and rich honey deepens the stout's caramelized body. This stout boasts a dessert-inspired expression with layers of comforting warmth, deeply roasted nuts, and a subtly sweet finish—crafted with love for, and available only in, the city Goose Island calls home: Chicago. 2025 Bourbon County Brand Double Barrel Stout Double Barrel Stout Goose Island ABV: Coming Soon Availability: National Markets Format: 16.9oz bottle & draft Tasting Notes: Toasted marshmallow, warm vanilla with a pronounced oak finish Style: Imperial Stout double barrel-aged in Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon barrels Shared dedication to their respective crafts is what unites Heaven Hill and Goose Island in the creation of 2025 Bourbon County Brand Double Barrel Stout. As the creators of the world's first bourbon barrel-aged stout, the brewers at Goose Island have spent over thirty years redefining what beer can be through the evolution of Bourbon County Brand Stout. Over time, the series has grown into a diverse family of beers—each expressing a distinct character and perspective. As Bourbon County ages, it develops a myriad of characteristics: complex, layered, and deeply expressive. Drawing on decades of experience, Goose Island's brewers have learned how to elevate those qualities by fine-tuning every variable—from ingredient selection to barrel choice to time spent aging. Every decision reveals a new facet of Original Stout. 2025 Bourbon County Brand Double Barrel Stout is a masterclass in that approach. In collaboration with Heaven Hill Distillery, Goose Island aged this release in not one, but two sets of freshly emptied Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon barrels. By centering the nuanced complexity of the whiskey, the resulting beer is a true celebration of bourbon, collaboration, and the most essential element of every Bourbon County release: the barrel itself. 2025 Bourbon County Brand Reserve Stout Reserve Stout Goose Island ABV: Coming Soon Availability: National Markets Format: 16.9oz bottle & draft Tasting Notes: Layers of dried fruit & marzipan with nuanced rye spice Style: Imperial Stout aged two years in Parker's Heritage Collection 10-year 17th Edition Rye Whiskey barrels Parker Beam began his distilling career at Heaven Hill in 1960, working alongside his father before becoming a sixth-generation Master Distiller in 1975. Over five decades, he built a legacy of uncompromising quality and quiet innovation—values now embodied in the Parker's Heritage Collection, named in his honor. Released annually, the collection has become a benchmark of excellence within the whiskey industry. Goose Island Beer Co. 2025 Bourbon County Brand Family Fact Sheet 2025 Bourbon County Brand Reserve Stout is a testament to the depth that comes from extended aging in an exceptional single lot of barrels. For this special release, Goose Island rested its imperial stout for a full two years in casks from one of the most respected names in American whiskey: Parker's Heritage Collection. This longer aging period goes beyond the brewery's traditional process, drawing out concentrated layers of cocoa, dried fruit, spice, and toasted oak. The result is a rich, contemplative expression of Bourbon County—one that rewards patience and reflects a legacy built slowly, barrel-by-barrel.
