Goose Island Bourbon County Stout and Bardstown Bourbon partner on the most unique beer
The annual Goose Island Bourbon County Stout release is one of the most highly anticipated days for beer drinkers. From the traditional offering to the special Proprietor’s release, those celebrated beers celebrate the craft, innovation, and tradition of the brewmasters. With this year’s Bardstown Bourbon collaboration, the specialty offering shows that two distinct methods can blend to create a most spirited beverage.
Long before the idea was common in the beer industry, aging beer in bourbon barrels has been a signature item for Goose Island. Over the years, the brewery has filtered beer through cherry wood and implemented other innovative concepts.
For the 2024 Bardstown Bourbon collaboration, Goose Island implemented a zebra barrel method. It is not taking the barrels on safari or kicking the beer around the Brookfield Zoo. It is the idea that two different woods are used in the barrel. The “zebra” name comes from using the two woods.
The specialty Bardstown barrels combine both oak and cherry wood, which makes it a zebra barrel. Additionally, parts of the barrel are charred via infrared technology, versus the traditional burnt char. The combination cherry wood and American oak adds another layer of creativity to this offering
While Goose Island offered a specialty cask strength in 2023, this one feels different due to the zebra barrels. Beer drinkers will debate which offering is more successful, but the willingness to take a different approach deserves to be discussed. This concept opens the door to appreciating how blending woods can and does impact the final flavor. Only time will tell if this round in the conversation will push the flavor creativity in another direction.
Overall, the 2024 Bourbon County Brand Bardstown Cask Finish Stout could be the popular choice of IPA drinkers. While there is the traditional underlying sweetness, warm spice, and other familiar notes, the inherit bitterness is front and center. Whether it is a tannin like note or just an oak forward flavor, this stout is different from the other 2024 offerings.
Personally, this beer is best enjoyed with a Bardstown bourbon served alongside it. It might be a heavy pour, it is best enjoyed on a leisurely evening with no distractions. That time allows the drinker to ponder the juiciness of cherry, the richness of chocolate, and all the smoky oak. Some people might want to break out that cigar, but a night gazing at a fire’s embers could reveal the secret pleasure of enjoying these annual stouts.
The 2024 Bourbon County Brand Bardstown Cask Finish Stout is one of several offerings this year. Check with retailers as well as Goose Island’s taprooms for availability and pricing.