Goose Island — Bourbon County Rare 2024

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

The nose opens with waves of charred oak and bourbon-soaked vanilla, layered with dark chocolate ganache and espresso. Faint wisps of blackstrap molasses and toasted coconut emerge as the beer warms. On the palate, rich caramel and toffee dominate initially, giving way to baker’s chocolate, roasted malt, and pronounced bourbon heat. The texture is full-bodied and velvety, coating the mouth with viscous intensity. The finish lingers extensively with warming alcohol, dark fruit notes of fig and prune, bitter cocoa, and persistent oakiness that evolves into subtle leather and tobacco undertones.

Food Pairing

Pair with a dense chocolate torte enriched with salted caramel or espresso for complementary intensity, allowing the bourbon and cocoa notes to intertwine harmoniously. Alternatively, serve alongside aged Stilton or Roquefort, where the beer’s sweetness and alcohol warmth cut through the pungent blue cheese while dark fruit notes bridge the pairing elegantly.

About Goose Island Beer Company

Goose Island Beer Company stands as Illinois’ oldest continuously operating brewery, tracing its roots to 1988 when it opened as a brewpub in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. Named after a nearby island, the brewery was founded with inspiration drawn from English brewing traditions and pub culture, establishing a distinctly European sensibility within the American craft beer landscape. What began as a neighborhood brewpub expanded significantly with a larger production brewery in 1995, allowing Goose Island to grow from local favorite to nationally recognized brand. The brewery gained particular acclaim for its barrel-aged beers and innovative brewing techniques, helping to define the craft beer movement in the Midwest. In 2011, Goose Island became part of Anheuser-Busch InBev, marking a significant moment in craft brewing history as one of the first major acquisitions of an established craft brewery by a global beer conglomerate. Today, Goose Island operates its original Fulton Street production facility with tap room and tours, alongside the Clybourn Avenue Brewhouse, continuing to produce beers distributed across the United States and United Kingdom while maintaining its Chicago heritage.