Goose Island — Bourbon County Old Forester Birthday 2020

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

The nose opens with waves of dark chocolate ganache, espresso, and bourbon-soaked vanilla, layered with Old Forester’s signature brown sugar and baking spice notes. The palate delivers viscous intensity—molten fudge, roasted malt, and dark fruit compote mingle with caramel, toasted oak, and whiskey warmth. Charred wood tannins provide structure beneath the decadent sweetness. The finish lingers luxuriously, balancing bourbon heat with bitter cocoa, dried cherry, and a subtle tobacco leaf dryness that evolves through minutes of contemplation.

Food Pairing

Pair with a dense chocolate bourbon pecan pie, where the nutty richness and caramelized sweetness echo the beer’s barrel character without overwhelming its complexity. Alternatively, serve alongside aged Parmigiano-Reggiano or cave-aged Gouda, whose crystalline texture and umami depth create fascinating counterpoint to the stout’s roasted malt sweetness and oak-driven intensity.

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.