Goose Island Bourbon County Barleywine Review

Name: Goose Island Bourbon County Barleywine
Style: Barleywine
ABV: 12.3%

Every year at the beginning of December, Goose Island Brewing releases their Bourbon County series in limited quantities. Last year I reviewed their Bourbon County Stout and found it to be quite good.

Now originally I was going to review their Barleywine but I mistakenly gave it to a friend of mine and was unable to give it a proper review. To make matters worse, the poor guy wasn't used to the barleywine style, let alone a beer that is high in alcohol content. Well now the time has come where I can give this a proper review.

Pours a black color with some mild visible carbonation. The head pours a creamy khaki-colored head and the lacing is very sparse.

In the aroma, I'm picking up on some strong vanilla bourbon notes with some strong oakiness. There is some strong caramel maltiness along with some prominent bitter hoppiness.

In the front, the vanilla bourbon and caramel maltiness are very prominent. The bitter hoppiness and oakiness show themselves in the second half of the taste. The aftertaste is primarily oak and caramel malts.

This is no doubt an extremely good bourbon barrel aged barleywine but it isn't quite my favorite bourbon barrel aged barleywine, which so happens to be from Central Waters The asking price is also a bit steep but if you can afford it, then you are in good company.

Goose Island Bourbon County Barleywine - 9/10