Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout Challenge

By scot in Beer on Sunday, December 3rd, 2023

I am challenging myself to drink a Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout every week for the next fifty-two weeks. This is similar, but not as epic, as the 365 American craft beers, one-per-day, that I did back in 2011 (yikes, 12 years ago).

This challenge is to help me get rid of the mountain of Bourbon County Brand Stout that I have amassed over the past 7 or 8 years. As I learned in the Three Floyds Dark Lord vertical tasting we did back in 2016, stouts seem to hit their stride around year 3 and 4, with noticeable falling off thereafter.

The other inspiration for this comes from the fact that Rich and I have been getting together to drink our bad old beers. We cruise through 8 bottles in an evening that finds six, seven, or more them being a single sip drain pour. During our time choking down these wonderful cellar aged beers, we have drifted on the topic of the Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stouts that sit in both of our cellars.

Instead of letting more expensive beer get to a point in which I cannot enjoy, it is time to embark on this new 52 week American craft beer journey.

Being a math nerd, I like statistics and numbers that my mind can crunch on. I will share.

Definitely heavy on 2019 and sparse on 2020 (too easy to drink during COVID) and 2022. 2022 marks the first year that I really started drinking the beers fresh as I prefer them up front and personal with the bold flavors, aromas, and overall experience.

Tentative schedule order for the Bourbon County Brand Stouts which was chosen at random by my wife.

1. 2016 BCBS
2. 2019 Rittenhouse Rye
3. 2017 BCBS
4. 2019 Wheatwine
5. 2020 BCBS
6. 2017 BCBS
7. 2018 Coffee Barleywine
8. 2016 Barleywine
9. 2022 BCBS
10. 2019 BCBS
11. 2019 Café de Olla
12. 2017 BCBS
13. 2021 BCBS
14. 2019 Mon Chéri Stout
15. 2018 Wheatwine
16. 2019 Wheatwine
17. 2017 Barleywine
18. 2021 Fourteen
19. 2019 BCBS
20. 2018 BCBS
21. 2017 BCBS
22. 2021 Cherry Wood
23. 2017 BCBS
24. 2018 BCBS
25. 2019 BCBS
26. 2020 BCBS
27. 2021 BCBS
28. 2019 Wheatwine
29. 2019 Café de Olla
30. 2019 Mon Chéri Stout
31. 2019 BCBS
32. 2018 BCBS
33. 2017 BCBS
34. 2022 Biscotti
35. 2023 BCBS
36. 2019 BCBS
37. 2018 BCBS
38. 2019 Mon Chéri Stout
39. 2019 Café de Olla
40. 2020 BCBS
41. 2017 BCBS
42. 2019 BCBS
43. 2018 BCBS
44. 2019 BCBS
45. 2019 BCBS
46. 2019 Wheatwine
47. ?
48. ?
49. ?
50. ?
51. ?
52. ?

I will be reviewing each different beer but not the duplicates. Also, you will notice that I am missing the last six weeks of the schedule. Leaving for that for some special variants and possibly 2024 BCBS.

I am looking forward to the endeavor as my wife has shown interest in trying to keep to a schedule of every Sunday. Enjoy!

Useless Fact: Dolly Parton once lost a Dolly Parton look alike contest.