I enjoy traveling to my local liquor superstore, looking for more brews to evaluate. It’s been a good winter for new brews: Sam Adams Imperial Pilsner was a hit, Bell’s 7000 was enjoyable, although maybe not worth the $16.99 per six pack that it commanded. The $5.99 Point Special was anything but.
So when I saw the two newest from Goose Island Brewing Co., Bourbon County Stout and Imperial IPA for a whopping $18.99 per 12 oz. 4-pack, I decided to give the stout a try thinking I didn’t need to pay nearly 4 times what I did for the Sam Adams Imperial Pilsner. Nick the liquor store guy said it had a good kick. He was right about Bell’s 7000 and generally gives me good advice. He also recommended Founders Breakfast Stout, so I will be trying that soon.
The bottle describes this brew as having 11% abv. The web site comments that the stout was aged in bourbon barrels and, among the various puffery, it claimed that “…one sip has more flavor than your average case of beer.”
Ok, I’m ready to step up.
The Nose Upon opening, a fairly pronounced malt aroma, hint of burnt oak.
The Pour Basically this has the color and consistency of motor oil that has gone too long between oil changes. This poured black with a small, very dark and long-lasting head.
The Taste Very modest malt, slight carbonation. Plenty of flavors: I got the bourbon, some burnt oak, caramel, raisins. Not much hops. Considering the abv, the alcohol was not really noticeable in the taste. I did notice that the flavors in general and the burnt flavor in particular intensified as this warmed up. I therefore recommend that you let this stand for a while after taking it out of the refrigerator.
The Aftertaste The finish had a little more of the caramel and the bitterness of the intense abv, but didn’t last too long.
The abv kicked in, though. I have no need of another right now.
Foods? This is not built for foods. It is almost like cognac in that it has to be sipped and enjoyed. It might go with a big steak – if you are at home or someone else is doing the driving. The site doesn’t list any food combinations, although it claims it would go well with cigars. I don’t do cigars, so I can’t.
I found this to be enjoyable. Nice taste, nice buzz. It’s fror sipping and enjoying, not pounding, but I can enjoy either. I will happily drink one on appropriate occasions, for example, the Bears vs Carolina on Sunday. Maybe a big Illini game.
Will I buy it again? Probably not. But I can recommend it.
4*
Thanks for reading. God bless!
You might enjoy some of my beer reviews
Point Special Beer
Budweiser Select
Sam Adams 2005 Imperial Pilsner
Bell’s 7000 ale
Baltika #6 Russian Beer
Baltika #4 Russian Beer
Ommegang Belgian-style ale with Cherry Lambic
Unibroue Terrible Belgian-style Ale
Zhiguly 9.5 Grand Lithuanian Beer
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
And my Chicago area restaurant reviews.
Millenium Park Grill
Davis Street Fishmarket
Bob Chinn’s Crab House
Hackney’s Restaurant in Glenview
Twin Anchors Restaurant in Chicago
Pavilion Restaurant in Chicago
Szechuan East Restaurant in Chicago
Maggiano’s Little Italyt
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