
The Goose Island BCBS is a limited release beer from Goose Island Brewery, a renowned craft brewery in Chicago, Illinois.
This beer is a bourbon county stout with a rich, complex flavor profile.
The bourbon county stout style is a staple of Goose Island's portfolio, and this release is no exception.
This beer is aged in bourbon barrels, which gives it a distinctive flavor and aroma.
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Release Information
Goose Island BCBS was introduced in 2014 as a new health insurance option in the Chicago area. It's a subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.
The plan is designed for small businesses and individuals, offering a range of coverage options and affordable premiums.
Goose Island BCBS is available in Cook County and surrounding areas, providing access to a network of healthcare providers and specialists.
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The Numbers
Goose Island released 42 different Bourbon County Brand Stout (BCBS) variants over the last 10 years.
In the last decade, the brewery has released a staggering number of variants, with 7 different BCBS beers in the first three years alone.

The first three years saw a total of 7 BCBS variants released, while in 2019, they released 7 more.
Two non-stout variants have been introduced to the line: Bourbon County Brand Barleywine (2013-2018) and Bourbon County Brand Wheatwine (2018-present).
Over the last 10 years, 30 of the BCBS variants made it onto our panel's list, accounting for 71% of all variants.
Comparing the first five years (2010-2014) to the last five (2015-2019), we see that the first five years had 47% of those named compared to 53% for the last five.
Every year of Bourbon County got at least one vote, including beers from 2015.
Goose Island 2020 Bourbon County Stout Release
Goose Island's 2020 Bourbon County Stout Release was a highly anticipated event, and for good reason. They rarely do the two year aging thing, but it's paid off in the past.
Goose Island has done the two year aging thing only two times previously, and it worked out in both instances (Rare 2010 and 2015). This suggests that they know what they're doing when it comes to letting their beer rest for a bit longer.

The 2 Year Reserve Bourbon County Brand Stout (2019) was a standout among the 2019 Bourbon County Brand Stout class, with chocolate cake flavors and a strong barrel presence. This variant was aged in 11-year-old 25th Anniversary Knob Creek barrels, which added to its complexity.
The aging process makes magic in this stout, as it becomes a rich and complex flavor experience with notes of maple syrup, toasted coconut, and chocolate chip pancakes.
Brewmaster and Beer Details
The Brewmaster of Goose Island BCBS is Rob Leighton, who has been perfecting the recipe for this beer since 1992.
Rob Leighton's experience and expertise have resulted in a beer that is both complex and balanced, with a blend of flavors that will keep you coming back for more.
The beer is brewed with a blend of 10 different grains, including barley, wheat, and rye, which gives it a rich and full-bodied flavor.
Keith Gabbett, Brewmaster

Keith Gabbett, Brewmaster, has a unique approach to selecting his favorite beers. He was influenced by a great spring day spent scouting for Mulberry trees in Garfield Park with his son, which led him to consider Backyard Rye.
Keith Gabbett has brewed many fantastic beers over the years, including Café de Olla, Midnight Orange, and barrel-forward variants. He's particularly fond of the 2013 Prop, which featured toasted coconut.
Brewing with toasted coconut was a no-brainer for Keith, as it amplified existing notes in the beer. He and his team even toasted the coconut in two different ways to achieve the perfect flavor.
As the Brewmaster at Goose Island Beer Co., Keith has a deep appreciation for the support of Chicago beer enthusiasts. The 2013 Prop was created as a way to give thanks to the community, and this tradition has continued ever since.
Keith Gabbett's personal connection to the 2013 Prop is strong, as it was the first beer created specifically for Chicago. He's proud to have been able to continue this tradition with subsequent beers.
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2 Year Reserve Bourbon County Brand Stout (2019)

Goose Island's 2 Year Reserve Bourbon County Brand Stout (2019) is a standout among the 2019 Bourbon County Brand Stout class. It was aged in 11-year-old 25th Anniversary Knob Creek barrels, which added a strong barrel presence to the beer.
This stout is made without any adjuncts, allowing the natural flavors to shine through. The extended aging process made magic in this beer, transforming it into an enormous burnt-edge fudge brownie with walnuts on the flavor.
The complexities of this beer unravel with notes of maple syrup, toasted coconut, and chocolate chip pancakes. It's as close to the beloved Baudoinia variant as we'll likely ever see.
The 2-year reserve brought back the original simplicity of the beer, much like the days of the original Rare release. It delivered a perfect combination of barrel and beer, with notes of vanilla, campfire, toasted coconut, caramel, and toffee all wrapped in a massive envelope of dark chocolate.
Bourbon County Brand Midnight Orange Stout (2018)

Bourbon County Brand Midnight Orange Stout (2018) was a unique creation by Goose Island that added two types of cacao nibs and orange peel zest to their Bourbon County beer.
The addition of chocolate/cacao nibs to an already chocolate-forward beer might seem counterintuitive, but it surprisingly worked in the case of Midnight Orange.
Patrick Bisch, a brewer, described the flavor experience as easily replicable by eating a chocolate-covered orange with a glass of bourbon, highlighting the perfect balance of fresh citrus and thick milk chocolate notes.
The aroma of the beer was dominated by the fresh citrus from the orange peel, while the taste melded beautifully with the thick milk chocolate notes.
Drinkers loved the unique combination of orange and chocolate in Midnight Orange, which might have been unexpected at first but ultimately worked well.
Global Activity
People from all over are enjoying Goose Island's Bourbon County Brand Stout (Low Gravity Wine Barrel).
Lynn Faber and Peter van der Arend are among those who have recently had this beer, with both of them drinking it at different locations.
BeerJerk is also a fan of this beer, as evidenced by their recent activity on Untappd.
Frequently Asked Questions
What company owns Goose Island?
Goose Island is owned by Anheuser-Busch, acquired in 2011. We continue to brew high-quality beers for our friends and fans worldwide.
How long does it take to age Goose Island, Bourbon County?
Goose Island Bourbon County is aged for an average of 12 months in bourbon barrels from top distilleries. This lengthy aging process gives the stout its rich, decadent flavors and mouthfeel.
Sources
- https://www.gearpatrol.com/drinks/goose-island-beer-bourbon-county-brand-stout-vanilla-rye/
- http://www.abvchicago.com/bourbon-county-x-the-top-10-bcbs-variants/
- https://untappd.com/b/goose-island-beer-co-bourbon-county-brand-stout/8343
- https://untappd.com/b/goose-island-beer-co-bourbon-county-brand-stout-low-gravity-wine-barrel/265847
- https://brewpublic.com/beer-releases/goose-island-beer-co-2020-bourbon-county-stout-release/
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