USA, IL: Goose Island released Bourbon County Stout

Goose Island's legendary Bourbon County Stout was released last week. And legendary is no exaggeration. BCS, as it is called in beer circles, is widely considered the first beer aged in whiskey barrels, which has become a staple in craft brewing, Chicago Tribune reported on September, 11.

While BCS usually lands in the hands of craft beer lovers (and collectors) with barely a moment on the shelves, it should be easier to track down than in years past. Brewery spokesman Mark Mahoney said five times as much BCS was brewed this year as compared to 2011, and 10 times as much will be available in Chicago.

Mahoney said the increased output was possible because of the brewery's 2011 sale to Anheuser-Busch and exporting much of the production of the company's simpler beers, like 312 Urban Wheat Ale and Honker's Ale, to out-of-state A-B facilities. That opened space in Chicago to brew more BCS, he said.

Though Chicago is getting the first rollout, BCS will be released in more than 30 states through the year.

Along with the standard BCS — a stout aged in Heaven Hill whiskey barrels for about eight months, resulting in a massive (for beer) 15 percent alcohol by volume — Goose will release two variations.

As usual, that includes a coffee version made with Intelligentsia Coffee; the brewery considered 12 varieties before settling on La Tortuga.

"This year, we wanted to nail the more floral flavors," said John Laffler, who manages the Goose Island barrel aging program.

Coffee BCS will likely be released in Chicago in November. After that, either by the end of 2012 or in early 2013, will come a version aged with cherries in rye whiskey barrels.

19 September, 2012