It’s fairly common to see imperial stouts that have been aged in oak barrels, as the woodsy, sometimes charred flavor imparted by them is a nice complement to roasted malt. Furthermore, the barrel-aging process helps soften the impact that the higher-end alcohol content has on the beer’s flavor. Nowhere better is the harmonizing effect of barrel-aging in stouts found than in Goose Island’s ‘Bourbon County Brand Stout’. Its individual flavors, despite being incredibly bold and distinct, are woven into an amazing unified aesthetic, leading to a well-deserved, legendary reputation.

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‘BOURBON COUNTY BRAND STOUT (2012)’ – GOOSE ISLAND – Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels – 15.00% ABV (Eye Choir’s Top Choice)

Appearance: Poured a rich black with traces of very dark, muddy brown and a one-finger, dark mahogany head. The body is far too dark to see any carbonation or haziness. 4.5/5

Smell: Barrel aromas are quite prominent here, with a big burst of smooth, fine malty bourbon rooted in lightly toasted oak wood with a kick of creamy vanilla. The combination of these aromas with the malt give a pungent crème brûlée impression that is lofted over lesser notes of light molasses and burnt toast. Soft hints of plummy dark fruit and licorice take up the rear. Extremely powerful and wonderfully detailed, but despite how dark the flavors are, there is no sense of the burnt or acrid here. Amazing. 5/5

Taste: Mild to moderate tartness amplifies the roasted character, bringing out notes of coffee and unsweetened cocoa that blend with caramelized fig and blackberry liqueur. Mild to moderate sweetness still creeps in though, transforming the cocoa into a fudgy confection with streaks of toffee, as well as toasted coconut that is coaxed out from the oak flavors. The sweetness lasts well into the finish, where a mild bitterness concludes the drink with some varnished booze, a spicy whiskey soaked wood, and leathery tannins. Absurdly complex yet conspicuously balanced. Perfect. 5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium to heavy body, propelled forward by a commanding, strong alcoholic heat that flushes the ears after the first sip. Has the immediate impression of warmth but doesn’t burn, though a slight sizzle of carbonation sustains the acidity slightly. Quite smooth, with the silken weight of the malt balancing the alcoholic heat. Delectable. 5/5

Overall: Between the impressively punchy flavors, level of detail, finely tuned balance, and indulgent mouthfeel, there’s not much here that I could imagine being improved on. I don’t believe in ‘perfect’, but this is cutting it quite close. 5/5

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‘YOUNG’S DOUBLE CHOCOLATE STOUT’ – WELLS & YOUNG’S – Sweet Stout brewed with dark chocolate – 5.20% ABV

Appearance: Poured an imposing black with soft amber highlights when held to the light, and a one-finger, light copper head. The body is too dark to see any carbonation or sediment. 3.5/5

Smell: Strong dark malt character which has prominent notes of dark chocolate cocoa and freshly ground coffee bean. A little bit of raspberry and creamy vanilla hide underneath, alongside a faint smokiness that substitutes for hop character. Not overly complex, having a sense of richness that doesn’t come off as pretentious. 4/5

Taste: Begins with a clean, mild to moderate sweetness that amplifies the malt to include chocolate chip cookies and cream, though a mild tartness helps balance this while also providing depth to the cream and mild dark fruit flavor. Mild to moderate bitterness in the finish is very clean, clearing the rich cocoa to make room for a slightly musty, french vanilla frozen coffee. Good balance and reasonably detailed, though not particularly inventive. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium to light body which is further propped up by a drying, mild carbonation that helps push the tartness along mid-palate. Nonetheless, fairly creamy with a nice long tongue-coating aftertaste, though one which features virtually no alcoholic heat. 4/5

Overall: A fairly straightforward, though very well-balanced and tasty sweet stout, which showcases chocolate without beating you over the head with it. 3.5/5

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‘BLACK CHOCOLATE STOUT’ – BROOKLYN – Imperial Stout – 10.00% ABV

Appearance: Poured a dark mahogany brown to black with a one-finger, deep fleshy beige. The body’s darkness lends to a opacity which obscures any carbonation or haze. 4/5

Smell: Malt aromas surface first, with luscious dark chocolate blending with milder sweet roasted coffee beans and charcoal. This is quickly supplemented by a surprising boozy presence though, which features Concord grapes and burnt prunes in addition to a slight dark fusel alcohol character. Flavors are nicely detailed but not excessively so, with the main feature being a unique integration of the roast malt into the other flavors. 4/5

Taste: Moderately sweet, which brings out quite a bit of the baker’s chocolate and a bit burnt molasses but also supports some ethereal dark cherry liqueur notions. A mild to moderate tartness also helps this suggestion of fruit but still fits the acidic charred character the beer is centered on. Booze flavors blossom in the finish, and a mild bitterness concludes the malt with tart scorched caramel and a touch of soy sauce. An interesting elaboration on the aroma, with adequate complexity to flesh out the bold balance. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium body, with an unexpectedly bright kick of carbonation that helps keep the fruit flavors in the forefront. Alcohol content contributes to a slightly slick mouthfeel that transforms into a hearty, mild to moderate alcoholic heat that fits the maverick spirit of the balance. 4/5

Overall: Quite inventive, utilizing a flashy combination of fruit and booze to tease out some interesting parallels in a rich, yet more ordinary malt character. Balance and detail is reasonable at the behest of a ‘forward’ flavor profile. 4/5

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‘BIG BAD BAPTIST (#22)’ – EPIC – Imperial Stout brewed with cocoa nibs and coffee beans and aged in whiskey barrels – 10.20% ABV

Appearance: Poured an impenetrable charcoal black with a two-finger, chocolate brown head with slight rusty tinges. The body is far too opaque to see any carbonation or haziness whatsoever. 4/5

Smell: Very strong malt character, with a predominant smoky coffee bean aroma that has the same, earthy complexity of an actual cup of coffee. Charcoal that underlies a stark charred barrel wood note lingers in the background along with hints of hints of almost peppery booze and dark chocolate. Very intense and quite deep, with a character that is strangely beyond the standard mis en place of a normal imperial stout through its stalwart focus on the coffee. 4/5

Taste: Mild to moderate sweetness helps assert the creamy cocoa flavors, giving the impression of cafe mocha. However, a mild to moderate tartness quickly integrates the smoked espresso and helps the chocolate flavors transition outwards via subtle notes of oaky vanilla that give a rich but not overtly dark impression. This leads to a mild burnt caramel and earthy single malt whiskey aftertaste that along with a mild bitterness helps conclude the drink as in an off-dry, wood char on top of the spicy roasted coffee beans. Complex in its specific elements, yet well-rounded overall, with a truly evocative flavor profile. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium to heavy body, with a mouthfeel so thick that its ostensible creaminess borders on syrupy. Carbonation is quite subtle, simply propping up the volume without having extensive tactile effects. Surprisingly mild alcoholic heat arises after the strong flavored finish eventually subsides, providing a subtle warmth that plays nicely into the coffee aesthetic of this beer. Nice delicate balance. 4.5/5

Overall: An absolute must for coffee lovers, with the minimalist style of this beer seeing to it that not many other flavors hazard to get in the way of the rich roast of the coffee bean. Somehow manages to not be excessively heavy-handed, and regardless of how you feel about its strong treatment of added ingredients, it is quite delicious. 4/5