The beer that began the trendy barrel-aged beer revolution is about to return in November 2025. Yep, Goose Island Beer Co. will as soon as once more launch its iconic and far beloved Bourbon County Model Authentic Stout together with a number of variants from the masterminds on the Chicago, Illinois brewery.
The 2025 Goose Island Bourbon County Model lineup will embrace the beforehand talked about 2025 Bourbon County Model Authentic Stout together with 5 variants. These extra varieties embrace 2025 Bourbon County Model Cherries Jubilee Stout, 2025 Bourbon County Model Chocolate Praline Stout, 2025 Bourbon County Model Proprietor’s Stout, 2025 Bourbon County Model Double Barrel Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Stout, and 2025 Bourbon County Model Parker’s Heritage Reserve Stout.
5 of the six Bourbon County Model Stouts shall be making their approach throughout America. The one which shall be in restricted distribution would be the brewery’s Proprietor’s Stout that as regular, will solely be out there in Chicago space.
Bourbon County Model Authentic Stout is the pioneering imperial stout that for the previous 30+ years has been the standard-bearer of this beer model. And this yr the traditional 2025 Bourbon County Model Authentic Stout shall be packaged in new extra shopper pleasant packaging of 10 ounce, 4-packs.
The Bourbon County Model Authentic Stout recipe stays unchanged, however the brand new format displays a shift in event—excellent for side-by-side tastings with the remainder of the household or for savoring by itself.
The brand new packaging continues to showcase the beer that has advanced over the previous three a long time. Bourbon County Model Authentic Stout has seen numerous packaging sizes from 12-ounce bottles to 22-ounce bottles and most not too long ago, 16.9-ounce bottles. Now the beer shall be in a extra handy serving dimension of 10-ounce bottles.
In accordance with the brewery, “This new format provides an opportunity to raise the on a regular basis, offering drinkers with extra flexibility and increasing the events to take pleasure in it. It’s designed to make the very first bourbon barrel-aged stout extra accessible than ever.”
With 5 Bourbon County Model Stout variants for 2025, the brew group takes its time to fastidiously resolve on which course they need to go together with for every launch. It’s not a easy course of, however one from the love of what wooden can and does do to a daring imperial stout base beer.
Barrel growing older is a fantastically imperfect course of. The pure variation from yr to yr performs an important function in guiding our choices round Bourbon County Stout. At Goose Island Beer Co., we’re continually monitoring our beers as they age. We by no means launch a beer till it’s actually prepared, which is why you may even see fluctuations within the portions launched annually.
We additionally attempt to make sure that every variant brings one thing distinct to the desk. Our household of beers speaks to a variety of palates, showcasing the various expressions that emerge from our Authentic Stout. Whether or not it’s fruit, nuts, bourbon, or spices, these parts come collectively in distinctive and thrilling methods which might be positive to thrill each craft beer lovers and newcomers alike. – Goose Island Brew Crew
Under are descriptions on every of the 2025 Bourbon County Model Stout choices as offered by the brewery.
2025 Bourbon County Model Authentic Stout
Availability: Nationwide Markets
Format: 4-pack 10-oz bottle & draft
Tasting Notes: Vanilla, cherry, cocoa, toasted almond & caramelized sugar
Fashion: Imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels
After crafting the very first bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout, Goose Islandunderstands that nice beer begins with the very best elements– which is why the brewery continues to supply solely the freshest and most interesting from trusted companions alongside the bourbon path.
2025 Bourbon County Model Authentic Stout was aged in a mix of freshly emptied barrels from Buffalo Hint, Heaven Hill, 4 Roses, and Wild Turkey. With a median growing older time of 12 months, this stout delivers deeply developed flavors of fudge, vanilla, and caramelized sugar—all wrapped in a wealthy, decadent mouthfeel.
Now, for the primary time ever, Authentic is out there in four-packs of 10-ounce bottles—providing extra methods to take pleasure in this iconic beer. Whether or not served throughout a Bourbon County tasting or sipped fireplace, this new format makes it simpler than ever to raise any event.
Extra Notes/Info:
- Bourbon County Model Authentic Stout is the unique bourbon barrel-aged stout created.
- Bourbon County Model Stout was brewed to have a good time Goose Island’s 1,000th batch of beer in 1992.
- Bourbon County Model Stout was disqualified from the Nice American Beer Fest when first submitted as a result of on the time, there was not a class for bourbon barrel-aged imperial stouts.
2025 Bourbon County Model Cherries Jubilee Stout
Availability: Nationwide Markets
Format: 16.9oz bottle & draft
Tasting Notes: Burnished cocoa & vibrant darkish stone fruit with a caramelized citrus end
Fashion: Imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels, completed in cognac barrels with Montmorency cherries, citrus & panela
As stout ages, Goose Island’s brewers typically observe a spread of fruit expressions that emerge from the barrel and from time itself. Impressed by the flambéed dessert traditional Cherries Jubilee, 2025 Bourbon County Model Cherries Jubilee Stoutcaptures the essence of cognac-soaked cherries and caramelized citrus.
The beer started its growing older journey in freshly emptied bourbon barrels, which impart wealthy layers of oak, heat vanilla, and delicate baking spice. It was then completed in cognac barrels, including elegant notes of dried fruit and contributing to a wealthy, full mouthfeel.
Following the growing older course of, the stout was blended with Montmorency cherries, citrus, and panela–leading to a velvety, decadent beer with flavors of candied darkish cherry, smooth vanilla, and a caramelized citrus end.
2025 Bourbon County Model Chocolate Praline Stout
Availability: Nationwide Markets
Format: 16.9oz bottle & draft
Tasting Notes: Wealthy fudge with toasted marzipan & chewy toffee
Fashion: Imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels with cocoa nibs, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews & dates
Bourbon County Model Stout is a beer crafted for growing older. Over time, Goose Island’s imperial stout undergoes an unimaginable transformation inside the barrel. With endurance and time, the beer not solely absorbs the character of the freshly emptied bourbon barrels, but in addition develops expressions of toasted marzipan and dried fruit—signature to Authentic Stout.
Goose Island brings these flavors to the forefront with 2025 Bourbon County Model Chocolate Praline Stout. First aged in freshly emptied bourbon barrels, this stout attracts inspiration from the underlying decadence of chocolate, caramel, and roasted nuts present in Authentic. Layered with a mix of cocoa nibs, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, and dates, this full-bodied stout showcases the traditional flavors of a chocolate praline whereas embracing the delicate nuances imparted by the bourbon barrel.
2025 Bourbon County Model Proprietor’s Stout
Availability: Chicago Market
Format: 16.9oz bottle & draft
Tasting Notes: Caramelized honeycomb, baking spice & roasted candied nuts
Fashion: Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels with walnuts, pistachios, cassia bark & honey
Impressed by the beehives on her aunt’s Rhode Island homestead, Goose Island brewer Colby Magratten was instantly drawn to the flavors of crisp and nutty home made baklava—an thought she knew can be excellent for 2025 Bourbon County Model Proprietor’s Stout.
First aged in bourbon barrels after which completed with walnuts, pistachios, cassia bark, and honey, every ingredient was fastidiously chosen to enhance the aged imperial stout: toasted nuts spotlight its heat, nutty character; cinnamon enhances the spice of the bourbon barrel; and wealthy honey deepens the stout’s caramelized physique. This stout boasts a dessert-inspired expression with layers of comforting heat, deeply roasted nuts, and a subtly candy end—crafted with love for, and out there solely in, town Goose Island calls dwelling: Chicago.
2025 Bourbon County Model Double Barrel Stout
Availability: Nationwide Markets
Format: 16.9oz bottle & draft
Tasting Notes: Toasted marshmallow, heat vanilla with a pronounced oak end
Fashion: Imperial Stout double barrel-aged in Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon barrels
Shared dedication to their respective crafts is what unites Heaven Hill and Goose Island within the creation of 2025 Bourbon County Model Double Barrel Stout. Because the creators of the world’s first bourbon barrel-aged stout, the brewers at Goose Island have spent over thirty years redefining what beer may be via the evolution of Bourbon County Model Stout. Over time, the collection has grown into a various household of beers—every expressing a definite character and perspective.
As Bourbon County ages, it develops a myriad of traits: complicated, layered, and deeply expressive. Drawing on a long time of expertise, Goose Island’s brewers have realized the way to elevate these qualities by fine-tuning each variable—from ingredient choice to barrel option to time spent growing older. Each choice reveals a brand new side of Authentic Stout.
2025 Bourbon County Model Double Barrel Stout is a masterclass in that strategy. In collaboration with Heaven Hill Distillery, Goose Island aged this launch in not one, however two units of freshly emptied Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon barrels. By centering the nuanced complexity of the whiskey, the ensuing beer is a real celebration of bourbon, collaboration, and probably the most important component of each Bourbon County launch: the barrel itself.
Extra:
On March 3, 1897, the Bottled-in-Bond Act was signed into regulation, establishing a government-backed assure of high quality in American whiskey by implementing strict requirements for origin, distilling, growing older, and labeling. With its rigorous standards, the act turned a trusted marker of excellence and a transparent assertion of workmanship from taking part distilleries.
It was on this spirit—and with those self same values in thoughts—that Heaven Hill Distillery stuffed its first barrel in December of 1935. After patiently ready 4 years earlier than releasing its first bottled-in-bond whiskey, the distillery launched its namesake bourbon in 1939, establishing a legacy because the nation’s premier producer of bottled-in-bond whiskey.
Right this moment, persevering with that historic custom, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey stands a category above. Aged a full three years past the required 4, this absolutely mature 7-year bourbon exemplifies how time and endurance can unlock exceptional depth, richness, and steadiness.
2025 Bourbon County Model Reserve Stout
Availability: Nationwide Markets
Format: 16.9oz bottle & draft
Tasting Notes: Layers of dried fruit & marzipan with nuanced rye spice
Fashion: Imperial Stout aged two years in Parker’s Heritage Assortment 10-year seventeenth Version Rye Whiskey barrels
Parker Beam started his distilling profession at Heaven Hill in 1960, working alongside his father earlier than changing into a sixth-generation Grasp Distiller in 1975. Over 5 a long time, he constructed a legacy of uncompromising high quality and quiet innovation—values now embodied within the Parker’s Heritage Assortment, named in his honor. Launched yearly, the gathering has grow to be a benchmark of excellence inside the whiskey business.
2025 Bourbon County Model Reserve Stout is a testomony to the depth that comes from prolonged growing older in an distinctive single lot of barrels. For this particular launch, Goose Island rested its imperial stout for a full two years in casks from probably the most revered names in American whiskey: Parker’s Heritage Assortment.
This longer growing older interval goes past the brewery’s conventional course of, drawing out concentrated layers of cocoa, dried fruit, spice, and toasted oak. The result’s a wealthy, contemplative expression of Bourbon County—one which rewards endurance and displays a legacy constructed slowly, barrel-by-barrel.
Extra Notes: The seventeenth Version—a 10-year-old Kentucky straight rye bottled at full cask power—brings unmistakable character and high quality to this collaboration. These barrels, which first aged this prized whiskey earlier than being full of Goose Island’s stout, impart vibrant rye spice and layered oak complexity—a becoming tribute to Parker Beam’s enduring legacy.
The 2025 lineup of Bourbon County Model Stout from Goose Island Beer Co. will formally debut on Black Friday, which occurs to be on Friday, November 28, 2025. To be taught extra about Bourbon County Model Stout, go to gooseisland.com/bourbon-county-brand-stout.
