Remember last year, when I tried every single bottle of 2022’s Bourbon County Stout release? Yeah, this is that again, but 2023. It was fun! For the second year running, I ranked the various Goose Island Bourbon County Stout line-up for Tasting Table. And as with last year’s foray, I was completely impressed by the brewers’ ability to turn far-flung favors into not only beer, but imperial stout, a hefty taste that tends to dominate even the normal roasted malt that charcterizes its breed, replacing it with a syrupy, whole-grain bread thickness. But with that nod made, I would probably take last year’s batch over this one, owing simply to its exhibiting more flavors I enjoyed. Still, if I were only going to grab one bottle from either lineup, there’s a great case for the top couple from 2023 over the best of last year. While you can’t decide the best of the bunch for yourself unless you have access to the Chicago-exclusive Proprietor’s Stout–or want to come pick up my bottles from the Bronx (please do–it is SO HARD for one person to get through six of these by himself)–you will have fun with any pick of the litter.
