Goose Island Bourbon County Stout Lineup Offers 5 Variants For 2025

Chicago’s Goose Island Beer Co. is largely credited with creating the first modern-day barrel-aged imperial stout with its Bourbon County Brand Stout. Although Goose Island is now owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, Bourbon County Brand Stout has been able to maintain its status as a highly-sought beer among beer lovers.

In addition to the original Bourbon County Stout, since 2010, Goose Island has also released variants. For 2025, there will be five variants, a small bonus since there were only four last year. “We don’t have a set number of variants we release each year,” said Mike Siegel, senior innovation manager at Goose Island Beer via email. “At the end of the day, we only move forward with beers when they’re ready—and when we feel confident they’re strong enough to stand on their own. Aging beer doesn’t follow a strict timeline…. That’s why some years we’ve released as few as four variants, and other years it’s been eight or more. Just like with ingredients, the beer leads the way. We’re just here to listen and follow where it takes us.”

“There are a lot of factors that go into deciding which variants we release each year,” said Siegel. “As brewers, we always let the beer guide us. Nearly every variant starts as Bourbon County Original. Because barrel-aged stout can express itself differently from year to year, we pay close attention to the unique characteristics coming through in the base beer and look for ways to bring those forward–deliberately highlighting or accentuating signature expressions of that given year.”

“Take this year’s Cherries Jubilee, for example. In tasting the base stout, we noticed rich notes of dried stone fruit, a touch of citrus, and a beautiful caramelized depth. From there, we worked with our key tasters to shape a concept that would highlight those qualities,” said Siegel. “We decided to finish the beer in cognac barrels to enhance the dried fruit character, then layered in Montmorency cherries to really bring that profile to life. Panela sugar and orange zest act as supporting players—rounding out the beer and amplifying the nuances already present in the original stout. At every step, it’s about listening to the beer and letting it lead the way.”

Also new this year, the original version of Bourbon County Stout will be available in a four-pack of 10-ounce bottles.

“The new format reflects a shift in occasion—ideal for side-by-side tastings with the rest of the lineup or simply enjoying on its own. The four-pack gives drinkers more opportunities to experience the beer that started it all,” said Goose Island in its press release announcing the new packaging format on May 6, 2025. The variants will be available in 16.9-ounce bottles, as they always have been.

All six versions of 2025 Bourbon County Stout will be available on Black Friday, which this year falls on November 28, 2025.

Here is the 2025 lineup of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout:

2025 Bourbon County Brand Original Stout

The original Bourbon County Stout was brewed to celebrate Goose Island’s 1,000th batch of beer in 1991. The 2025 edition of the beer is aged for an average of 12 months in a mix of bourbon barrels from Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, Four Roses and Wild Turkey.

2025 Bourbon County Brand Cherries Jubilee Stout

Inspired by the flambéed dessert, this variation captures the essence of cognac-soaked cherries and caramelized citrus. The beer was finished in cognac barrels before being blended with Montmorency cherries, citrus and panela.

2025 Bourbon County Brand Chocolate Praline Stout

This variant draws on toasted marzipan and dried fruit flavors of the Original Stout. With an additional blend of cocoa nibs, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews and dates, this variant showcases flavors of chocolate praline.

2025 Bourbon County Brand Double Barrel Stout

The Double Barrel variant of Bourbon County Stout is a collaboration with Heaven Hill Distillery. The beer enjoys additional aging in Heaven Hill Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon barrels. The bourbon was aged for seven years before the barrels were used by Goose Island, elevating the bourbon elements of the beer.

2025 Bourbon County Brand Reserve Stout

This variant of Bourbon County Stout enjoyed two years of aging in casks from Parker’s Heritage Collection whiskey, a 10-year straight rye whiskey.

2025 Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Stout

The annual Proprietor’s variant of Bourbon County is a Chicago-only release, while the other variants are available nationally. Goose Island brewer Colby Magratten was inspired by the beehives on her aunt’s Rhode Island homestead. This variant is finished with walnuts, pistachios, cassia bark and honey, intending to evoke flavours of homemade baklava.