07/22/2025
Every year, Goose Island Beer Co. releases the Bourbon County Brand Stout Family to honor their legacy as the creator of the world’s first bourbon barrel-aged stout. At the heart of this story is Bourbon County Brand Original Stout—the pioneering imperial stout that, over thirty years ago, defined an entire style of beer. That’s why every lineup begins with Original. Each variant that follows offers a unique expression, using distinctive ingredients and barrels to highlight the layered complexity of this remarkable beer.
For 2025, the Bourbon County Brand Stout family tells a story of metamorphosis—where barrels, time, and innovation evolve a true original. While always grounded in what makes it iconic, this year’s lineup introduces new ways to experience the stout we love. Additionally, for the first time, Goose Island is debuting 10-ounce four-pack bottles of Bourbon County Brand Original Stout. The recipe remains unchanged, but the new format reflects a shift in occasion—perfect for side-by-side tastings with the rest of the family or for savoring on its own.
Each 2025 variant showcases the creative levers Goose Island brewers pull to give the beer its own expression: unique barrels, extended aging, and complementary ingredients. 2025 Bourbon County Brand Cherries Jubilee Stout, finished in aromatic cognac casks, and 2025 Bourbon County Brand Chocolate Praline Stout, aged in freshly emptied, single-use bourbon barrels, show how time and thoughtful additions deepen character. 2025 Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Stout, inspired by Baklava, weaves in toasted pistachios, walnuts and cinnamon to highlight the nuttiness and warm baking spice that barrel aging brings forward.
This year also spotlights the barrels themselves, with collaborations that strengthen the bond between beer and whiskey. 2025 Bourbon County Brand Double Barrel Stout explores layered complexity through two sets of Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond barrels while 2025 Bourbon County Brand Reserve Stout, aged in coveted 17th edition Parker’s Heritage 10-year-old rye whiskey barrels, pays deep homage to whiskey tradition while showcasing the beauty that only comes with time.
