The Smack Talk Beer of the Month

So good it could win Beer of the Year, but let's not get ahead of ourselves, there's still many more beers to focus on over the next 12 months.

:: gets chills up his spine just thinking about tasting more great beers ::

A 2008 Bourbon County Stout in a snifterThis month your drunk skinny friend is going to tell you folks about a beer from Goose Island Brewery out of Chicago, IL.   It's a beer with limited availability but worth the wait, and it goes by the name of Bourbon County Stout. 

As the legend on the label goes, Goose Island Brewery wanted to do something special for ther 1000th batch of beer, and boy did they ever.   They made of big dark batch of beer that was so good, you'd think it was fine art.   It's almost a shame you have to drink it...
but believe me BL Raggers...
YOU HAVE TO DRINK THIS!!

When I first ran accross this beer, I nearly shivered over the high price tag on the side of the 4-pack's case.   "Is this really $23.00 a 4-PACK?" I asked.   Now I simply shiver over the wonderful smell of it.   I don't even think twice anymore when it comes time to order it up, my friends and I just chip in the cash and have it shipped to the closest store we can legally have it shipped to.

However you have a limited time to do so, for it's only available during November.

Since the beer comes with a hefty alcohol content of 13%, I can't have it shipped to Iowa without going through the state.   It's easier to have it shipped to a Goose Island carrier near the Illinois border.   At that rate it ran my friends and I a whopping $29.00 per 4/pack...  the equivelent of paying for a 6 pack of just about anything else with every beer you slurp down.  

Try not to think of that cost.   As you drinking it, instead imagine yourself dying and going to heaven, and as you walk up to those big pearly gates, your realize that heaven isn't really heaven after all.  It's a big dark stout that goes by the name of Bourbon County.

Once you pour a glass of this in a snifter, it's recommended holster since you won't even need the whole pint, you are instantly overwhelmed with boubon vanilla, chocolate, coffee, caramel and raisin.   When I first poured one, it looked flat.  I was treating it like it was Guiness and afraid the froth would go everywhere.   After I'd poured half of it and seeing no froth, I took the rest of the glass and poured it from up high.  The foam literally lifted to the rim and practically bubbled over.   "Now that is a stout," I said.   The caramely foam nearly pops out at you, begging to be licked.   Resist the temptation.   Allow the drink to open up a bit before putting it to your lips.

When you're ready to take that first sip, don't bother preparing yourself for there's nothing like it.  You could almost consider it a mix between a port and an outmeal/chocolate stout.   It's thick and stong, yet slightly sweet.  The taste matched its smell and it had a density that seemed perfect for dessert. 

For food any white cheese will do, as with any common stout, but I prefer a good bleu cheese with my stouts, and if you're a fan of bleu cheese, you have to try it.   The funny thing about Bourbon County Stout was that even after the taste of the bleu cheese has disipated, the stout seems to continue giving you that aftertaste.   I think it's the beer's long lost cousin.

So give it a try, and good luck finding (or affording) it.   It'll be worth it if you're a big stout fan, but for those of you who aren't, be your gentle self and stick with the usual.  You're likely to spew it out, yelling "what the fuck is this?"

The New 2009 Bottle... and that is a waste of perfetly great beer.

The Skinny on Bourbon County Stout:

Recipe Information:

Style: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
Alcohol by Volume: 13%
International Bitterness Units: 60
Color: Midnight
Hops: Willamette
Malt: 2-Row, Munich, Chocolate, Caramel, Roast Barley, Debittered Black

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Snifter
Preferred Serving Temperature: 40º
Food Pairings: Flourless Chocolate Cake
Cheese Pairings: Capriole Bourbon Chocolate Torte
Cellaring Notes: Develops in the bottle for up to 5 years

World Beer Cup Recognition:

Judging Category: Barrel Aged Beer
2006: Gold Medal