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On Tuesday, Goose Island unveiled its 2026 collection of Bourbon County barrel-aged stouts ahead of their traditional Black Friday debut, showcasing six different expressions.
The 2026 Bourbon County Brand Stout family spans six releases, including the first-ever Bourbon County expression finished in rum casks, a stout inspired by pineapple upside-down cake and a barleywine aged across three different oak varieties.
“From the beginning, in the early ’90s, we recognized that the barrel acts as an essential ingredient, just like water, malt, hops and yeast,” Todd Ahsmann, president of Goose Island Beer Co., said in a news release. “No two barrels are ever quite the same.”
The 2026 lineup comprises:
- Bourbon County Brand Original Stout
- Bourbon County Brand Tiramisu Cask Finish Stout
- Bourbon County Brand Apple Crisp Stout
- Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Stout
- Bourbon County Brand Triple Oak Barleywine
- Bourbon County Brand Toasted Barrel Rye Stout
A Detailed Look at the 2026 Goose Island Bourbon County Lineup
2026 Bourbon County Brand Original Stout
The foundation of the Bourbon County lineup returns with the 2026 Original Stout, aged an average of 13 months in bourbon barrels from Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, Four Roses and Wild Turkey. The ABV this year is 14.2%, down a bit from last year’s, which contained 14.8%.
Goose Island lists notes of vanilla, cherry, cocoa, toasted almond and caramelized sugar, with the brewery describing the beer as delivering flavors of fudge, vanilla and caramelized sugar wrapped in a rich mouthfeel.
The beer continues the legacy of the original bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout, first created by Goose Island in 1992 to celebrate the brewery’s 1,000th batch of beer.
For the second straight year, Original is available in 4-packs of 10-ounce bottles, rather than the traditional format of single 16.9-ounce bottles.
2026 Bourbon County Brand Tiramisu Cask Finish Stout
The biggest first for the 2026 lineup comes with Tiramisu Cask Finish Stout, which marks the first time Goose Island has finished a Bourbon County stout in rum barrels.
The beer begins its life aging in bourbon barrels before being transferred into rum casks, where it ages alongside espresso, cocoa nibs and vanilla.
Inspired by the classic Italian dessert, the stout combines Bourbon County’s traditional chocolate and vanilla character with flavors of fudge, delicate pastry and rich espresso, according to the brand.
2026 Bourbon County Brand Apple Crisp Stout
Inspired by homemade apple crisp, this year’s Apple Crisp Stout is aged in bourbon barrels with apple, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, oats and panela sugar.
The beer is designed to complement the flavors naturally associated with bourbon barrels, according to Goose Island, which mentioned fresh baked oat crumble, caramel and crisp apple notes.
The addition of spices aims to enhance the barrel’s existing toasted characteristics rather than overpower them.
2026 Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Stout (Pineapple Upside Down Cake)
The annual Chicago-exclusive Proprietor’s Stout takes inspiration from pineapple upside-down cake in 2026.
Created by Goose Island barrel team member Chase Craig, the stout is aged with pineapple, Montmorency cherries and panela sugar layered onto the brewery’s bourbon barrel-aged base.
The result, according to Goose Island, has tasting notes of vanilla-soaked cake, caramelized fruit and toasted oak.
2026 Bourbon County Brand Triple Oak Barleywine
For the first time in the lineup, Goose Island is moving beyond stout with a barrel-aged barleywine.
The Triple Oak Barleywine begins aging in Kentucky straight bourbon barrels before being finished in barrels made from three different oak species: Chinkapin, French and Hungarian oak.
Inspired by the influence of different oak varieties on Angel’s Envy Triple Oak Bourbon, the beer is designed to highlight how each type of wood contributes its own character.
Goose Island lists notes of burnt caramel, delicate baking spice and stonefruit.
2026 Bourbon County Brand Toasted Barrel Rye Stout
The final expression incorporates both rye whiskey barrels and toasted oak.
The Rye Stout was aged in Elijah Craig Straight Rye Whiskey barrels before being transferred into Elijah Craig toasted barrels, where additional oak character developed.
Goose Island describes the finished beer with notes of crème brûlée, toasted hazelnut and sweet oak.
2026 Bourbon County Brand Release Date
The full 2026 Bourbon County Brand Stout lineup will be released on Black Friday, Nov. 27, 2026.
Additional details, including ABV, which is currently only available for the Original, will be revealed closer to release.
Keep your eyes peeled for our annual review and rankings of the lineup. Here’s 2025’s, in case you’d like to look back on last year while you await Black Friday.
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