Goose Island Unveils 2026 Bourbon County Stout Lineup
Goose Island Beer Co. has announced its 2026 Bourbon County Brand Stout lineup, which includes six barrel-aged releases that will debut on Black Friday.
The collection focuses on the role different barrel types play in shaping each beer.
The 2026 lineup includes Bourbon County Brand Original Stout, Tiramisu Cask Finish Stout, Apple Crisp Stout, Toasted Barrel Rye Stout, Triple Oak Barleywine and Proprietor’s Stout.
The 2026 releases feature seven barrel types across six expressions. The brewery designed each release to highlight the influence of oak, char and the spirits previously aged in the barrels.
The national lineup includes Original Stout, Tiramisu Cask Finish Stout, Apple Crisp Stout, Toasted Barrel Rye Stout and Triple Oak Barleywine. Proprietor’s Stout will remain exclusive to the Chicago market.
Bourbon County Brand Original Stout returns with a 14.2% ABV and an average barrel-aging period of 13 months. Goose Island aged the imperial stout in emptied bourbon barrels from Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, Four Roses and Wild Turkey. The brewery will release the beer nationally in 10-oz. four-packs and on draft.
The Tiramisu Cask Finish Stout starts as Bourbon County Brand Original Stout before finishing in rum barrels. Goose Island also adds espresso, cocoa nibs and vanilla. The brewery will package the beer in 16.9-ounce bottles and draft for national distribution. ABV details will be announced later.
Apple Crisp Stout combines bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout with apple, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, oats and panela sugar. Goose Island will distribute the beer nationally in 16.9-oz. bottles and on draft. The brewery has not yet released the ABV.
Proprietor’s Stout, inspired by pineapple upside-down cake, will be available only in the Chicago market. Goose Island finishes the imperial stout with pineapple, Montmorency cherry and panela sugar.
Triple Oak Barleywine is the lineup’s barleywine offering. Goose Island first ages the English-style barleywine in Kentucky straight bourbon barrels before transferring it into barrels that previously held Angel’s Envy Triple Oak Bourbon. Those finishing barrels include French oak, Chinkapin oak and Hungarian oak.
Toasted Barrel Rye Stout uses rye stout aged in Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Rye whiskey barrels before finishing in toasted barrels. Goose Island said the process highlights the influence of toasted oak alongside rye whiskey barrel character.
Bourbon County Brand Stout debuted in 1992 as Goose Island’s 1,000th batch of beer. The brewery says it created the original bourbon barrel-aged stout, and notes that the beer was initially disqualified from the Great American Beer Festival because the competition did not yet have a category for bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout.
Todd Ahsmann, president of Goose Island Beer Co., said the brewery continues to focus on barrel aging as the foundation of the Bourbon County program:
“As the creators of bourbon barrel-aged stouts, our commitment to quality and innovation has never wavered. From the beginning, in the early ’90s, we recognized that the barrel acts as an essential ingredient, just like water, malt, hops and yeast. We also realized that no two barrels are ever quite the same. That’s the fun of barrel aging: every barrel adds its own character, giving each beer a personality all its own. In 2026, we’re continuing to push ourselves with this lineup, embracing where we started while ever evolving to push the boundaries of what barrel-aged beer can be. This year we are showcasing the barrels, highlighting for beer lovers exactly what a barrel and its characteristics add to our beer, in every single bottle, across the entire lineup.”
This follows the 2025 lineup.
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