Goose Island Announces 2026 Bourbon County Stout Lineup

CHICAGO, IL — The 2026 Bourbon County Brand Stout lineup has been announced, offering five new variants that will be available on Black Friday.

This year marks the 34th year that Goose Island has released its Bourbon County Stout lineup. The brewer said the Bourbon County Brand Stout family includes five distinct expressions tied to unique barrel types. The annual lineup continues a program built around stout aged in bourbon barrels for eight to 16 months.

This year's Bourbon County Brand Stout family "celebrates the relationship between the beer and the barrel." The lineup seems to ask the same question in a different way, the brewer said, what does a barrel, and the spirit it once held, bring to the final stout?

In 2026, the lineup is focused on "the oak, the char, and the craft of the barrel itself."

Goose Island's process relies on aging the beer in a non-temperature controlled environment, using Chicago's changing weather as part of production. That setting makes the most of the city's "weather rollercoaster" of summer humidity and winter cold.

Bourbon County Stout is described as a beer shaped by time and barrel selection, which sets it apart each year.

“As the creators of bourbon barrel-aged stouts, our commitment to quality and innovation has never wavered," said Goose Island Beer Co. President Todd Ahsmann. "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.”

According to Goose Island's website, this year's favors include Tiramisu and Apple Crisp as well as Triple Oak Barleywine, Toasted Barrel Rye and Proprietor's Stout.

Tiramisu Cask Finish Stout is obviously inspired by the dessert, capturing the essence of fudge and delicate pastry. The beer was finished in bourbon barrels then finished in rum barrels with espresso, cocoa nibs and vanilla.

The Apple Crisp Stout was aged in bourbon barrels with apple, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, oats and panela sugar. The beer is layered with notes of fresh baked oat crumble, caramel and crisp apple.

Goose Island's English-style Triple Oak Barleywine variant was first aged in freshly emptied bourbon barrels, building a foundation of caramelized malt, dark sugar, and vanilla before beginning its second journey. Its flavor is burnt caramel, delicate baking spice and stonefruit.

The Rye Stout variant of the Bourbon County Stout aged in Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Rye whisky barrels before being finished in toasted barrels. Its flavor is creme brûlée, toasted hazelnut & sweet oak.

The Proprietor's Stout, a beer meant for Chicago alone, is inspired by pineapple upside-down cake this year. The stout aged in bourbon barrels finished with pineapple, Montmorency cherry and panela sugar.

Per tradition, the 2026 Bourbon County Brand Stout family will be available starting Black Friday on Nov. 27.