Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Rye Stout is a limited-release Imperial Pastry Stout brewed by Goose Island Beer Co. in Chicago, Illinois. Sold in a 16.9 oz bottle, this is a highly sought-after annual release available one per member while supplies last.

This beer begins as a rye imperial stout aged for a full year in freshly emptied rye whiskey barrels, then finished with aromatic Madagascar vanilla beans. The result is a richly complex stout with characteristic spice from the rye whiskey barrels layered beneath deep vanilla sweetness. It pours pitch black and virtually opaque with minimal head and very low carbonation, offering a thick, full-bodied, coating mouthfeel.

On the nose, expect notes of vanilla, dark chocolate, molasses, bourbon, and roasted malt. The flavor delivers bold waves of baker's chocolate, vanilla, brown sugar, raisin, caramel, marshmallow, and a warming rye spice finish. At 14% ABV, this is a sipping beer meant to be enjoyed slowly. BeerAdvocate rates it a perfect 100 — World Class — with an average score of 4.67 out of 5 across more than 2,200 ratings.