Bourbon County Stout — Goose Island

Invented barrel-aged beer in 1992. 14.7% ABV. Lines form at 5 AM.

Greg Hall aged an imperial stout in Jim Beam bourbon barrels in 1992 and accidentally invented barrel-aged beer as a category. Every November, Goose Island releases new Bourbon County variants, and lines still form at 5 AM. The original is a 14.7% ABV monster — thick, boozy, and complex with vanilla, oak, and chocolate. It's the beer that proved stouts could be collected and cellared like wine.