Craft beer enthusiasts, mark your calendars! For the first time in its legendary 30+ year history, Goose Island’s Bourbon County Brand Original Stout – the beer that pioneered the entire bourbon barrel-aged stout category – will hit shelves in sleek 10-ounce bottle 4-packs starting Black Friday, November 28, 2025.
This game-changing packaging update makes the iconic imperial stout more accessible than ever, perfect for side-by-side tastings with the full 2025 lineup, sharing with friends, or savoring a single pour without committing to a full bomber. The recipe remains untouched: a massive imperial stout aged an average of 12 months in a premium blend of freshly emptied barrels from Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, Four Roses, and Wild Turkey. Expect those signature rich notes of fudge, vanilla, cherry, toasted almond, and caramelized sugar in a velvety, decadent body.
Goose Island President Todd Ahsmann explains the shift: “This smaller format is all about accessibility. Moving from one bottle to four gives consumers more opportunities and moments to enjoy it – whether sharing with friends, on date night, camping, or at your favorite bar.”
While the rest of the 2025 Bourbon County lineup (including exciting variants like Cherries Jubilee Stout with cognac cask finishing, Chocolate Praline Stout, and Heaven Hill collaborations) sticks to traditional 16.9oz bottles, the Original’s new 4-pack is exclusive and designed to elevate everyday occasions.
Why This Matters for Beer Lovers in 2025
Easier Sharing & Tastings: At around 14-15% ABV, a full bottle can be intimidating solo – these 10oz pours are ideal for verticals or lineup flights.
More Versatile: Grab one for a cozy night in or pack for holiday gatherings.
Same Epic Quality: No changes to the barrel blend or brewing process – just smarter packaging for modern drinkers.
Availability is limited (as always with Bourbon County Stout), so check your local bottle shops, Goose Island’s locator tool, or apps like Untappd for drops near you. Pro tip: Lines start early on Black Friday, and some stores offer pre-orders!
Whether you’re a longtime BCBS collector or new to barrel-aged stouts, the 2025 Original in 4-packs is poised to be the most drinker-friendly release yet. Raise a (smaller) glass to innovation – cheers to Black Friday 2025!
For the latest on allocations and events, visit gooseisland.com or follow @gooseisland on social media. Drink responsibly!
Legally the name is Bourbon County Brand Original Stout, but for simplicity this writer will use a shorter version, Bourbon County Stout.
More about Goose Island Beer Company
Goose Island Beer Company was born in 1988 when John Hall, a traveling executive tired of mediocre American beer, opened a small brewpub in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. Inspired by European beer culture he’d experienced on business trips, Hall named the place after a nearby island in the Chicago River and quickly earned a reputation for brewing bold, flavorful ales at a time when light lager dominated the U.S. market. The Clybourn Avenue brewpub became a craft-beer beacon, and in 1995 Goose Island expanded with a production brewery in Fulton Market. Four years later they built a second, larger facility on the same street that included a dedicated barrel-aging warehouse—a decision that would change beer history forever. Despite being acquired by Anheuser-Busch in 2011 (a move that sparked debate in the craft community), Goose Island retained creative control over its recipes and has continued to grow as one of America’s most influential breweries.
The true legend, however, begins in the mid-1990s when brewmaster Greg Hall (John’s son) scored four used Jim Beam barrels from Booker Noe himself. In 1995 (though long misremembered as 1992), Greg filled them with an enormous Russian imperial stout and let Chicago’s extreme temperature swings work their magic on the beer for about 100 days. The result—Bourbon County Brand Stout—was unveiled as the brewery’s 1,000th batch and instantly stunned drinkers with layers of vanilla, coconut, caramel, and bourbon drawn from the oak. First served only on draft at the pub, it later appeared in wax-dipped 12-ounce bottles and, starting around 2006, became an annual Black Friday release that turned the day after Thanksgiving into craft beer’s biggest holiday. Over three decades, Bourbon County Stout has spawned countless variants, inspired thousands of barrel-aged beers worldwide, and cemented its place as the undisputed godfather of American barrel-aged stouts.