For some, Black Friday is the equivalent of Hell on Earth, a day that draws out the very worst in people. Our take on Black Friday? If you're going to be standing in line, at least be doing it for a noble cause: beer. Every year since 1992, Chicago's Goose Island Beer Co. has released their highly coveted Bourbon County Brand Stout, a brew that has come to take on multiple variations as brewmasters become more bold in their experimentation. This year, there are six different 2015 BCBS brews—and all but one (Proprietor's Bourbon County Brand Stout) will be released to the public in LA on Black Friday.
The other brews include Goose Island's Traditional Stout, Coffee Stout, Rye Stout, Rare Stout and Barleywine. So where can you find these bottled beauties first thing on Friday morning? Playa Vista, of all places. Whole Foods (12746 W Jefferson Blvd, Playa Vista) will open its doors at 9am on Black Friday to thirsty patrons, though you'd be wise to come early because the lines will be long. Can't make it to the grocery store that early? Select bars around town will also be offering the beer in limited quantities. You'll have to check with your favorite bars to see if they have it, but we can confirm that the Surly Goat will be offering a selection of BCBS brews, both new and old, starting Friday at 6pm.
In the meantime, here are Goose Island's 2015 Bourbon County Brand Stout varietals:
(l to r): Bourbon County Brand Barleywine, Proprietor's Bourbon County Brand StoutPhotograph: Courtesy Goose Island Beer Co.
Boubon County's Barleywine is aged in third-use Kentucky bourbon barrels, and exhibits notes of oak, charcoal, tobacco and vanilla. The Proprietor's Stout is now in its third release and features maple, toasted pecans and guajillo peppers. It's also the brainchild of badass female brewer Di Rodriguez—and, unfortunately for us, only available in Chicago.
(l to r): Bourbon County Brand Stout, Bourbon County Brand Coffee StoutPhotograph: Courtesy Goose Island Beer Co.
Bourbon County Brand Stout is Goose Island's OG stout—and it packs a punch. You'll find notes of charred oak, chocolate, vanilla, caramel and smoke. The coffee stout uses Intelligentsia Coffee, and each year Goose Island uses a different bean; the 2015 iteration features Intelligentsia Los Delirios coffee from Nicaragua.
(l to r): Bourbon County Brand Regal Rye, Rare Bourbon County Brand StoutPhotograph: Courtesy Goose Island Beer Co.
Aged in rye whiskey barrels with blackberries, cherries and sea salt, the Regal Rye beer is on the sweeter side and serves as a perfect post-meal drink. The 2015 Rare Stout is Goose Island's pride and joy: for two years, this beer was stored in a whiskey barrel from Heaven Hill Distilleries, a barrel that held bourbon for 30+ years. The result is a complex, incredible drink worth standing in line for.
Will you be lining up to score one (or all!) of Goose Island's stouts? Let us know in the comments below!