Goose Island’s Bourbon County Variant Backyard Stout 2023 is a nostalgic and innovative creation that revives an iconic recipe from the brewery’s past. Drawing inspiration from the 2013 release of “Backyard Rye,” this iteration is a homage to senior innovation manager Mike Siegel’s memories of berry picking near the Goose Island Barrel House and in his own backyard.

The brewing process for the Bourbon County Backyard Stout begins with aging the imperial stout in bourbon barrels for at least one year. This foundational aging period allows the stout to absorb the rich, oaky flavors of the bourbon barrels, laying the groundwork for its complex character. The stout is then further enhanced by finishing and blending it with a trio of berries – mulberries, boysenberries, and marionberries. Each type of berry infuses the stout with its distinctive taste, ranging from sweet and luscious to tart and tangy, thereby enriching the stout’s overall flavor profile.