Goose Island Reveals 2026 Bourbon County Brand Stout Variant Tiramisu Cask Finish Stout

I previously brought you multiple early looks at the highly anticipated 2026 Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout lineup (here ,here and here), and now another standout release has surfaced out of Chicago, Illinois, one that I believe will soon be generating serious buzz among craft beer enthusiasts, collectors, and stout aficionados.

Introducing the Bourbon County Brand Stout – Tiramisu Cask Finish Variant, a decadent, dessert-inspired imperial stout that builds on Goose Island’s legendary barrel-aging program while pushing the boundaries of flavor complexity and layered richness.

2026 Bourbon County Brand Tiramisu Cask Finish Stout Overview

This upcoming Bourbon County Brand Stout variant starts with Goose Island’s iconic high-gravity imperial stout base, renowned for its dense body, deep roasted malt profile, and exceptional aging potential. From there, the beer undergoes an intricate maturation process designed to amplify depth, sweetness, and character.

Barrel Aging & Finishing Process

• Primary Aging: Carefully matured in premium bourbon barrels, allowing the stout to absorb bold notes of vanilla, toasted oak, caramelized sugars, and warming whiskey character.
• Secondary Finish: The beer is then finished in rum barrels, introducing an additional layer of complexity with hints of molasses, dark sugar, tropical warmth, and subtle spice.

This dual-barrel approach creates a rich fusion of flavors that enhances the stout’s already luxurious base.

Flavor Profile: A Liquid Tiramisu Experience

True to its name, this Tiramisu-inspired imperial stout is crafted to evoke the beloved Italian dessert in beer form. Goose Island elevates the experience by incorporating:

• Coffee: Delivering bold espresso-like intensity and roasted bitterness
• Cocoa nibs: Adding deep chocolate richness and bittersweet complexity
• Natural flavors: Designed to mirror the creamy, layered indulgence of tiramisu

Expected Tasting Notes

Drinkers can anticipate a full-bodied, velvety stout featuring:

• Rich espresso and dark roast coffee
• Layers of dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and mocha
• Sweet undertones of vanilla cream, mascarpone-like richness, and caramel
• Subtle rum barrel warmth with molasses and spice accents
• Lingering bourbon oak finish with a smooth, boozy backbone

The result is a dessert stout that leans heavily into indulgence, while maintaining balance through roasted bitterness and barrel-driven structure.

Packaging & Release Details

• Bottle Size: 16.9 oz (500ml) bottles
• Release Window: Expected as part of Goose Island’s Black Friday 2026 Bourbon County Brand Stout release (Keep in mind that Goose Island gains label approval for variants they ultimately decide not to release)
• Availability: Likely limited and highly allocated, especially given the popularity of unique barrel-finished variants

Collectors and craft beer hunters should prepare early, as these specialty releases traditionally sell out quickly across some markets.

Final Thoughts

The 2026 Bourbon County Brand Tiramisu Cask Finish Stout stands out as one of the most intriguing and dessert-forward variants in this year’s lineup. By combining bourbon barrel aging, rum barrel finishing, and tiramisu-inspired adjuncts, Goose Island continues to innovate within the imperial stout category while honoring the legacy that made Bourbon County a cornerstone of barrel-aged beer culture.

If you’re a fan of pastry stouts, barrel-aged imperial stouts, coffee-forward beers, or limited-edition Goose Island releases, this is one bottle you’ll want firmly on your radar.

Stay tuned for more updates, including official Black Friday release confirmations, distribution details, and in-depth tasting notes as they become available.

About Goose Island:

Goose Island is the innovator, brewer, and bringer of fun. Because since 1988, Goose has been dedicated to making quality beer for all people and all occasions.

Goose is at its best when it’s bringing great beer to everyone because beer is fun, and life should be fun, too. Goose was born in Chicago, but raised around the world. Goose is inclusive, fun-loving, and explorative. Goose asks, “why not?” Goose cares about quality. Goose cares about being an active member of the community. Goose is a lot of things. But Goose, at the end of the day, just wants to have fun (oh, and bring damn fine beer to the city of Chicago and beyond). You get the gist.

You know what we need more of? Fun. And not the big, planned, prepared-for fun.

But those everyday moments when you’re able to think, “You know what? We got it pretty good.” Hanging with friends on your front steps downtown. Watching a ball game in the rain. Running into an old friend on the street with time to spare. Or crammed in a DIY basement party to see your friend’s shitty band.

Our beer started with a trip across Europe, when Goose Island founder (and unabashed beer lover), John Hall, took a tour across the continent.

Pint by pint, he savored the styles and selections of brews in every region, and thought to himself, “America deserves some damn fine beer like this, too.” Craft beer wasn’t widely known at the time, but upon return from his European sojourn, John set out to change all that. He settled down in his hometown of Chicago—a city perfect for craft beer, with rapidly evolving tastes and the largest system of fresh water on the planet—and then he got to brewing.

First, he made some beer. Then he invited the city to enjoy it with him. The result was a new fascination with craft brewing. That was back in 1988 and we haven’t slowed down since. By 1995, John’s beer became so popular that he decided to open a larger brewery, along with a bottling plant to keep up with demand. 1999 brought even more growth, along with an additional brewpub, and today, what was once one man’s pint-filled dream has become the Goose Island you know and love.

Here’s where we tell you that in 2011, Goose Island Beer Company was acquired by Anheuser-Busch. Since then, we’ve continued to brew beer that we’re proud of and now we get to share these beers with our friends locally, nationwide, and internationally. We think that’s pretty sweet. If you’re ever in Chicago, we’d love for you to stop by the brewery and have a beer with us.

Our brewery was built in 1995 and has more than doubled in size since originally built.

We bring you our tasty pints using 32 fermenters, over 15 different yeasts, state-of-the-art filters, centrifuges and a 50 barrel JV Northwest 5 vessel system that brews 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It turns out that making awesome brews is quite the science. Luckily, our brewery facilities have all the equipment necessary to deliver results.

Our can/bottle line alone bottles 500 cases an hour, with our keg line at a rate of 50 kegs every 60 minutes. Once the beer is complete, we store it at a crisp 38 degrees until shipping. We even have separate rooms to house small batch innovation programs and yeast propagation units, and our barrel-aged beers have their own dedicated stockroom and 143,000 square foot barrel warehouse. It’s only the very best equipment for our beer.

We pride ourselves on the quality of our beer, and that is why we have a robust Quality Program and dedicated Quality Assurance Laboratory. We are able to measure and analyze our beer through microbiological, physical-chemical, and sensory means. We have industry-specific instruments that allow us to monitor and control the brewing and packaging processes from raw materials to packaged, finished goods. We generate and interpret data to support our brewing and packaging teams to help them quickly identify and resolve issues.

If you found this interesting, it might be time for you to book a tour on Fulton Street.
In 1992, Goose Island gave the beer industry a new reason to belly up to the bar: bourbon barrel-aged stout.

We thought we’d never make it again…

In 1992 Greg Hall, wanted to brew something truly unique for the brewpub’s 1,000th batch, he just needed inspiration. Then a chance encounter between Greg and Jim Beam’s Booker Noe led to Goose Island acquiring the barrels for what was to become the world’s first bourbon barrel aged beer. The young brewmaster soon found himself in the uncharted waters of bourbon barrel aged beer.

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