Located in San Francisco, CA
Happy turkey day! Or Ham day or Korean BBQ beef day depending on which family you speak to. And what goes best with all these meats? A strong dark ale I say! Preferably one that's been aged in bourbon barrels thank you.
It's not surprising I ended up waiting in line for 3+ hours at the local beer store this Friday and scored a couple 4-packs of these coveted brews...the Goose Island Bourbon County and its variants. Why are they so hard to find and amazingly tasty? Let's find out.
Courtesy of boozemuse.com
The Bourbon County currently sits on the Best 100 Beers in the World list and undisputedly one of the most awe-striking imperial stouts in the domestic scene. First brewed in 2008, the stout cask-conditioned in top quality oak Bourbon barrels for 10 months, resulting in a %13+ alcohol by volume, and made to withstand 5 years of aging. Without getting into the chemistry, know that each component that composes this beer has the purpose to extract the most "desirable" notes, flavors, and texture. Quite an accomplishment, right?
So let's talk about the store now. SF's City Beer store is likely the most recognized store/pub downtown for its ability to obtain the unobtainable - a legend in its own right. This store offers everything a fine beer connoisseur might enjoy - organization, elegance, ease of access, a quick drink followed by a "roadie"- a term for taking a bottle to go. Its popularity might very well be its downfall one day but I feel wholeheartedly the beer loving crowd always digs a challenge. I would highly encourage you to visit if you're by the area. The intimate and cozy atmosphere is a great place to relax and have a brew.
