Beer Review: Baudoinia

Reviewing Baudoinia from the Goose Island Beer Company out of Chicago, Illinois. Baudoinia is a variant of 2012 Bourbon County Brandy Stout that is aged low storage bourbon barrels and is named after the eponymous fungus that grows on such barrels in distillery rickhouses.

Score: 98

2012 vintage keg tap pour served in a snifter glass and enjoyed on 05/31/14 at Rockwell's 10th anniversary ice cream social. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Classic shiny, inky black/deep brown Bourbon County color. Served with a thin layer of head. Great oily legs and browning from the swirl. 4.5/5

Smell: The nose is an explosion of fudgey chocolate, oaky vanilla, bourbon, brown sugar and a little bit of cherry. 4.75/5

Taste: Vanilla and fudge, with a lasting chocolatey bourbon finish. Dark fruit on the midpalate with a kiss of cherry. Smooth bourbon backbone. Oak in the finish too. So much chocolate and vanilla, no alcohol heat. This is so much better now than it was fresh. 5/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, low carbonation. Creamy, viscous mouthfeel. Sweet, but in a great way and less sweet than regular Bourbon County. 5/5


Overall: As you would expect of any Bourbon County beer, this beer has aged marvelously. It has more chocolate and vanilla presence than regular Bourbon County and less alcohol character as well. The deliciousness of this beer was magnified by, and paired perfectly with, the Rockwell's homemade Founder's Rubaeus ice cream.

Cost: $5 for a 5 oz pour that came with a scoop of ice cream!