Goose Island King Henry
Barrel Aged Barleywine. 11% ABV, 60 IBUs. Loosely based off our 2000th brew at our production facility,we revived this hybrid American / English Barley Wine for a special treat. Coming out of the tanks we aged it in barrels previously used for Bourbon County Rare Stout (Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year) to add another layer of complexity.
Note: The original release of this beer (2010) was done in regular bourbon barrels. The 2011 and bottle release saw the use of the barrels formerly used for Bourbon County Rare. We are not seperating these as I do not believe the bottles will clarify this. The original release also saw an 11% ABV, with the bottling seeing closer to 13.4%
Note: The original release of this beer (2010) was done in regular bourbon barrels. The 2011 and bottle release saw the use of the barrels formerly used for Bourbon County Rare. We are not seperating these as I do not believe the bottles will clarify this. The original release also saw an 11% ABV, with the bottling seeing closer to 13.4%
4.3
360 reviews
Chicago, United States
Community reviews
Pours very dark brown woth a thin line of beige head. Aroma; Bourbon, dades, plumes, toffee, caramel, coconut and chocolate. Flavour; Coconut, vanilla, toffee, caramel, bourbon, raisins and chocolate.
A: Deep brown, almost black with some red tones. Small light brown/white head that disappears right away N: Vanilla, bourbon, caramel, toffee T: Vanilla, bourbon, caramel, toffee O: Bourbon bomb! Very very nice!
Pours a dark chestnut brown color that’s completely opaque with mahogany edges and thin, off-white head that immediately fades. Not much in the way of lacing.
Sweet boozy aroma with a really nice barrel presence that’s very nicely integrated into the notes of the base beer. Some toasted oak with lots of spicy bourbon and sweet brandy along with rye whiskey, vanilla bean and toasted coconut. Nice spirit presence with a faint touch of oak that isn’t too charred or toothpick-like. Underneath there is some leathery malt and dark fruit sweetness. Thankfully the barrel presence doesn’t completely obliterate the other notes. I’m slowly picking up hints of biscuit, toasted malt, plum, raisin and fig. The barrel notes are excellent but I would prefer a bit more barleywine character in the nose.
Viscous and oily with a boozy barrel presence that has a ton of heat and spicy, sweet bourbon character that dominates the palate, lingering over the leathery malt and sweeter notes into a dry finish. Lots of vanilla bean, marshmallow and toasted coconut along with some dry, toasted oak but it’s somewhat faint at this point. Slightly harsh, boozy and hot but this beer has some really nice barrel flavor. Underneath, there is decent leathery malt presence along with vinous dark fruit and port-like notes. Hints of date, raisin, plum, fig and dark cherry but the booze is a bit too strong for my preference, killing off most of the barleywine characteristics. Solid with good barrel flavors but the spirit/booziness is a bit overwhelming for me. Lacking in balance and surprisingly still very hot and boozy this long after the release.
22oz bottle shared by Confluence Josh. Dissipating tan-sheeting mahogony with some red. A-hot bourbon/wood, brown sugar, dk fruit, med malt. T-follows. Smooth.
Bottle shared on Zwanze Day 2015 at The Kernel, very kind regards to Dave. This is one of those beers I’ve seen requests for on the trade forum, and thought to myself, ’I’d like to try that’. And so it comes to pass. Opaque very dark brown colour with a slight off white head. Nose is soft, musty, musky, soft orange citrous, brown sugar, barley grain mustiness, dark fruits, dried figs, bourbon barrel, vanilla, bourbon whiskey. Taste is very smooth and not hot at all. Caramel, soft orange citrous, vanilla, wood barrel, musty barley grain, Bourbon sweetness, dried fig. I really really like this. In fact so much I drank the last drop. Many many thanks Dave, this was a beer moment. What a tragedy it’s retired!
22oz bomber shared at Zwanze Day event at Kernel, Lodon. Huge thanks to Dave for this one. It pours a dark brown color with a small beige head. Aroma is big sweet bourbon notes of vanilla, ice cream, caramel, toffee, milk chocolate. Taste is sweet and bold, lightly boozy, with loads of bourbon notes, vanilla, leather, chocolate, caramel. Bold body with soft carbonation. Overall, very clean bourbon barrel notes and not too hot or boozy, very nice
Bottle thanks to Dave. Dark brown beer. Malty bourbon on aroma . Too hot too boozy. Soy sauce. Way too boozy. Unintelligible malt. Too hot.
2011 bottle, shared on a camping trip last weekend by @beerscenes (if you folks use instagram you should probably follow him -- he’s a good dude who takes good beer pictures). First, I’ll talk about the beer: dark brown/mahogany/ruby pour by firelight on a clear starry night in the great northwest. Aroma big on plums, figs, dates, toffee, brown sugar, vanilla, and bourbon. Well-integrated, subtle oxidation (no cardboard here). Taste is beautiful -- sweet, rich, decadent, without ever being cloying. Full silky velvety body, soft carbonation.
Now here’s the dilemma. I can no longer imagine awarding any beer a perfect 5, but ... this beer immediately followed a 2011 Firestone Walker Abacus. Same age, same style, nearly same ABV. By comparison, KH was superior in all regards -- fuller body, less apparent oxidation, richer, smoother. Sucaba/Abacus is my all-time favorite barley wine; it tasted nearly perfect to me before we opened this one, and I refuse to adjust the 5 I awarded it years ago in my youthful exuberance. So my hands are pretty much tied. King Henry, congrats -- you’ve just found the loophole to get you that perfect 5.
From notes. Shared at a BCBS tasting put on by Brian Winters. Thanks! The pour on this one is a nice ruby tinted dark brown with a thin light khaki head and a ton of sediment. This thing looks great. The aromas are nice. There is a ton of the usual suspects when it comes to the scent. There is a strong malt and toffee with a beautiful dark fruit and light roast. There is a light oak and a hint of vanilla. The flavors mimic this as well. The dark fruits really stand out before the barrel takes over. The alcohol seems a little more prevalent on the back of the flavor. The mouth feel is thick and creamy with a soft carbonation and a lingeringly sweet caramel, boozy finish.
Bottle, many thanks to Tim for gifting me this bottle!! Appearance is dark amber, with light white head that quickly dissipates. Aroma is heavy bourbon, vanilla, coconut, and chocolate. Taste is big on the vanilla, some raisins, chocolate, and graham crackers. Full bodied, smooth finish. Man, this is really really good, not sure what it was like fresh but its still pouring wonderful, so happy I finally got to try this!!
Dark amber, brassy looking - very dark actually with a soft ringed head. Big boozy, stern log of . Firm and passes the ABV very smoothly. Spicy, sherry, lean and peppery brass times. Preys on the maltiness, soft bourbon sweetness. Carbonation is lean, mouthfeel is long and driven by this coconut sweetness. Finishes scoops of rasins and brulee. Lingers sweet spiciness. Really dessert winey/sherry good times.
Bottle, Beers I Hadn’t Known Were Gushers Daisy Tasting
Bottle thanks to sir Craig of the clan Garvie. Aroma of dried fruit, sherry, vanilla, prunes. Taste of sherry, like a PX, dried fruit, prunes, raisins, toffee, vanilla, oak. Quite sweet and bitter. Pretty fucken tasty
Pours a burgundy black with not much head. Aroma is caramel, figs, toffee and sweet malts. Taste is vanilla, oak, bourbon, raisins, some mild heat, caramel and a nice warming finish.
bottle at home ... soft chocolate ,,, soft bourbon roast.. dark chocolate roast nose soft roast ... dark malts .. dark chcocolate .. rick malts ... massive bourbon .. quite boozy ... very sherry .. dark roast ... light alcohol burn .. dark malts .. long coconut...
Bottle at craig’s. Pours deep ruby brown, nose is toffee, caramel, coconut, fruity, taste is similar, really rich, harsh bourbon.
Bottle at Craig’s. Pours clear dark brown with no head. Aromas of caramel, spice, burnt toffee. Taste is creme caramel, toffee, prunes, but dries out nicely on the finish for the strength. Some booze notes, dried fruit. PX almost.12th July, gusher tasting
Pretty good barleywine but I don’t think this is something I will be actively seeking more of.
Bottle. Thanks Couch! Awesome aroma. Raisins, toffee, chocolate, cherries, figs, and vanilla. Tastes moderately sweet. Very light oxidation. Loads of dark fruit and smooth bourbon. Rich and delicious. Seems to have held up pretty well.
Smell is bourbon, caramel, and vanilla. Taste is the same with the addition of chocolate. Nice texture, but has some mild alcohol taste and warmth.
Bomber from 2011. Pours black with a bit of tan foam. Amazing nose of caramel and vanilla and bourbon and cocoa. Same flavor follow though on the palate with a very creamy mouthfeel. Excellent brew that shouldn't be passed up.
HMOG 2015. Loooong time want here. Hype withstanding, this is a gorgeous beer. Bourbon, vanilla, dark fruit, molasses, oak, smooth booze, fig. The quality bourbon really does translate into a better beer. I have had Pappy barrels a handful of times and it just makes for some beautiful and smooth characteristics.
At my place on man’s poker night. Aroma is fuck yes amazing. Decadent beautiful raison bourbon. Taste is fuckibg amazing, fuck yeah, tasty, some sweetness, beautiful spirits.
Bottle shared with friends. Bottled at 2011 Poured a dark brown colour with no head at all. Toffee, oak, raisins, bourbon, Carmel, toasted nuts, vanilla, dark red fruits, one hell of a big sticky mouthfeel. As it warms up this one turns out to a monster! Aged superb. Got me thinking at every sip if this was the best barleywine i’ve had this far. But yes. This beats the MOAS 2011 with just 0,1 point incredible
Bottle shared at Kane. Poured with the appearance of a nice cognac, super thick and syrupy brown with no carbonation what so ever. Aroma was complex with the usual suspects for a big BW, caramel, toffee, molassess, vanilla, bourbon, oak, light char along with a touch of butter and some straight up alcohol. Syrupy body with very noticable heat and no carbonation. I found the flavor a bit smoother than the aroma with no butter and although the alcohol was there it wasn’t as strong as it was in the aroma. Great beer I’m glad I was in the right place at the right time to try.
Drank at the magnificent BCBS tasting in Bodegraven 10/1/2015. Like the Barleywine but a lot richer. Very nice beer. Lots of tastes.
Bottle at the De Molen Bourbon County tasting, Jan 2015. Poured a clear dark brown with a reddish hue. The aroma is rich sweet malt, light molasses. The flavour is moderate sweet, light bitter with a big rich malty, alcoholic bitter palate and a rich oily mouthfeel. Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Bottle. Pours dark caramel brown with a small tan head. Aroma of bourbon, caramel, dark fruit, and toffee. Flavor is rich and complex with caramel, raisins, bourbon barrel, vanilla, oak, toffee, and dark fruit. Sticky texture, full body, nice warming finish. A world class barleywine.
Bottle shared big thanks to charule. Pours a dark caramel brown without any head. Aromas of bourbon, light vanilla, candied dark fruits. Drank this side by side with one year old BCBBW and they are pretty much the same beer. Little difference if any between them. Pretty smooth with a light bourbon heat.
Bottle from Chicago trade. Poured deep dark brown minimizing beige head. Aroma light caramel dark fruits apples. Light carb med bod. Sweet dark fruity boozy bourbon.
22oz bottle pours dark chesnut brown with small head. Nose is deep rich dark fruit, lots of bourbony raisin and plum with touches of sweet malt bread undertones, enveloping. Taste is soft and chewy on the palate, layered caramel, boozy maple, soft bread, plum, raisin, tootsie roll, some light sweetness, bourbon spice, oak. Finish is lingering semi sweet dark fruit, caramel, bourbon, wood, complex. Wonderful, a treat to drink.