Goose Island Proclaims the Return of King Henry

Details are sneaking in about the events surrounding Goose Island’s Bourbon County Brand Stout releases. One new development is a remixed version of their King Henry barrel-aged barley wine.

According to their news release: “Goose Island Beer Co., the creator of bourbon barrel-aged stout, is re-imagines King Henry, one of its most celebrated and coveted beers for the first time in 13 years. King Henry II, aged in 2024 Bourbon County Rare barrels, this incredibly limited release will be available exclusively at Goose Island’s Chicago properties.”

The upcoming release has shown up of Goose Island’s website, and waxes a little more poetically:

In 2022, Bourbon County Brand Rare Stout—a bold imperial rye stout—was laid to rest in not one, but two sets of regal bourbon barrels. At Goose Island, we typically use bourbon barrels only once for Bourbon County Stout, but experience has taught us those barrels still have more to give. Back in 2011, we released King Henry—a beer that inspired the creation of this latest evolution: a barrel-aged English-style Barleywine. 

When we emptied the barrels that once held Bourbon County Rare, we immediately refilled them with a decadent English-style Barleywine. Over the course of a full year, the beer absorbed the deep flavors of the barrel and the lingering chocolate richness of the Rare stout that came before it. 

After twelve months in those storied casks, King Henry II emerged with layers of rich malt character, evoking notes of crème brûlée with toasty sweetness—an opulent expression truly worthy of its name. 

The original King Henry was first released in 2011, a special English-style barleywine aged in 23-year-old Pappy Van Winkle barrels that had previously housed 2010 Bourbon County Rare Stout. Inspired by Goose Island’s founding brewmaster Greg Hall’s visit to Henry VIII’s cellar at Hampton Court Palace in London, the beer quickly became a benchmark in the industry for its rich malt depth and innovative use of barrels. I missed out on it first time around, but I recall other beer fans spoke highly of it. It seems the occasional Bourbon County branded barleywine just wasn’t quite the same. The updated version clocks in at 13.5% alcohol by volume.

King Henry II will debut on Black Friday (November 28) at Goose Island’s Fulton St. tap room, and at the Salt Shed pub. But VIP ticket holders at Prop Day on Saturday, November 15 will have the first shot at tasting the barleywine. And this is the first confirmation I’ve had when Prop Day is happening.

I should get more details very shortly. I do know that Prop Day tickets will be offered through Oznr. Download the Oznr app and subscribe to Goose Island for notifications.