King Henry

Goose Island Beer Co.
Chicago, IL

Available: AK, AZ, CA, CO, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, SD, WA, WI

Aged in bourbon barrels, King Henry is a burgundy hued English-style barleywine with aromas of vanilla, oak, and dark fruit. Caramel and toffee flavors blend together with bold notes of bourbon delivered in a smooth body followed by a malty finish. No matter the occasion, King Henry promises a regal drinking experience.

ABV: 13.4
ABW: n/a
Color: Burgundy
Bitterness: 60
Original gravity: n/a

This mighty beer, 13.4 percent, is aged in bourbon barrels. It has a deep copper color with thick foam that lead to a massive burst of roasted grain, dark fruit and chestnuts on the nose, with charred and oak notes from the bourbon barrels. Rich, dark malt and nuts coat the mouth with light spicy hops, ripe fruit and smoky oak. The finish is amazingly complex: sweet malt, burnt fruit, oak and char, and gentle hops. Kings can lose their heads over beer like this.
- Roger Protz

It drops heavily into the glass, looking like dark maple syrup. There are some bubbles, but not many, and they struggle to escape. The beer smells like maple syrup too—caramel, vanilla, coconut, molasses, a hint of cola nut. The palate combines bitterness with the acidity of concentrated malt, and then sets it against plenty of residual sugar. Alcoholic heat glows in the chest and serves as the beer’s finish. The good news is that this beer has a future—the less good news is that you ‘ll have to wait a couple of years for it. Can’t wait? Get a good Gruyere, and light no open flames.
- Garrett Oliver

Roger Protz
Roger Protz is the author of Complete Guide to World Beer and 300 Beers to Try Before You Die. He is a respected beer authority and editor of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.

Garrett Oliver
Internationally recognized brewer and expert on traditional beer, Garrett Oliver is the brewmaster of the Brooklyn Brewery and the author of The Brewmaster's Table.

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