Drakes 15th Anniversary Bourbon Barrel Lager

Formerly brewed at Drakes Brewing Company
Style: European Strong Lager
San Leandro, California USA

Nip, thanks aspidites! Pours clear dark brown, still. Tons of caramel, figs, with some brown sugar and fruit, then a soft woody finish. Another amazing beer.

Nip bottle from Ughsmash. Very dark brown, opague and murky with a tan brown film of a head. Incredibly rich nose of maple sweet bourbon, dry, parched wood tannins and a semi-sweet butter and honey note as well. Smooth, oily, very thick and viscous, resinous oak wood and semi-sweet buttered bourbon all over this thing, warming slightly into a relaxing, soothing finish, not really hinting at the near 14% alcohol, but certainly present and noticeable. All quality here, very well made and the bourbon is not obtrusive at all.

Bottle 6 oz courtesy of Odeed. Pours a syrupy murky ruby-hued gooey brown color with a small white head that dissapates to a tiny ring. Nose of luscious caramel similar to an aged barley wine, fig, bourbon, vanilla, dark fruit, some wood character and spices. Mouthfeel is light to medium body and medium silkiness. Initial taste of caramel, vanilla, and bourbon. Mid palate begins to highlight the alcohol, figs, raisans, brown sugar. Finishing with mild and attempted hop balance, sweetness still dominates with touches of maple syrup. Palate duration is above average, slight stickiness around the lips. Drinkability of this beer is very good, but it is indeed a sipper. Carbonation is very light giving nearly no head retention. The near 14% is masked well giving only the highlights needed to express this beer. It was a pleasure to drink this brew.

Bottle (6oz) shared with and courtesy of HogTownHarry. Pours a murky reddish-brown with a spare diminishing off-white head. Aroma: Yup, that’s bourbon barreled alright! But it’s not obnoxious, it smells nice -- bourbon, wood, caramel malt, dark fruit and maple syrup. Flavour: Man, that’s pleasant and very easy to drink, I don’t say that often about bourbon barreled beers. Slightly vinous with bourbon, caramel malt, dark fruit, wood and some alcohol in the bitter finish. The alcohol is very well hidden for such a high abv beer. Wow, this is very good stuff, thanks for sharing HTH!

Pours foggy, deep ruddy brown, poured with enthusiasm that yielded no head. Just a few bubbles. The nose is rich with bourbon, leather, and caramel, as is the flavor which also has a bit of breadiness. Smooth on the palate, and doesn’t seem at all like 14%. Good stuff.

Bottle (6oz). Shared with blankboy, thanks to Irishboy. Murky red-brown, pretty much no head. Aroma - damn that’s nice, mild oak and vanilla/bourbon, moderate alcohol, musty, slightly tart. Taste - simply smooth, restrained alcohol, solid caramel malt, oak, vanilla, raisin, denatured hop bitterness. Thick, flat mouthfeel, a little boozy as it warms - really smooth and easy to drink - thanks Richard!

Bottle. Body-tawny still body. Nose-buttered popcorn, bourbon, corn chips, cherry, alcohol, some light wood, maple syrup. Taste-corn, almost no sweetness, light fig and raisin, no CO2, medium alcohol, low dark fruits. Overall the sweetness is kept in check, which is nice, everything else is fairly mild. Well done and balanced.

6 oz. bottle - shared at after4ever’s tasting; pours flat and clear amber; sweet, bourbon aromas are musky and woody; no burn at all for almost 14% and drinks silky smooth; flavors of dates, caramel, brown sugar and rich malts; thin body and syrupy; so good; what a treat