Drakes 15th Anniversary Bourbon Barrel Lager

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

6 oz bottle. Muddy brown with a forced tan froth. Nose is pineapple upside-down cake, caramel and soft bourbon. Body a bit thin with faint carb. Oaky smoothness. Taste is toffee with a hint of chocolate cherry. Bourbon, but not distracting. Neat stuff.

Thanks to Stodbrew for the bottle! Poured a clear, shimmery deep copper (at first.. thicker on the last pour).. just the faintest dusting of off-white head sticking around. The aroma was very influenced by the barrel aging.. with thick bourbon and vanilla upfront and a deep, almost bock-y caramel and chocolate behind.. lots of oak overtones.. rich and enjoyable. The flavor began with syrupy, aged caramel and vanilla, with some chocolate, more warm caramel, and sweet, but restrained bourbon sugars filling out the middle.. everything came together quite well, and I’m amazed that the combination of lenghty barrel-aging and the 3 years since didn’t throw this off balance. Carbonation is non-existent here except for the slight "pfft" when I opened it.. syrupy on the palate, with warm, but not rough alcohol on the back-end.. a sticky, grainy feel stuck to the mouth on the finish.. nice radiating warmth in the belly. This was excellent!

thanks cmubeerman. bottle sampled over thanksgiving 07. hazy brown color. super boozy apple plum rind aroma. soft front. almost flavorless till the back end etoh hits hard. shockingly mild overall.

Date: November 07, 2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Trade
Appearance: opaque dark brown with burgandy edges, scant head
Aroma: sweet and alcoholic brown sugar and bourbon aroma with sweet caramel and vanilla
Body: big thick body
Flavor: thick sweet brown sugar and bourbon flavor, nice vanilla sweetness, dark caramel candy character, touch of fruity essence, a touch of alcohol in the finish

Date: March 27, 2009
Mode: bottle
Source: tasting
Appearance: clear borwn, wispy short lived head
Aroma: sweet caramel and vanilla aroma with balanced bourbon, nice dark fruits emerging
Body: body is thining out
Flavor: sweet bourbon and caramel flavor, hint of tartness, alcohol is just about gone

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

A thin and creamy beige ring develops, is sustained. Dark, lightly hazy(sediment) mahogany body with charred hints. The nose is reminiscent of ancient Hurlimann Samichlaus. Plenty of spicy caramel and lesser chocolate. Brandy-like alcoholic notes are still quite substantial, despite the multiple years this has rested in the bottle. Also making appearances are pepper, wood, vanilla, prunes and raisins. Mild tobacco notes finish this dazzling show off. Very impressive so far. The flavor introduces more oxidative expressions. More chocolate also, with lots of nougat. Brandy flavors abound and coerce spice into a dimly lit corner of the taste. The liquor notes bespeak high quality. Sweetness is medium to medium-high, bitterness is medium. Little in the way of astringency. The palate is caressed by this smooth elixir and its low carbonation. A nice tannic and fruity/brandy finish. Excellent.

6oz - thanks Irishboy - Aroma is intense with caramel, cedar, vanilla, tobacco and subtle hops. Pours dark ruby red with a ring head and decent lacing. Flavor is strong bourbon but not overwhelming the other flavors of vanilla, oak, caramel and tobacco. Palate is exceptionally smooth for 13.7%. Alcohol is barely noticeable. A very tasty brew that would sneak up and slap you around if it came in bigger bottles.

Got this in a trade with alohac. had this last night for one of my B’day beers, poured a muddy brown with no head. aroma alcohol, like Jack Daniels, cherries, honey, caramel. flavor surprisingly the alcohol wasn’t as strong as I thought it would be, the cherry and honey came out 1st. than some dried fruits, vanilla, this is a nice after dinner drink which it was, just enough sweetness with a nice alcohol taste to it. A BIG THANK YOU Christian

Bottle: Muddy brown, violet hues, thin spritzy off-white head, spotty lacing.   Bourbon, oak, and subtle vanilla on the nose.   Certainly smells entertaining.   Sweet dates on the tongue, bourbon, vanilla, graham cracker and a little bit of an alcohol trailer.   While being somewhat hot, its not all that alcoholic.   This is quite the treat!   Smooth, with a clean finish.   Perhaps minor hints of tootsie roll after a while.   I am amazed that for a 13.7% its not more alcoholic, or at least burns more.   Dangerously easy to drink.   After a little while it does seem to lose a little umph.   Big in body, smooth mouthfeel.   Being three years old I gotta say I am impressed.   Dan, you are the man!