Drakes 15th Anniversary Bourbon Barrel Lager

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

Small yellowish rim over ruby-highlighted deepbrown beer. Vinous, liqueur-ish, brandy-like nose. Some roasted malts notes, a truckload of brandy/distilled notes, woody, oak, and, of course, specifically Bourbon. Immediately warming, vanilla and oak tinted taste, sweetened milk with brandy, raisins-smitten, and molasses, but the last blending in perfectly with fruity notes from all kinds of forbidden, exotic dark fruit. Rich, luxurious, viscous fluid; alcoholexplosion in the throat. This is a "lager" - bottomfermenting for the pro’s. I know scores of original Doppelbocks, that ought to look here to know how it could be done (better). Many, many thanks to RodgerD for this series

Pours out a very dark brown color with a small brown head. Aroma is oaky, vinilla and lots of bourbon. Flavor is sweet and has a nice bourbon finish to it. alcohol was very well hidden.

Bottle sampled at the Carolina gathering, thanks to Ryan for bringing this rare beer. A 13.7% lager? Damn. I wasnt expecting this one, a real rare gem brought to the tasting. Pours out a dark brown color with a little brown head on it. Smell is bourbon, oak, vanilla, malty. Taste is sweet and full of vanilla and oak. A really good beer, not overly done with the bourbon which is a very good thing. Certainly interesting, perhaps a little too sweet, but worthy of its top ranking in style percents. Thanks Ryan!

GABF 2005 and 6 ounce bottle right now. Rich brown color. Lovely aroma of malt and wood. Super big mouthfeel. Lovely barrel character. Overall, a great brew!

6oz bottle, courtesy of tever. Thanks, Tom! Pours a murky, yellowish-brown color; slightest off-white head. Warm, sour-mash aroma: whiskey, alcohol, and tropical fruits. Full, chewy mouthfeel: plenty of whiskey, toasty vanilla, and passion fruit; complex, well-balanced, and filling. Lengthy, candy sugar and sour-mash finish. Very well done.

City Beer, San Francisco 7/06. 2004 bottling. 6 oz. nip bottle. Opaque chocolate brown color with almost non-existant head but with good lacing. Mild Port aroma. Very full bodied with some tartness and some woody vanilla taste. A clean taste. not as viscous and muddied as Samiclaus.

Ruddy brown - little to no head. Boozy aroma, some charred wood, bourbon, sweet caramel. Hot. Alcohol ever so present middle/finish. Syrupy bourbon flavors present, however not overpowering. Pretty good.

Thanks to someone over the summer for this, I think IrishBoy. Murky brown with no head and minimal lacing. Aroma is bourbon, maple, hint of darker fruits, caramel, wood. Heavy bodied, sweet finish with some alcohol. Very similar to a bourbon barrel barley wine.