Drakes 15th Anniversary Bourbon Barrel Lager

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

Bottled. An unclear brown beer with a thin tan head. The aroma is sweet with notes of alcohol and malt as well as light notes of bourgon. The flavor is sweet malty with strong notes of caramel, as well as quite a lot of alcohol, that leaves a slight burn on the tongue, combined with light notes of bourbon, prunes, and wood.

(Bottle 18 cl) Courtesy of Degarth. Pours a cloudy, muddy light brown with a small, rough, off-white head dissipating in no time. Distinct, sweetish bourbon aroma. Very rich body, a bit flat with lots of sweetish caramel and then all the characteristic bourbon notes of oak and vanilla. This is almost like drinking a shot of bourbon - and I love bourbon! If all European strongs were like this it would be my favourite style... 280507

Bottled. Thick clear pale brown. Madeira-like oaky nose. Sweet and fruity, perfumy and liqueur-like. Full bodied with thick mouthfeel. Hints of apples. or rather calvados. Complex flavours, even though the barrel flavours dominate. Unique.

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

Golden-brown colour. Slight haze, no head and no visible carbonation. Big malty aroma with fruity notes...hey this strong and I’ll let it slide a bit. Fair bit of bourbon nose as well. Big. Just big. Soft body with hints of maple, oak, bourbon, and rich malts. Warming and smooth, if a bit hot in the finish.

(6oz. bottle) Pours a transparent amber body with a spare off-white head. Aroma of toffee, caramel, bourbon, and vanilla. Flavor of caramel malt, bread, bourbon, and wood.

Bottle shared courtesy of egajdzis. Poured a deep and hazy amber color with a small sized off white head. Aromas of bourbon, caramel, vanilla, oak and light alcohol. Tastes of caramel, vanilla, wood and bourbon. Medium alcohol burn in the finish.

Dark brownish amber body, covered by a smallish, fast-leaving head. Surprisingly vinous, fruity nose (leafy berries, figs, white grapes) in which the bourbon component doesn’t steal the show at all. Astonishing feature, it feels less oxidized than the regular 15th anniversary, appearing hoppier and herbal yet with strong butterscotch, marzipan and chocolate sweet overtones. Thick, softly carbonated body. Moderately alcoholic, slightly syrupy though not cloying, that’s not saying I would drink it anywhen else than in sipping conditions. Still not my style, but talk about a beer that benefits from barrel-aging, it brings that fruitiness up like an exponent! Good job!