Winters Bourbon Cask Ale

Brewed by Anheuser-Busch InBev
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
St. Louis, Missouri USA

Burnt amber in color, a bit thin in body compared to the flavor. Big time vanilla aroma and flavor. I think this would have been much better if they upped the alcohol and made it a bit chunkier in body.

Dark clean amber with a small head. Big vanilla aroma. Flavor is also big vanilla. Pretty much takes over any other flavors.

Bottle. Brilliant sapphire color with a lasting beige head. Somewhat musty vanilla aroma with some sweet toasted malts. Somewhat fruity aroma as well. Over-the-top vanilla flavor. Tastes like vanilla extract with carbonation. This beer could actually use more sweetness (something I usually won’t say about any beer!) Rather thin mouth feel as well. Slight tobacco notes. Musty finish.

A different beer. Pours a clear copper color with no head. Definite bourbon and vanilla notes in the nose. A light creamy taste. Hint of vanilla, but you can sense the bourbon as well. Probably not the best bourbon, but it’s there. Not bad for AB, but man, i was hoping for better.

I HAD THIS BEER AT CATALOOCHIE SKI AREA AND TRIED IT OUT OF SHEER CURIOSITY, WOW! THIS IS A DELICIOUS BREW THAT HAS A VERY SWEET MALTINESS TO IT WITH JUST ENOUGH BITTERNESS. GOOD NOTES OF VANILLA AND BOURBON. POURS AMBER WITH A CREAMY LIGHT BROWN ALMOST YELLOWISH HEAD. HAVING TROUBLE FINDING THIS BEER BACK HOME. A PLEASANT SURPRISE.

Putting aside for a minute the fact that this is an AB product (and I’m guessing most raters aren’t) this is not a bad beer at all. In fact, I’m guessing in a blind taste test, it would do better than many of the fruit, smoke and other gimmick beers I’ve seen and had. And note, I generally am not an AB fan. Poured to an amber color with good carbonation, but absolutely no head or lacing. However, aroma was a very pleasant mix of vanilla, bourbon and oak, all true to its name. Taste was more of the vanilla-bourbon blend, which was sweet on the palate and warm in the finish. The only drawback is that this would not be a session beer, as one or two of the vanilla sweetness is plenty.

On draught @ Busch Gardens Tampa,Fl. Poured a clear copper with small but long lasting head. Aroma of caramel, wood, vanilla. Has a sweet caramel and vanilla flavor with hints of wood and a touch of bourbon. Very little hop bitterness. Not bad for AB. I thought it was better on draught than bottle.

Poured carmel colored with an average light brown head. Smelled and looked inviting. Taste stands head and shoulders above Bud and the like.