Winters Bourbon Cask Ale

The only other burbon aged ale I have had was from Goose Island. For a major maker of beer AB seems to have made a great beer. It is on tap at the LONE STAR in Gurnee. Bartender said it was for sale at Cardinal Liquors down the road, but they didn’t have any.

12 oz. bottle. Pours a crystal clear red with a thin head that disappeared after a few sips. Light but pleasant aroma of vanilla, malt, and a touch of bourbon. Flavor is also on the light side but pleasant with vanilla and caramel out front and a hint of bourbon lurking in the background. A bit thin and a little too sugary. This combination of ingredients could result in a splendid beer. I think this beer is a step in the right direction but falls a bit short.

12 oz bottle from a distributor friend. Not for resale black and white label. Pours ruby-amber with minimal head. Light fig and malt aroma. The flavor is nothing to write home about, and I attribute the drinkablity to the fact that I was already intoxicated. The first and second time I had this I poured it out. This time I seem to have been more forgiving. Malty with hints of fig and dried fruit. I also note fake caramel flavoring, butterscotch, vanilla, and just maybe a hint of that bourbon they allude to (but cheep). Body is medium and slick. Oh well, I’m glad I only have a bottle or two of this left. I’ll send it out for trades as a labeling novelty.

Medium amber colored. medium foamy head. Hugh aromas of vanilla, caramel, and artificial bourbon flavors as well. Tastes like vanilla coke-water (you know, when your ice melts in your glass of coke) . AWFUL.

Aroma starts out almost candy-like with the combo of caramel and a hint of vanilla and initial taste confirms this. Just a faint hint of bourbon in aftertaste. Much better than expected.

Bottle: Dark amber with an off whtie head. Aroma, woody, sugary, oak. Flavor, thin oaky vanilla. Just bland and icky. Tasted like alcho-pop. Ugh. Never again.

On tap at Taco Mac. This reminded me of a flat vanilla flavored coke. Caramel, sugar, vanilla all predominate. Lots of carbonation. I did not realize this was an AB product and it’s nice to see them at least make something that doesn’t taste like piss. As far as beer goes though this one is just ok. As I said I get more coke flavors than beer flavors.

Reddish pour with no head or lacing. The color is an artificially caramel. Vanilla predominates in the flavor, a thick mouthfeel with some bourbon notes in the aftertaste.