Winters Bourbon Cask Ale

It reflects more on me than A-B, I think, that I rather like this. It is thin, yes, it doesn’t have a fulfilling aroma, it’s pretty narrow in taste range, it has no hoppy taste, and the aftertaste is similar to that after sucking on a sugar cube. But the vanilla taste is really VERY nice, not synthetic (to me, at least, and I am good at noting such things), very mellow, and pleasant. It’s not an "ale" taste, more of a vanilla taste, but it’s so mellow as to be unoffensive. If you want a sweet ale that will remind you (far too much) of an alcoholic cream soda, this is for you. I wasn’t expecting that, and I happen to LOVE cream soda, so it was a pleasant surprise. I just wouldn’t expect much malt or hops taste is all. It’s a candy ale--which, by the way, gives almost no hint of its "bourbon" origins. For that, stick with J.W. Lee. I’d say this is a great ale for Christmas Eve.

Clear amber pour with a 2 finger off white head that fades very quickly and a small amount of lacing. Very mild aroma of vanilla, bourbon and corn. Flavor is primarily vanilla with a hint of bourbon and finishing with typical BMC corn flavor and a slight hint of cinnamon as it warms. Very watery and thin body.

Tap: Tastes like vanilla with a little bit of malt. There is some metallic flavor and the alcohol is not hidden well and this is only 6%.

Tastes like vanilla. A welcome change from Miller Lite but hey, that’s not saying much.

Well what can I say. It’s an AB product. My expexctations were obliterated at this attempt to offer a seasonal ale. It poured medium amber with a quickly diminiashing head with absolutely no lacing at all. The aroma was faint vanilla with light carbonations. Light body with no hops edtected. Very slight vanilla at the foretaste, and a hardly noticible slight malt at the finish that you had to hunt for. A dissappointing brew to say the least. I won’t say it’s disqusting, but I’ll never buy it again. Pass tis one up!

Clear and deep amber-orange. Thin, quickly fading head. Nose was reminiscent of sugar water and faint vanilla. Texture was thinner than I expected. Malts were rather one-dimensional; some toast. Vanilla notes were synthetic tasting/smelling. Plastic off-flavor was also annoying. Aftertaste was really bad, like a cheap cigar. I once said A-B could brew a good beer if they really wanted to; they just didn’t have the will. Perhaps I should retract that statement, because I’m beginning to think otherwise.

spice/herb/vegetable? Veg ta what? tasted like two OLD good beers pour together into another bottle. Together they were missing something.

This pours an attractive reddish copper color with a light beige head that audibly crackled as it diminished. My first reaction to the nose was medicine with an artificial vanilla and cherry extract added. The artificial feel of this beer continues into the taste. Fake vanilla extract, dusty cinnomin, oak, watery bourbon, and I still get a bad berry and white sugar sweetness. I went into this trying to ignore the anti A-B bias, but this isn’t very good.