Winters Bourbon Cask Ale

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

Draught. WTF!!!! I can’t believe I fell for the crafty name without further inquiry. OK A-B, you got me. Poured clear copper with no head. Aroma of sweet caramel and vanilla, oak chips, and cool whip. Sweet vanilla-toffee flavor with maybe some almond. Despite the intriguing flavor profile, everything seems artificial. As properly stated below, more like cream soda than beer. Thin and watery texture doesn’t help. Coming to a TGIF near you.....

12oz bottle. Pours a butterscotch color head with an orange amber body. Smells of vanilla and caramel. Tastes of vanilla and toffee.

Bottle. Amber-red pour with an off white head. Medicinal aroma...burnt sugar and some oak. The flavor was kinda cream-sodaish, vanilla, coconut...artificial cherry. Light body, overly carbonated with a somewhat creamy finish. Bleh.

Bottle: Had a medium brown pour with a small light tan head. Aroma was sweet with brown sugar. Flavor was again sweet with a very light bourbon but stronger vanilla flavor. Finish reminded me strongly of cream soda. Much too sweet and soda like. Needs body, more attenuation, and much less vanilla. Would not buy again.

This is wierd Nice amber color off white head Sweet aroma of vanilla extract and some bourbon Very overpowering The flavor is strong vanilla - not like ice cream more like extract used for baking Fairly sweet Medium mouthfeel Very lighly bitter on the finish Enjoyable I wouldnt seek this out again but if I had a 6 pack I wouldnt let it go to waste

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.

A thin head that is tan, it quickly dissipates. The color is dark amber with carbonation bubbles. The aroma is toasted malt, a slight hint of bourbon and vanilla. The taste is malt and vanilla with hints of bourbon. The mouth feel is watery and thin. There is hardly a finish on it.

I had this on tap at the hospitality area of Sea World, Orlando. Served in a plastic cup, so lost points on appearance and aroma. With that said, on tap, this is actually a good attempt for the masses. A bit watered down for the likes of most of us, but very drinkable for non beer folks. And it was free. So, you know. Extra points for free beer. Always.