Winters Bourbon Cask Ale

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

Had this one at the Blues v. Sabres game tonight. Poured a red with a medium white head. Aroma is somewhat malty, lots of vanilla in there, as well as some wood esters and mild hop citrus. Flavor is...interesting. The vanilla is kind of nice, and you can taste the barrell, which is nice. I think if they would have given this treatment to a better base, say an Amber Bock or a Bareknuckle (I said better, not good), they might have been on to something. As it stands the weak, watery base works hard against the beers few good character points. There are hints of malts, hops, and even yeast (shocking!), but it’s heavily watered down, undoubtedly in an attempt to remain palateable to this brewer’s target audience of watery fizz drinkers. At least (lowest ranked) St. Louis beat (highest ranked) Buffalo.

Amber red in color with an orangish head. Slight earthy smell. Hoppy taste with a hint of vanilla in the aftertaste. I thought there was a nutmeg taste to it as well. I was very impressed with this beer. You gotta love winter brews.
Earlier Rating: 4/27/2008 Total Score: 3.6
Caramel smell with a hint of vanilla. You could definitely taste the vanilla in this brew. Dark copper in color with little to no head. Not a bad brew. I have not had a winter brew that I have not liked.

Tap. Pours a somewhat dark amber with a very nice head. Scents of malt and fruit on the nose. The flavor reminds me of butterscotch but it is on the watery side. Would have liked this more if there were greater viscosity. A decent been that I ejoyed despite being a Anheuser-Busch product

12 oz bottle, born on 11/10/06. Pours a clear reddish amber with a fine light tan head that leaves some lacing.

The aroma is subtle - sweet vanilla and some tar.

The flavor is pretty subtle as well. It is mostly vanilla with a little bit of a spicy hop finish. It has a strange kind of tarry vegetal aftertaste. The mouthfeel is medium and a bit watery.

Overall, an interesting concept for AB, but a little off. It is pretty bland and watery with some off-flavors.

Crystal clear amber color with a decent but quickly dissipating antique lace colored head. Vanilla and pine cone aroma. Vanilla beans and sweet malt dominate the flavor. If there are any hops in this beer, they probably waved the flowers over the boil once or twice. Although there is some mild bitterness after the swallow. This is odd but interesting. I hate to give the Evil Empire credit for anything, but this is a pretty decent effort (at what, I don’t know).

12 oz bottle. Tastes like Vanilla Pepsi on steroids. No bourbon hints, no woody flavors, nothing but artificial vanilla. Pretty fakey and pretty much a joke. Ahahaha...at least TRY and make a "bourbon aged" beer taste like it somehow.

This beer pours a clear amber color with a thin head that fades rather quick. The aroma is subtle and kind of malty with some hints of hops but nothing strong. the flavor is kind of sweet and full of caramel malt and toffee. There is some good carbonation and for a cask ale it is not that bad. there are much better spice herb beers out there but this one is surprisingly good.

Not very good. Pretty watery, no hops of course. Some maltiness to it. It tasted like a slightly strange octoberfest to me. Sweet finish. Light carbonation and fairly drinkable.