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Brew Masters Private Reserve
Anheuser-Busch
- From:
- Anheuser-Busch
- Missouri, United States
- Style:
- American Lager
- ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 80
- Avg:
- 3.49 | pDev: 17.19%
- Reviews:
- 104
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jun 05, 2022
- Added:
- Nov 13, 2005
- Wants:
- 5
- Gots:
- 3
Decades ago, Budweiser brewmasters started a tradition. During the holidays, they'd collect the purest liquid from the brewing kettles; pre-sparged, first wort. This first stock - unusually smooth and rich despite its robust alcohol - was reserved for A-B friends and family, until now. Note from the brewers: this an all-malt beer; NO rice or corn. Imported hops. 20 Plato. It's also a completely different recipe than Budweiser.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by taez555:
Reviewed by taez555 from Vermont
3.23/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.23/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
1 quart 14.5 fluid ounces, are you kidding? That's 46.5 ounces? At 8.5% alcohol, that's some serious beer. To start with, love the box it comes in, not to mention the cool swing-top bottle. Definitely a cool presentation.
This beer poured a bright orange/yellow body with a decent white head.
Nose is rather subdued for such a big beer. Sort of a mild sugary caramel and candy like malt. There's a slight sting from the bigger alcohol but for the most part very mellow.
Taste is light to medium bodied. MIld fresh malt, very light caramel and sweet dough flavors dominate. A very mild bitterness gives this beer just enough balance without ever showing a true "bitter" quality. A little bit of sting from the alcohol as well as some nice warming touches. The finish is what really says "budweiser", I'm not sure how else to describe it as if it's a cop out, but it has this strong lingering macro taste in the finish that lingers for some time.
Honestly I'm amazed someone made a beer this big without making it BIG. Light body and little flavor outside of your typical bud. I really wanted to like this beer, I didn't even mind the $13 price tag, but really it's just a novelty that seems intended for Bud drinkers who want something fancy to drink around the holidays and not a beer for the Craft brew market.
Apr 06, 2006This beer poured a bright orange/yellow body with a decent white head.
Nose is rather subdued for such a big beer. Sort of a mild sugary caramel and candy like malt. There's a slight sting from the bigger alcohol but for the most part very mellow.
Taste is light to medium bodied. MIld fresh malt, very light caramel and sweet dough flavors dominate. A very mild bitterness gives this beer just enough balance without ever showing a true "bitter" quality. A little bit of sting from the alcohol as well as some nice warming touches. The finish is what really says "budweiser", I'm not sure how else to describe it as if it's a cop out, but it has this strong lingering macro taste in the finish that lingers for some time.
Honestly I'm amazed someone made a beer this big without making it BIG. Light body and little flavor outside of your typical bud. I really wanted to like this beer, I didn't even mind the $13 price tag, but really it's just a novelty that seems intended for Bud drinkers who want something fancy to drink around the holidays and not a beer for the Craft brew market.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by DoubleJ from Wisconsin
1.75/5 rDev -49.9%
1.75/5 rDev -49.9%
I was lucky enough to taste a 2006 Vintage at a bottle share. I'm hoping that was simply past its prime, because the beer tasted a lot like bran cereal soaking in water. Not something I want a liter of.....
Dec 02, 2014Rated by SD-Alefan from South Dakota
3.75/5 rDev +7.4%
3.75/5 rDev +7.4%
Bottle (2007)
Had a 5oz. sample
Held up surprisingly well.
Lots of nicely-rounded malt flavors, some dark fruit and a bit of leather.
Not bad.
Oct 19, 2014Had a 5oz. sample
Held up surprisingly well.
Lots of nicely-rounded malt flavors, some dark fruit and a bit of leather.
Not bad.
Reviewed by ehammond1
3.47/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.47/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle (2006)
Thanks for opening this with me, UCLABrewN84!
(Aged for 6 years)
Clear light amber with some carbonation and a small white head that leaves dots of lace down the glass.
Sweet, fruity aroma of apple juice and bready malt.
The sweet flavors are similar to the aroma, with an earthy and sweet apple juice flavor playing the largest role along with bread and simple grain. Low bitterness.
Medium bodied with low carbonation.
Good enough, and far better than I anticipated.
Jun 13, 2012Thanks for opening this with me, UCLABrewN84!
(Aged for 6 years)
Clear light amber with some carbonation and a small white head that leaves dots of lace down the glass.
Sweet, fruity aroma of apple juice and bready malt.
The sweet flavors are similar to the aroma, with an earthy and sweet apple juice flavor playing the largest role along with bread and simple grain. Low bitterness.
Medium bodied with low carbonation.
Good enough, and far better than I anticipated.
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California
3.58/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.58/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Bottle I brought to share at DarthKostrizer's tasting.
2006 vintage.
Pours a clear brown with a khaki head that settles to a thin cap on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, apple juice/cider, and some slight vegetal aromas. Taste is the same along with some slight brown sugar flavors. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is actually a pretty good beer that has held up for 6 or so years. If I was given this blind, I would never guess it was an AB product.
Jun 03, 20122006 vintage.
Pours a clear brown with a khaki head that settles to a thin cap on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, apple juice/cider, and some slight vegetal aromas. Taste is the same along with some slight brown sugar flavors. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is actually a pretty good beer that has held up for 6 or so years. If I was given this blind, I would never guess it was an AB product.
Brew Masters Private Reserve from Anheuser-Busch
Beer rating:
80 out of
100 with
121 ratings
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