Michelob Winter's Bourbon Cask Ale - Anheuser-Busch

claspada

New Jersey

2.75/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a nice golden amber color with good clarity with a tight eggshell head that has good longevity.

Aromas begin sweet and malty. I don't get much if any bourbon but there are vanilla and caramel notes.

The tastes begin much the same with prodominant sweetness highlighted again by the vanilla and caramel/toffee with lesser dark fruits.

Mouthfeel is medium to light in body with appropriately moderate carbonation.

Overall what you might expect from an A-B product. A mild-flavored beer that tries to make friends with everyone instead of attempting to really "wow" anyone. For being called a "bourbon cask ale", there is barely any hints of bourbon to speak of.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2012 15:51:33 | More by claspada

Floyd12

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +42.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 1/6 "Pony" keg into a pint glass

A- reddish brown color. While the original head is very nice and thick, it quickly dissipated leaving no lacing.

S- A sweet smelling beer of bourbon and vanilla. Light undertones of toasted grains.

T- Very sweet almost like a syrup. Strong vanilla and bourbon taste. But also a slight bitterness of hops at the end.

M-Slightly watery, the downside to this beer. while it has a sticky sense do to all the sweetness a much heavier quality to this beer would greatly improve it. Light beer with low carbonation just leaves too much missing.

D- High drinkability because of the sweetness. Its like a Cream Soda or Root Beer. Very pleasant but if heavier would be a much more enjoyable beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2011 22:12:24 | More by Floyd12

CuriousMonk

Virginia

2.15/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

From winter brew tasting notes (2010): Pours a coppery brown with a decent but ephemeral head. Aromas are heavy with caramel and maybe some cinnamon spices with a touch of vanilla. Flavor is fairly sweet malt with an artificial bourbon taste mixed. Vanilla is present too, but it doesn't fit in very well. This is a little watery and the elements don't come together to make something better.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2011 19:50:51 | More by CuriousMonk

Dodt

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +35.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

found a bit of a surprise when i headed into the social club they had this one on tap .
poured from the tap into a mug
appearance dark amber with a nice head
smell a strong presence of vanilla
taste is the same as the aroma
for me this is a enjoyable be and a realization that not all ab products are inferior

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2011 15:54:26 | More by Dodt

MikeRa

Pennsylvania

2.85/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Had on tap

A: This beer is a reddish copper/amber with a very little head

S: It has a average vanilla smell to it

T: This beer has a hint of vanilla in the taste

M: This beer has a fuzzy feel that doesn't stay for long

D: This is a beer that I may or may not drink again

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2011 04:26:01 | More by MikeRa

GilGarp

Colorado

3.3/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Budweiser brewery in Fort Collins.

Served cold into a shapely half-pint glass, Winter's Bourbon Cask Ale is a nice golden amber/red color with good clarity. The head is tight and has good longevity.

Aroma is sweet and malty. I don't get any bourbon but there are vanilla and caramel notes.

Flavor is much the same with prodominant sweetness. Again the vanilla and caramel/toffee characters take center stage with lesser dark fruits. For being called a "bourbon cask ale", there is barely any hints of bourbon to speak of.

Mouthfeel is medium to light in body with appropriately moderate carbonation.

Overall what you might expect from an A-B product. A mild-flavored beer that tries to make friends with everyone instead of attempting to really "wow" anyone.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2010 16:38:49 | More by GilGarp

wrightro07

Minnesota

1.73/5  rDev -39.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

A: amber brown with very poor head retention
S: Almost no smell at all, just a slight malty smell.
T: Almost no flavour at all, not much to say. It just has a bad aftertaste like Budweiser.
D: Drinkability would be great if I wanted a club soda. I will never drink this beer again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2010 02:59:46 | More by wrightro07

polio

Ohio

3.43/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

this beer is very rich and creamy. if you can imagine if egg nog was a beer this would be it. it was extremely sweet. i wouldnt want to have more than one of these at a time, but it is a good sit down desert beer. not my favorite seasonal beer but its a good one.

Serving type: on-tap

11-16-2010 21:35:56 | More by polio

MbpBugeye

Ohio

2.28/5  rDev -20%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

This is from notes from the winter time.

I had this beer on tap at Gresso's, a local bar right around the corner from my house. I asked what the tap handle was with the snow man and ended up with a pint of this.

A- By the time it came to my table it looked nearly flat. This would be ok if it were actually a cask ale. Its amber colored and perfectly clear.

S- Weak nose but plenty of vanilla syrup and husky, caramely malts. The nose smells mostly like syrups and sugars.

T- This is the sorriest excuse for a "bourbon cask" ale I have had. No bourbon to be found. If you have never had real bourbon and you think vanilla syrup is what bourbon barreling tastes like, then you will think this beer is legit. This beer wouldnt be as bad if I werent expecting some bourbon. If you told me it was just a new AB winter seasonal I wouldnt hate it as much since this is a few steps up from all of their other stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2010 06:00:05 | More by MbpBugeye

projectflam86

Ohio

2.3/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Reviewed from notes. Like many others, I was tricked into thinking this was a craft beer that I hadn't heard about. Here goes...

A- Pours a copper color with a thin beige head that leaves some spotty lace. Decent to look at.

S- Faint malt and straw with a touch of caramel. (I was starting to become skeptical)

T- Ok, where is the bourbon. Mostly a muted sweetness with some toasted grains. If something is going to be called a "Bourbon Cask Ale" then it should at least have SOME bourbon flavor right?

M- Light/medium bodied with light carbonation.

D- Disappointed and a little irritated that I passed on better beers because this one sounded like a winner. It pays to do your homework I guess.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2010 20:52:43 | More by projectflam86

kifn2

Pennsylvania

1.98/5  rDev -30.5%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

a - dark amber with just a trace of head around the edge of the glass. I should have sent this back since there was absolutely no carbonation. There must have been something wrong with the keg.

s - slight vanilla. no hops.

t - strong vanilla flavor that reminded me of root beer or cola. I couldn't detect any hop flavor. No warming effect that I would expect in a winter ale. I am a fan of bourbon and did not detect any bourbon flavor at all.

m - medium body, but the lack of carbonation made the beer feel like cold water.

d - I would not order this again. I found myself eyeing the other beers on tap and regretting my decision to order this.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2010 13:23:37 | More by kifn2

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.5/5  rDev +22.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

16oz. pour in an Applebees weizen glass (a brief respite from Xmas shopping). Poured a translucent amber with a half inch, loose, off-white head the quickly dissipate into a swirl - some lacing, no retention. Mild nose - maybe some caramel malt and a hint of spice. Taste mostly follows nose, maybe the merest hint of vanilla and oak. Mouthfeel was light-medium, but closer to the light side of the spectrum, with a pleasant, even background carbonation - served a little too cold though. Not a bad beer - comes off as something of a hybrid between a winter warmer and an American Amber. Not a bad beer, but the 'Bourbon Cask' in the title is a little misleading.

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2009 15:08:42 | More by Jwale73

Roy3268

Maryland

4.53/5  rDev +58.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

An overall great beer in my opinion. This was my first time trying a cask beer, and to say the least I was impressed. Many critics are surely against this beer simply because it is made by A-B. Better than anything Sam Adams has produced, and puts the name "porter" to shame.

I usually dislike thicker beers like this, but it's presence was by no means sickening or meager to my palate. A hint of vanilla was there that is all I can really say.

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2009 06:15:17 | More by Roy3268

minnunderground

Wisconsin

3.2/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Monday Night football @ Lambeau, Green Bay Wi.
Packers vs Ravens

Had this at a tailgate party before we went into the game, only had all bud products and I saw the name and figured it must be better than the other stuff. (it was free)

Presentation- White plastic cup
A-Little bit of white head sticking around, caramel semi-opaque
S-Sweet, sugar and malts some vanilla
T- Tastes ok at least had some flavor, not really tasting bourbon much maybe a bit much vanilla.
M- Really a tad light for what I wanted
D-Pretty high drinkablilty I mean that's what they care about right?

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2009 23:35:19 | More by minnunderground

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured on tap, a light brown in color with some decent head retention.

Aroma of light malt and little else.

Flavor was malty upfront with an oak/vanilla touch that made the beer decently complex. Roasted malts pull through in the finish.

Mouthfeel was medium to full bodied, good level of carbonation, smooth and creamy.

A good offering from Anheuser Busch, and I think it may be the best I've had from them. Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2009 04:08:00 | More by Stinkypuss

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

2.63/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Had this on tap at the Old Chicago

Served in a 25 oz mug.

Serves with 1/2 finger of light tan head. Fades to a thin layer. No lace noted. Color was a clear copper bronze.

Aroma: Sweet notes of caramel and vanilla. Not getting the bourbon here that I expected. Not to much going on here.

Taste: I get way to much alcohol here. This beer is extremely hot for an abv of 6%. Not what I was expecting. Has some caramel malts and vanilla notes.

Mouthfeel: Hot and a little smooth, but crisp. Medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends with dry/hot aftertaste. Not enjoying this.

Overall, I made it through the mug, but I really didn't enjoy it at all. This beer is full of false hope. I really doubt that they aged this in bourbon barrels, because it doesn't taste anything like others I have had. I won't be having this again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2009 06:57:11 | More by mothman

Lexluthor33

New York

2.65/5  rDev -7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

A reddish,amber color with a small head and a vanishing lace.

The aroma of vanilla,caramel and malts.

The taste was sweet,vanilla and malt with hints of light cinnamon. A bit of caramel too,but more vanilla.

The feel was light to medium body with carbonation that tailed off towards the finish. What a flat finish.

Notes: This was like having a soda. I have tasted worse,so I will not say it was the worst,but Winter warmer? not a chance.

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2009 01:28:56 | More by Lexluthor33

craytonic

District of Columbia

3.33/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Red-burnt-orange with 3/4" head. No lacing.

Smell: Vanilla, caramel, toffee, cream. The bourbon is very faint.

Taste: Vanilla extract,honey, caramel, toffee. Tastes like a creme soda root beer. Very sweet. Not a hint of hoppy bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Carbonation is well done, but the body is a little light.

Drinkability: Drinks like creme soda. Tastes like it too.

It isn't great, but I wonder if people grade this down because it is made by AB. I don't think it is an "F", I have had much much worse craft brews.

Serving type: on-tap

02-02-2009 22:44:59 | More by craytonic

jimsimply

Georgia

1.4/5  rDev -50.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

I wasn't paying close attention to my server; if I had been, I would have asked about the brewer.

A: Um, light? For a winter warmer, for most ales, for beer. The head faded like soda.

S: Vanilla, mostly, perhaps a weak clove aroma.

T: Woof. Not good. Sweet and bland, like a flat soda.

MF: Lighter than light. Not far from a macro lager, even a light lager.

D: The body certainly makes it drinkable, if you like the taste. I didn't, so I won't be ordering this one again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-16-2009 18:44:12 | More by jimsimply

chaunur

Kentucky

2.68/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Tried a new place last night, this was as close as it got to a craft beer, It poured nice clear med amber with a slightly reddish tint with a lively 1" head that lasted. Aroma of vanilla flavoring and little else. Semi-sweet flavor that while not overpowering was still a little heavy. Only a slight trace of bitterness detectable. Tasted, felt and drank like the new Bud ale with carmel coloring and vanilla extract added. Hey that's it. The one thing it isn't is a Bourbon Cask Ale

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2008 05:13:22 | More by chaunur

ZimZamZoom

West Virginia

3.15/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

nice amber color, nice white head. Really pretty in the glass. Aroma is vanilla and dark fruits. Subtle though. The taste, on the other hand is not at all subtle. Big vanilla flavor. There is some ale back there but this is vanilla. No bourbon notes or anything. Doesn't seem like this was aged on wood, just added vanilla. I'm not overly-impressed, though it's way more drinkable than a Bud or anything else like that.

Last beer of the night after several Winter Lagers. A nice change, tis beer is worth checking out.

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2008 11:42:13 | More by ZimZamZoom

TLove

District of Columbia

3.45/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Most people would be scared away by the big Anheuser-Busch label on a bottle, but not having the option of trying a bottle, I asked the bartender at Sign of the Whale in DC to pick the most obscure tap I saw, which happened to be the Winter's snowman-thingy perched on top of the tap head.

It wasnt all-consuming and was a bit light for a winter warmer, but certainly a good beer for the purpose that I chose it for - an dark amber beer with a nice smoothness and round flavor to start off the night. The individual elements were not all that impressive. The smell was not particularly distinct and the appearance was not really impressive for a winter warmer, but it had a nice substance and really came together well to the taste and mouthfeel. It had a faint bitterness and a comfortable blend of spices and sweetness to the initial taste, but rounded out once in the mouth, with a bit of roasted barley flavor and finished well for a micro-wannabe.

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2008 05:21:49 | More by TLove

newamsterdam

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +37.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I first tried this beer on tap and was very pleasantly surprised. It had a nice color and the taste was somewhat complex and not in any way overly sweet. I was so impressed I actually decided to pick up a six pack of it the next time I was getting beer. Big mistake. It seems like a completely different beer from the bottle. It seems a little lighter than I remembered it being and the taste is a lot sweeter and an overabundance of vanilla covering up any beer flavor that might be hidden in there. Consistency may be a huge issue with this beer so people who enjoy it and people who hate it might be drinking a very different beer from one and other.

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2008 23:19:56 | More by newamsterdam

kickapoodude

Alaska

2.45/5  rDev -14%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

This pours a nice light amber color with a white and quickly disolving head. I ordered it because I thought i was a micro...but the tatse told me bud product. Bland flavors with a pronounced vanilla tatse finishing with a odd and unsetteling aftertaste.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2008 02:37:27 | More by kickapoodude

opwog

Minnesota

1.6/5  rDev -43.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

This crap was aweful. Way too thin to try to bourbonize. Just tasted like watered down, cheap bourbon. Was this even beer? Oh yeah...there was some carbonation.

I saw something on the board that said "bourbon" and "cask" and was actually excited for a moment, before the bartender figured out who made this. I was lucky enough to have a taster when the bartender first couldn't tell, but as soon as she saw the face that I made, she sent someboy in back to figure out what they had tapped.

I don't know how anybody can get through a full glass of this without getting sick.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2008 04:38:28 | More by opwog