Batch No. 23185 (Williamsburg, VA) - Anheuser-Busch

portijon

Pennsylvania

1.58/5  rDev -47%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

"This one tastes better, but that doesn't mean it's good." - anonymous

My final bottle of the three in the sampler pack. Probably the best beer of the three, but still tastes like a Bud, with just a little bit of Bourbon/Vanilla sweetness. Still overcarbonated, still too light corn-chip-flavored. I smell nothing. High drinkability, but in the worst ways.

Stick to mass-marketed domestics, InBev.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 03:09:21 | More by portijon

EgadBananas

Louisiana

1.98/5  rDev -33.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

Pours a golden colour, not quite amber. Bubbly, minimal white head. Not convinced it deserved the tulip I poured it in. Pale malts make up the bulk. I don't know if I'm actually getting a minute hint of vanilla, or if I'm just willing myself out of pity. Taste as well is just some slightly sweet pale malts. I know it's all malt, but it still seems corny. The feel, unlike the rest, is quite nice. It's light bodied, but it's creamy, not too overly carbonated, and is incredibly smooth on the palate. Unfortunately, that's not enough for me to call this anything but a publicity ploy. Budweiser gives you the green light to brew anything you want, and this is the shit you come up with? It's somewhat offensive.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 01:59:23 | More by EgadBananas

SometimesIfart

Michigan

2.13/5  rDev -28.5%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

A - Pours clear amber with a one finger slightly frothy head.

S - Corn adjunct, slight caramel malt, rice

T - Caramel malt up front, corn flakes, ever so slight toasted malt.

M - Heavy bodied with medium to heavy carbonation.

O - Overall, Budweiser should never try to make craft beer again. This wasn't atrocious, but it definitely wasn't good.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 01:34:46 | More by SometimesIfart

DenverLogan

Colorado

2.13/5  rDev -28.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Light copper color...minimal head lasted several minutes. The aroma gives a hint of Bourbon and Vanilla along with light malt. Big carbonation in the mouthfeel. Flavor is light with slight malt sweetness, very light Bourbon and vanilla notes. It has more body than a Bud but I'm not sure it has as much as a Miller Lite, not that I often try either of these. I did an industry VIP tour of the Van Nuys, California Budweiser facility years ago, which was the last time having a regular Bud or Bud Lite. Interesting was that before filtration there was some flavor, but after filtration and whatever other finishing they do, there was little body or flavor left. A cheaply made beer that has survived with brilliant marketing. This Batch 23185 (Williamsburg, Va Zip Code) is seemingly also cheaply made...minimal malts and hops and who knows what ppm of Bourbon Staves penetrates each bottle. Another exploration by the big greedy giants to penetrate the craft market.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 01:39:11 | More by DenverLogan

alk3kenny

Georgia

2.15/5  rDev -27.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Project 12 rd 3 light amber... Appearance is very similar to the "deep amber" about the same color and the same quickly thinning head. Really want to smell the bourbon and vanilla in this but... I don't might be there faintly but probably because I'm really looking for it... Not much of a scent at all really... but not offensive either. Common theme with these beers is the sweetness... this one is very light but is really the only flavor in the beer as well. Easily drinkable mouthfeel is a bit creamier then the others, but no bourbon or vanilla notes to be found at all. Not that impressed with any of these beers but they are all at least drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 05:07:55 | More by alk3kenny

ZAP

Minnesota

2.25/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A-Clear gold color...little head or lace..

S-Sweetish with artificial vanilla noticeable but not strong.

T-Really sweet...I wanted to like this but the vanilla is so artificial tasting and adds little to the already sweetish, corny flavor....

M-Too sticky sweet and unbalanced....I like malty but this has no depth or real maltiness...just a sticky mess

O-Sorry...the label sounds good but this is not. Much worse than the Pilsner I just reviewed...that i could drink again...not this one..

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 06:12:55 | More by ZAP

pkalix

California

2.28/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

3rd of the sampler pack. batter than the last, for certain, but geez, do they really understand where they are in terms of the beer world? are they really that oblivious to the world of beer? but then, it sells so well. so it must be the consumers. who the heck buys this crap, anyway?
but again, this one is better than the last...
pours . . . . the same as the last two from this sampler pack- corn-y, yellow, etc...
tastes . . . . better than the last one from this sampler pack...
smells.... oh god... corn? malts, my butt...
overall, 2nd best of the sampler pack- i apparently opened the right side of the box to get the best one first. it went downhill from there. i hope my friends dont find out that i bought budwiper. sampler pack or not. i fell for the marketing. and the BS. competition, my BUTT. and why the heck would a company in BELGIUM buy budwiper? was it simply a monopoly piece? i bet THAT GUY was fired... funny thing is BA has it classified as a 'red lager'. kind of like classifying a chihuahua as a dog, dontcha think?

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 02:41:57 | More by pkalix

mooseo

Pennsylvania

2.34/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.25

12oz bottle into pint glass.

A - Deep amber with a huge fluffy white head.

S - Almost nothing there. Slight corn, bready malt, and grassy hops. A stale, metallic aroma is also present.

T - Subtle grainy malt, sweet corn, and rice. Where is the vanilla and bourbon? There may be a touch of vanilla in there, but the sweet Budweiser adjuncts overwhelm. Hop flavors are very, very faint, maybe a hint of grass and a light fruitiness. There is a unpleasant oxidized metallic taste that lingers.

M - Smooth, creamy, light bodied. High carbonation, and a bit watery.

O - This beer simply doesn't deliver on any level. The label promises an aged lager on bourbon staves and vanilla beans, but I would never guess that to be the case in a blind taste test. It tastes like a slightly heavier Budweiser with a weird aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 03:47:04 | More by mooseo

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a pint glass.

Appearance
Golden amber with 2 fingers of fizzy head that dissipates quickly. Excellent clarity and an absurd amount of carbonation.

Nose
Honestly this one smells a bit like urine. A touch of bourbon-esque sweetness, apple cider and caramel.

Taste
The bourbon and vanilla flavors are suspiciously absent. This really doesn't taste like much at all. There are some caramel and apple juice flavors. Perhaps a touch of bourbon-like sweetness. No vanilla whatsoever.

Mouthfeel
Medium bodied, crisp and clean.

Overall
Not horrible, but there's really not much flavor there. The promise of bourbon and vanilla were disappointing. Very light but not offensive.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 20:45:14 | More by justintcoons

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

2.66/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.25

Know what I like about my bourbon aged beer? Having a twist off. Screams classy!

A - Looks quite good for a red ale. It's a bright orange red color, clear with a 1/4 inch of head that sticks around for quite a bit (surprised me) and do I see... lacing? Bravo BMC!
S - Typical lager smells, some biscuit and maybe some vanilla. They must have used very little bourbon chips cuz it's not anywhere in the smell.
T - Wow it's terrible as I expected the typical Bud "funk" seems to cover up anything they are trying to accomplish. Even the vanilla just comes off as a mild "sweetness" that covers over the skunky glory. Man I should have know...
M - Average smell it kind of burns my throat a bit so I gave it a 2.5
Overall give up while your ahead Anheuser-Busch you can't make anything craft so stick to you swill!

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 02:15:53 | More by DrDemento456

chilidog

Ohio

2.68/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I looked forward to this one the most but yet the most disappointed. I love a bourbon based brew. I guess bourbon staves is no barrel.
Pours a slight amber, egg white head, no real lace.
Aroma is bread, biscuit like.
Taste is so bud like, no bourbon to be had. All malt taste.
Mouth is smooth and rice like.
Overal, a-b steps into this craft beer seen with a toe, does not jump in the respective style. So close yet so far away.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 00:59:52 | More by chilidog

mrfrancis

Kentucky

2.68/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours a pretty light golden amber with a thin, clinging white mousse. The bottle label describes this beer as being a light amber, but I think that is rather inaccurate.

S: I don't really detect much on the nose. There is the usual Budweiser hint of crackers, biscuit, and grassy hops. The bourbon and vanilla bean scents are very, very subtle.

T: Again, I'm not getting much here. Upon entry, there are slight notes of grass, lemon, caramel, bourbon, oak, biscuit, and vanilla, but by the finish, all that is left is a slight grassy hop bitterness.

M: This is probably the best aspect of this beer in my opinion. Medium in body, dry, and crisp with firm, active carbonation. It definitely goes down easily.

O: If it weren't for the overly weak nose and flavor, I could see myself putting down a few of these. Unlike many reviewers, I'm not one to regularly put down large commercial brewers without reason, as I understand that any brewer, regardless of size, is as capable of making a good beer as a bad one, and while I do have to give the AB guys some credit for trying, they really haven't come up with anything new or interesting. This is definitely one you can pass on, as Budweiser is too afraid to alienate their core audience by releasing something truly unique. A missed opportunity to be sure.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 21:58:30 | More by mrfrancis

Minkybut

Virginia

2.7/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I poured this beer into my tumbler at 45 degrees. Was really hoping for great results in this contest as it was made near my home. The beer was very pretty, nice gold color, rich head and smelled fresh. However it was sweet tasting and I don't mean in a good way. The beer also had a sour note to it that I despise. Like some monk style beers. I will not buy again.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 17:25:42 | More by Minkybut

Brad007

Vermont

2.73/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours the same mild amber color as the "deep amber" beer I had before this. Thin head too. There may be promise in the ingredients used.

There's just a light dropping of vanilla and bourbon upfront. Too weak to register in my opinion.

Sweet malt with a dash of vanilla flavoring and bourbon. Again, very weak flavor overall. Too much of that "macro" off-taste.

Lingering mess of sweetness. Nothing interesting.

Meh, what waste of $12.99. I couldn't really recommend any of the three batches in this pack because while they sound enticing, they've been dumbed down by the consistency that rules the A-B empire. They are skilled...at making the same beer across several breweries. I question their skills at brewing anything OTHER THAN Budweiser/Bud Light.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 00:03:06 | More by Brad007

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.8/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Finishing off the Project 12 pack with the vaunted (I'm sure somebody vaunted it) bourbon- and vanilla-aged amber lager. It pours a clear sunrise amber topped by a finger of off-cream foam. The nose comprises barley, light vanilla bean, very light oak, and a touch of funky wheat. The taste brings in more of the same, with that funky wheat gaining in potency and everything else sorta fading into the distance. That is, except for the vanilla, which spikes through with a sharp sweetness every now and again. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a slick feel. Overall, an okay amber lager, but one that doesn't express its aging very well, and one that devolves into muddled dissonance.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 21:44:31 | More by TMoney2591

Spikester

Oregon

2.83/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Orange amber with a two finger white head and very minor lacings.
Smell is minor orange zest and yeast.
Taste is yeasty sweet malts with a fait bitter hop on the back end.
Mouthfeel is quite good.
Overall a light amber as stated. I could not find any bourbon or vanilla in this brew. Maybe making huge quantities of beer just dumbs down the flavors like Army chow. If this was regular Bud I could see my self drinking this sometimes on a summer barbeque. They need to invite some good home brewers to the brewery and let them play. Maybe A-B could come up with something crafty that way.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 06:26:38 | More by Spikester

bashiba

Iowa

2.88/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured a nice light amber with a touch of copper, a thin white head that quickly dissipates into a light white ring of bubbles.

The smell is very mild, just a light bready sweetness.

The flavor is mild with a light malty sweetness followed by a touch of bitterness and a long lingering astringency.

The mouthfeel is very dry, maybe the only sign of the bourbon staves that I really detect.

Pretty average and boring, out of the 3 project 12 beers this one looked like it had the most promise, but turned out to be pretty boring and a bit flawed.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 23:32:45 | More by bashiba

mynie

Indiana

2.93/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours sparkly translucent amber. Smells of syrupy caramel malt and not much else. Not bad, but underwhelming.

Tastes like the aforementioned very thick malt and big dose of medicinal, fake vanilla. Like, I don't doubt that they used actual vanilla in the brewing of this beer, but it really tastes like that chemical imitation stuff. The thick caramel mixes with the fake vanilla to give off the not-entirely-unpleasant cheap candy vibe. It's not horrible, but I really doubt it's what they were going for.

I wouldn't be surprised if this beer was actually pretty good, when it was made as an experiment and not ultra-mass produced. As is, it's drinkable but off.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 04:38:29 | More by mynie

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

2.94/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Drank in my room while staying at 'The Sheraton on Fishermans Wharf' San Franscico on 5 Feb 2013.

Poured into a platic beaker a couple of times: still looked OK. I chilled the 12 ounce bottle in the sink with loads of ice, leaving it there while we went out and cracked in on our return.

Amber body with an off-white crown.

I found the beer a bit too sweet: and I like sweeter beers normally. This however was to smooth and almost sickly, the vanilla hints helping to make the brew feel that way.

Great if you've a sweet tooth and like vanilla flavours, otherwise steer clear of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 09:58:16 | More by BlackHaddock

barczar

Kentucky

2.95/5  rDev -1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a brilliant light amber/copper color with a frothy half inch ivory head that slowly dissipates, leaving no lacing.

Grain, corn, bready caramel malt, a hint of sourness, and almost an afterthought of bourbon and vanilla form the aroma.

Flavor reveals that traditional Budweiser sourness initially, but oak, vanilla, and bourbon hit mid palate, leading into a bready malt finish, which is slightly dry and toasted.

Body is fairly light, with moderate carbonation and a grainy astringent finish.

Vanilla, oak, and bourbon are subtle. The toasted specialty malt flavor was nice. But the base beer still is lacking.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 19:42:20 | More by barczar

Fatehunter

Oregon

2.95/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Two fingers of foamy head on a clear, medium straw colored body.
The aroma is nice, if faint: grain, fruit and vanilla.
The taste starts with a mild bitter lager and grain; the middle to end is dominated by the vanilla. It's a bit sweet on the finish and the vanilla does not really fit.
The texture is smooth with moderate carbonation.
If you like vanilla, this is for you.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 03:19:31 | More by Fatehunter

CamuMahubah

Nebraska

3/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

THe first bottle of 23185 had me wishing I had bought regular Bud. Second bottle and my taste buds finally taste some grassy hop profile. I first I thought this was a wheat beer. Not a bad beer for quaffing I reckon. Wow I just got a tinge of vanilla! I was searching really hard for that in the first bottle.

This beer has really come around on the second bottle. More alcohol than anticipated. Although there is nothing about this beer that makes me wanna pay more for it than regular Bud, so it's a wash..I know I shouldn't compare it to Bud. So I'll say there is nothing about this beer that makes me want to choose it over any Craft Amber Lager. Nothing. It was nice to try and I won't turn this down at bbq's if it is offered but I bet this is the last time we ever see and drink this beer.

Good intentions with the barrel staves and vanilla though and if I bet this beer was just a touch more "salty" or something it would be a game changer. Something ain't quite right. It's almost too sweet but anymore hops from this company and I would rather just buy a Sierra Nevada brew..

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 07:24:27 | More by CamuMahubah

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.03/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle, born on date of October 2, 2012 (Julian Date 12276 stamped on label). A buddy bought me some of the Project 12 beers since they were on sale (got the 12 pack for just $5.75), so why not tick a free beer? Served in a pint glass, the beer pours a clear orange/amber color with about an inch off-white head that sticked around for a while. There's a small amount of lacing. The brew smells like sweet and bready malt, along with a little bit of vanilla. I don't pick up much if any bourbon at all. Taste is mostly like the aroma, although the vanilla flavor is a little stronger in comparison. Still don't pick up any bourbon flavors, other than the vanilla. Mouthfeel/body is light/medium, it's a little bit coating, and has a good amount of carbonation. Overall, I'd say this is an average beer. Not great, but not bad either. I won't have any problem finishing the rest of the bottles I have, it's worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 00:33:10 | More by bluejacket74

chinchill

South Carolina

3.05/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle served in a snifter. Has a nice clear amber body, but the small head is very short-lived.

The rather faint aroma [3.25] of vanilla is even more subtle in tasting. The bourbon stakes have too little influence for me to really notice; for me, there was more wood (oak?) than bourbon, but in any case very faint.

O: This tastes too much like a regular Budweiser (but notably more malty), and not enough like a special small batch craft brew. Still, flawless execution of a rather lame recipe, with a nice smooth feel and a semi-dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 00:21:03 | More by chinchill

JMad

Texas

3.08/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured a light amber/ golden color with a solid foamy white head. The smell is malty and sweet with bread and just a small hint of vanilla and cinnamon. It doesn't really taste like a true amber just a sweeter version of budweiser and if you really 'try', you can kind of taste some vanilla. Feels medium bodied and smooth with a perfect amount of carbonation. This is an improvement from your average macro beer, nothing special but drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 03:50:30 | More by JMad