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

Bookseeb

Washington

2.93/5  rDev -2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance is light amber in color supporting a thin dissipating head leaving nill lace. Smell is faint, grainy and slightly hoppy. Taste has a maltly graininess a hint of the oak with vanilla in the end. Mouthfeel is light with a good spike of carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 02:27:13 | More by Bookseeb

mooseo

Pennsylvania

2.34/5  rDev -21.7%
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

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

2.94/5  rDev -1.7%
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

Fatehunter

Oregon

2.95/5  rDev -1.3%
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

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.03/5  rDev +1.3%
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

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.73/5  rDev +24.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from bottle into a pint glass

Appearance – Pours a nice golden amber color with a big and billowy white head of ~ 2 fingers. The head has a decent level of retention slowly fading over time to leave a light lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell- The aroma of sweet caramel and vanilla with notes of a breadiness. Some lighter toffee like aromas as well as a light bourbon smell complement the other quite well producing a not too overpowering but balanced and sweeter aroma.

Taste – The taste begins with caramel and malt with hints of vanilla mixed within. The caramel flavor grow stronger more toward the middle and are joined by a light bourbon taste. From there the caramel starts to fade, but is replaced by more vanilla and toffee sweetness with a increase in the bourbon flavors and a very light oaky taste. In the end a very pleasant sweet vanilla and oaky bourbon taste are left on the tongue.

Mouthfeel- The body of the beer is on the average to just below average side in terms of thickness and creaminess with a carbonation level that is on the average to just above average side. It is actually quite a nice feel for the sweeter flavors of vanilla and make it quite drinkable and enjoyable.

Overall- Now this is what Budweiser should have gone with. It is quite flavorful, not overly sweet and has great flavor transitions and a good feel. Too bad this one is temporary as it is an affordable domestic that competes with may good crafts in terms of flavor and enjoyment.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 13:58:12 | More by Darkmagus82

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

2.66/5  rDev -11%
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

buschbeer

Ohio

3.45/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle
Served in a perfect pint glass

A - It is a beautiful golden elixir. It is clear and has a meager amount of bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. A fleeting, white head settles to a thin skim.

S - It smells like grain and sweet malt. I get some very faint vanilla.

T - This may be the most flavorful Bud that I have ever had, aside from Chelada and Bud Extra. The typical grain, grass, and sweet malt are balanced with some bittering hops. I even detect a little vanilla. I do not get any bourbon.

M - It is still BMC thin.

O - I like the concept here. This is a small step towards something better. I just don't understand why they would barrel age a 5.5% lager. I liked this one the best of the Batch 12 beers.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 22:43:17 | More by buschbeer

cyclonece09

Maryland

3.24/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

Beer poured from a 12 oz bottle into a 14 oz "pint" glass. Pours a translucent orange/red with visible carbonation and a small, one finger head. Smells of slight bourbon smell with nice grain, but a little bland. Tastes of bourbon slightly with caramel malt, but watery. Beer is carbonated well and light bodied, but goes down really easy. Overall, a slightly above average beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 01:28:35 | More by cyclonece09

DM1293

California

3.69/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pretty good. A solid body, with hints of bourbon and vanilla (mostly vanilla) on the finish. Not as balanced, but it works well enough to not be cloying to my tastes. The smell does little to introduce it though...

My second favorite of the three finalists.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 00:57:03 | More by DM1293

garymuchow

Minnesota

3.59/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Okay, 3rd of 3. Poured into mug.
Keeping with the others, subtle is the word, and I suppose that makes sense as the based is a pale Am. lager.
The mouthfeel is really soft and full. Similar to Michelob Golden light draft.
Really soft bourbon on the nose. Slightly sweet, it's kinda' nice. The vanilla bean seems background.
Flavor is more vanilla than bourbon, although the later is there too.
This isn't half bad. As with all A-B beers, or nearly all-I haven't had all of them, it is attractive looking. Golden amber, very clear, adequate white head that never fully leaves.

Thanks Spunky.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 21:21:16 | More by garymuchow

portijon

Pennsylvania

1.58/5  rDev -47.2%
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

Lemke10

Wisconsin

3.33/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This pours a clear, medium amber color with a fast diminishing head. There is a slight grain and bourbon scent. The taste is smooth with hints of bourbon and vanilla, but i really wish there was more bourbon flavor!. Just something new from Anheuser-Busch that really isn't all that new.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 21:05:27 | More by Lemke10

TheMarkE

California

3.26/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Probably the best and most complex of Project 12, but the bar is set rather low. This is a light lager aged on bourbon staves and vanilla beans. Imagine Bud Light with a tiny hint of vanilla and an even smaller taste of oakiness and you get the idea.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 03:47:40 | More by TheMarkE

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4.2/5  rDev +40.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Budweiser Batch No. 23185 has a thick, foamy, off-white head, lots of splotchy lacing left on the glass, and a clear, yellow appearance, with red highlights. The aroma is subdued, but one can pick up some spicy, white bread and sweetness. Flavor is of white bread, fruit, vanilla, wood, and there is a slight hop bite at the end. Mouthfeel is light and watery, and Budweiser Batch No. 23185 finishes crisp, clean, refreshing, and dry. Overall, this an interesting beer, and I think one should check it out.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 18:11:52 | More by RonaldTheriot

barczar

Kentucky

2.95/5  rDev -1.3%
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

jwc215

New Jersey

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

Pours golden amber with a thin off-white head. Not much lacing sticks.

The smell is of cereal/grain with a slight hint of bourbon-soaked wood and a hint of vanilla.

The taste is sweet - grainy with some vanilla. Bourbon notes are milder than on nose, and that was mild. Some hops balance the sweetness on the finish, without adding much in the way of flavor.

It is light-bodied and fairly crisp.

A rather bland brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 02:22:05 | More by jwc215

DenverLogan

Colorado

2.13/5  rDev -28.8%
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

JohnFatAss

New Jersey

3.2/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This is a Budweiser. Not a Craft Beer. If you buy this expecting a craft beer experience you will be disapointed.

Batch No. 23185 pours a nice amber color. The head disapeared quickly and the mouthfeel is a little thin. This beer could be carbonated a little more.

Unlike good ol' Bud, this beer actually has some flavor. It has a slightly sweet malty flavor. Not much vanila comes through, but I get some wood or oak in the finnish.

This is an enjoyable beer. Even if it is only a slight improvement over regular Budweiser.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 21:52:57 | More by JohnFatAss

SometimesIfart

Michigan

2.13/5  rDev -28.8%
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

Spikester

Oregon

2.83/5  rDev -5.4%
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

mrfrancis

Kentucky

2.68/5  rDev -10.4%
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

budgood1

Minnesota

3.6/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

pours out a brilliant lesser amber colour with a little head and very sparse lace. lightly malted aroma with wispy hints of vanilla and oak. flavour wise, the bourbon barrel and vanilla come forth a bit more than what was in the nose. it's seemingly sweeter than the other project 12 beers, and i believe a bit more agressively hopped. it all works fairly well and tastes reasonably well. especially if you are a fan of vanilla/oak/bourbon flavours in your lager. anyway, it has a medium body with a crisp, lagerish body and dry finish. drinkability is ok...i'm sort of intrigued by it.

overall, i would say that this is the most interesting and enjoyable of the project 12 offerings. i actually liked it more than i thought i would. a nice lager style beer for the winter season. it's not overdone and the nuances are simple and subtle.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 22:57:11 | More by budgood1

Minkybut

Virginia

2.7/5  rDev -9.7%
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

Damian74Shensky

South Carolina

3.43/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bought a 12 pack and poured into a pint glass. Hate Anheuser but figured what the heck, well wish I didn't. this taste sorta like their Vanilla bean bourbon cask ale ( There winter one from a couple of years ago) might still be going? Didn't see it this Winter yet. Anyways taste like that but a lager. appearance is nice AND dark with 1 inch head. smells like vanilla bean, hint of coffee to me. Its good if you like crappy beer, other wise stay clear.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 02:14:27 | More by Damian74Shensky