Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale - Alltech’s Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co.

Groomsy

Kentucky

3.98/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle with "bottled on" date of Nov. 15 2010. Served in a snifter.

Appearance: Poured a very transparent and clear light red/amber, basically the same as a Kentucky Ale. However, there was zero head (only a collar of bubbles) and zero lacing. Occasional carbonation bubbles rise, more so when the glass is swirled for agitation. When I first poured it, I thought I got a bad batch, or maybe I just didn't pour it vigorously enough. Beautiful color, though.

Aroma: Big hit of sweet bourbon on the nose is immediate, followed by some vanilla, woody accents, and a subtle malt backing from the Kentucky Ale. I wish they could make a candle after this beer; I would keep it lit in my house all day long, haha. The bourbon and vanilla become much more pronounced as the beer warms. Very promising aroma for this one.

Taste: The bourbon takes the largest part in taste; very sweet with a substantial amount of warming from the alcohol. As the beer warms, more of the malt flavors emerge, as well as the mentioned hints of vanilla and smoky wood. Maybe a little too sweet for its own good, but certainly a great-tasting beer to sip on slowly and enjoy. My only issue with the taste here is that it could be a little more "together"; at certain points, especially after the beer warmed, I felt like the bourbon and beer taste were playing tug of war: Bourbon at the front, beer in the back. Other than that, very enjoyable.

Mouthfeel: More or less the same as regular Kentucky Ale, minus the carbonation (which Kentucky Ale didn't have a lot of in the first place). A little too thin for its own good, but suitable for the "sipping" nature of the beer.

Drinkability: The alcohol, although noticeable, is fairly well masked by the other flavors in the beer, and this makes it a dangerously drinkable beer. The sweet malts and bourbon characteristics make it a sweet and delicious dessert beer. That being said, if you drink more than two of these, you'll be feeling it; the alcohol creeps up slowly.

Like others, although this beer is great, I wish that Alltech would use a different base beer to age; Kentucky Ale isn't bad, but it's certainly not what one would think to use as an aging candidate. The aging process really stepped up the beer's game substantially, though. I'm proud to drink this and would go after it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2010 17:38:55 | More by Groomsy

Rdc67

Kentucky

4.75/5  rDev +28.4%

05-22-2013 19:16:15 | More by Rdc67

PlayitAgain

New York

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%

05-20-2013 03:08:16 | More by PlayitAgain

MistahBeah

Massachusetts

3.64/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Clear honey. Little carbonation. Small head. No lace. Not much else to speak of

Smell: Sweet bourbon. Some oaky vanilla. Molasses as it gets a bit warmer

Taste: Definitely bourbon. Tastes similar to an innis & gunn. Some oak. None of the sweeter aromas come out in flavor other than the bourbon but its nice

Mouthfeel: Very light. A little crisp but smooth. A little boozy sting as it warms but its still pretty well hidden. Not bad

Overall: A nice package overall. Really nice flavor but not terribly complex - not that it claims or needs to be. I would get it again

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 02:55:37 | More by MistahBeah

Amerikon

California

4/5  rDev +8.1%

05-19-2013 03:52:20 | More by Amerikon

vette2006c5r

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale pours a dark golden color, with very little head. There is a nice oaky aroma, with hints of scotch. The taste had a strong oak like barrel flavor, with strong hints of scotch like flavors. Very easy to drink, and good full flavor. Overall a found this a very enjoyable beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2013 03:30:54 | More by vette2006c5r

Photekut

Azerbaijan

2.75/5  rDev -25.7%

05-18-2013 22:12:30 | More by Photekut

greggy1972

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +21.6%

05-16-2013 23:16:39 | More by greggy1972

schaffer9252

New York

4/5  rDev +8.1%

05-16-2013 22:19:17 | More by schaffer9252

civicm87

New York

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%

05-14-2013 23:09:01 | More by civicm87

jburd19

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +14.9%

05-14-2013 23:08:26 | More by jburd19

aaronblain22

Michigan

4/5  rDev +8.1%

05-14-2013 22:50:12 | More by aaronblain22

Durb777

Illinois

2.5/5  rDev -32.4%

05-13-2013 19:45:41 | More by Durb777

Satan70

Wisconsin

3/5  rDev -18.9%

05-13-2013 13:51:30 | More by Satan70

Porter

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.1%

05-13-2013 00:30:34 | More by Porter

Bill235

Ohio

3/5  rDev -18.9%

05-12-2013 22:39:01 | More by Bill235

HarmonMW

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

05-11-2013 23:47:17 | More by HarmonMW

ckk527

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +8.1%

05-11-2013 02:48:42 | More by ckk527

pacino77

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +21.6%

05-10-2013 19:03:05 | More by pacino77

charlesjwinkler

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

05-09-2013 02:44:52 | More by charlesjwinkler

megamass

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

05-08-2013 22:58:25 | More by megamass

apasternak

Ohio

5/5  rDev +35.1%

05-08-2013 22:21:24 | More by apasternak

Broman

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance- Copper red tint under a minuscule head that disappears almost immediately to nothing. Fairly transparent but inviting.

Smell- Mostly sweet bourbon on the nose. Other less obvious undertones are noted. Aggressive smell lets you know what this beer is about. Not overpowering but up front and inviting. Combined with the visual a very inviting beer.

Mouthfeel- Carbonation sting is the first note. Light body on the palet. The carbonation sting gives way to a distinct alcohol flavor.

Taste- Up front are malts and bourbon. There is a sweet hint as if brown sugar. The high alcohol content is apparent in the aftertaste. Overall not exceptionally complex but a very tasty beer.

Overall- Great beer. Definate try. I wouldn't advise consuming many due to the alcohol content. Not a beer for a new beer drinker, but one that could sway some to the light of good beer choices.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 05:05:00 | More by Broman

brockdidntslide

Pennsylvania

4.24/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

on draft at the public house in savannah.

beautiful copper color, medium head and a strong, but not overwhelming bourbon-vanilla taste. mouthfeel is rich and a bit sticky.

this one exceeded my expectations and certainly was far better than the BA score would have led me to believe.

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2013 23:17:09 | More by brockdidntslide

tommyguz

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -12.2%

05-07-2013 13:27:01 | More by tommyguz