Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer - Rahr & Sons Brewing Company

jkanavel

Texas

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A: Jet black with a sticky mocha colored head.

S: A little heavy on the alcohol. This is a huge beer, and smells like one. Low on the hops, high in the malt aromas.

T: Carmel, strong chocolate presence, smokey, a slight hint of bourbon/dried fruits. Plenty of alcohol comes through...very warming. Very complex and sweet, like a good brandy.

M: Full bodied, low carbonation. Satisfying. Just perfect for this style.

O: If Rahr could brew all their beers with this much care and attention to detail, they'd be the hottest brewery in the country. As it stands, this is something of an anomaly from them.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2011 23:05:14 | More by jkanavel

JayAre46

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

shared with my dad, bomber poured into a red wine glass. yields a deep earthy brown with a nice off white head that leaves great lacing. the aroma is of toasted malt, dark fruit, molasses and some woody characteristics, nicely done and a great aroma for the season. the taste is of very subtle coffee grounds, charred flavor, transitions to the sweeter side with dark fruits, molasses a very light touch of vanilla. subtle barrel characteristics but not overpowering well done and very proportionate to the beer. medium to full body and creamy on the palate carbonation is moderate and nicely done. overall man oh man did rahr and sons really brew this? everything ive had from them has been a colossal let down until this. this beer is absolutely astonishing and tops in the style for me. a great beer that doesn't over due it, well done.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 22:19:26 | More by JayAre46

fragilehearted

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 version. 22oz bomber into my Rahr WW oversized snifter. Xmas gift from the bf...good job!

A - Very dark brown, clear when held up to the light. Pretty much zero head, a little patchy ring & cover.

S - vanilla & bourbon, first & foremost. Some caramel, molasses, kinda chocolatey...pretty awesome! Great WW aroma.

T - follows the nose, but the hops come out more, especially at the finish, which is a little unbalanced...but otherwise really tasty.

M - medium bodied, smooth as all get out, except for the hop bite at the end. Just could be a tad better.

D/O - one of my favorite WWs, definitely better than their regular WW (which is still good, just not outstanding like this). I'm lucky to be able to get this since it's local. I have another that I'm planning on saving for next year (still in Christmas wrapping, aw!), and I think that will give it some time to lose the bite at the end. Hope the final product is just that much smoother!

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 05:12:23 | More by fragilehearted

spiff0677

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage into a wide mug. At the bosses house so no globe or snifter.

Appearance - Nice deep colored pour with a good half inch of head. Not much lacing but reatined a nice evan layer of foam through the most of the glass. Darker color than I expected with deep cherry red and brown shades around the edges.

Smell - Good bit of vanilla and bourbon. Followed by cherry and pistacio salad. Took me a second to place that old familiar smell(pistacio salad) in the foam. As the head died down I got a bit of grassy hops.

Taste - For the most part follows the nose. Vanilla, bourban, and a bit of cherry. The hops is still a bit fresh leaving a mild sharpness.

Mouthfell - Medium bodied. I bit unbalanced with the hops but it just needs a 6 months or so to mellow. Nice creamy feel up front with a midly sharp finish.

Overall - A damn fine beer! Cant wait to try one in another 6 months. One of my favorite styles that seems to fit somewhere in between a big red, big brown, and porter. The bourban and vanilla really add to this beer. I was worried that the bourban would dominate the flavor but it didn't at all.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 04:19:41 | More by spiff0677

gtermi

Texas

4.38/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a very dark redish brown with a head that hardly exists. The head doesnt even cover the whole beer and leaves around the glass of the beer.

S: The smell is outstanding. It has a lot of chocolate, coffee, caramel and malt.

T: To me this is one of the best winter warmers I have ever had. The beer has a lot of chocolate and coffee flavors. Has a strong sweetness and a little whiskey flavor. Just a great combo.

M: The beer is very smooth and gives you a nice warm feeling. It is very drinkable and has a slight crispness.

O: This is a very great beer, by far the best one that Rahr makes (IMO). I am aging a bottle and cant wait to see how this beer tastes in a year.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 04:00:22 | More by gtermi

pleaseletmein

Texas

4.9/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Out of the bottle a very dark brown pour. Not much lacing.
The bourbon barrel is well represented. Whiskey and wood are prominent.
Sweet and boozy at first. Warm and fulfilling after it rests.
Excellent mouth feel that keeps this sipping brew leaving me happy and content.
Overall, a fantastic Winter Warmer.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 22:42:29 | More by pleaseletmein

Vashtar

Texas

4.05/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The appearance is daaark and seems clear.

The smell is pleasant and carries the typical toffee/caramel scent, but not as strongly as some extremely dark beers.

The taste is nice and simple. It's drinkable for a dark beer.

The mouth feel is smooth and thick, like thick saliva.

Overall, it's a good beer, but it's dark. I still prefer others when comparing it to 'winter beers.'

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 00:57:54 | More by Vashtar

srandycarter

California

3.88/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Cola brown, not much head. Thin tan ring and spotty lace.

S - Deep malt. Nice. Candy aspects, and hint of booze.

T - Taste as smell, but spices added.

M - Good carb, good balance. Medium to light body.

D - Big flavors and ABV. Would tire easily.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 02:28:30 | More by srandycarter

nhindian

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle poured into a tulip. Bottle generously provided by Exiled, thanks Jason!

This is definitely an interesting concept, I can't really say I've heard of anyone barrel-aging a Winter Warmer.

A - Appears much darker than I was expecting, almost completely black with some cola-colored speckles throughout. A creamy, 2-fingered tan head melds flawlessly to contrast with the liquid, with decent retention. Lacing is solid as well, with thin curtains of foam.

S - Very interesting aroma on this beer. I am getting a lot of malts, spice, and fruits, without only a slight trace of the bourbon barrel here (and supposedly this batch is aged in Jim Beam barrels). The fruits are much stronger than anticipated, bringing cinnamon and raisins, almost to the point of a dubbel or quad.

T - Thankfully the taste is much more balanced than the nose. The whiskey actually plays a role here, and it is nicely integrated in my opinion. It's not exploding with the barrel, but it serves to accentuate the nuances. Conversely, the fruits are turned down here, making way for dark chocolate and slight coffee. Much more balanced. Throughout, a dry spiciness persists to work into the Winter Warmer style. I have to admit I wasn't a huge fan at first, but it definitely grew on me.

M - Mouthfeel is moderately light-bodied with decent carbonation. I have to admit, I thought this would feel a bit more full in the mouth. Finishes semi-dry and has a lingering aftertaste of whiskey, chocolate, and raisins.

D/O - Drinkability is moderate. I have to give Rahr credit for barrel-aging a style that doesn't really have a rich history of being put in barrels. That being said, although I received this beer more warmly after having a few sips, I'm still not completely sold. I feel the bourbon aspect is spot on, but it is still a bit too sweet with an overwhelming fruit presence. Enjoyable, but I could see this as being a beer I could only have once or twice a year.D

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 03:00:38 | More by nhindian

DarkAngel

Texas

4.83/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

When it's winter time and the cold wind is howling, and you are surrounded by good friends, there are only a few brews you can choose from if you want an epic one. This is one of them. This year's batch used Jim Beam barrels and it is wonderful. Strong, warming, and delicious. This brew is a must try and you'll find yourself saving some for aging, which I highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2011 22:36:50 | More by DarkAngel

BeanBone

Texas

3.65/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: A dark brown body with red highlights with a finger of cream-colored head that burns off in average time, leaving just bare patches of lacing on the way down.

Aroma: Dark coffee, dark chocolate, dark fruit, and dark malt all mix together. If you haven’t already gathered, this is pretty dark.

Flavor: Like the nose, the flavor has lots of notes of coffee, chocolate, dark fruit and roasty malt, but there’s some nice barrel flavor mixed in. It’s more charred and oaky and less vanilla and bourbon influenced than many barrel beers, but it works nicely. The booze is masked well. Lots of roasty grain in the finish, with notes of baker’s chocolate and dark coffee.

Mouthfeel: A creamy medium body with medium carbonation and a dry finish. Just a hint of slickness form the alcohol.

Drinkability: Easily quaffable, I never would have pegged this at 8.5 percent alcohol content.

Verdict: I’ve tried Winter Warmer one before, but perhaps I got a bum six-pack, because this is a whole different ballgame. Big and roasty with lots of different complimentary flavors and easy drinkablity, this is a fun bomber.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2011 04:35:15 | More by BeanBone

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a Surly shaker pint glass.

Big thanks to jefferz5000 for this bottle!

Part two of the SwillFest 2011 after-party. It pours a cloudy garnet-sienna topped by over a finger of light tan foam. The nose comprises whiskey, balsa, cola, vanilla, toffee, light booze, buttery biscuits, and brown sugar. The taste holds notes of toffee, candi sugar, light brown sugar, light bourbon, and light oak. The body is a light medium, with a very light moderate carbonation and a lightly watery syrupy feel. Overall, a very solid brew, perhaps not as overtly flavorful as I expected, but enjoyable nonetheless (especially when compared to the horrendousness that preceded it).

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2011 20:00:33 | More by TMoney2591

mulder1010

Australia

4.1/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Have to thank jefferz5000 for this one. Much appreciated.
Bomber poured into a tulip

A-- Poured a dark cola color and settled a near black with touches of red at the top of the head. Short lived light brown head but better looking film I think. A dirty off white film. On swirling get one finger but quickly goes back to film. A couple of spots here and there but not a lot of any significant lacing.

S-- Crazy good nose. Got bourbon, vanilla, Oak, dark fruits (mostly raisin), and warm butterscotch. Very well balanced smell on this. Bourbon is quite soft but well done.

T-- Vanilla, raisin, butterscotch, oak and slight hints of bourbon. Solid tasting.

M-- Medium to low carbonation and medium bodied. A little spicy in the mid palate. Raisin, vanilla and bourbon dominated. Not very syrupy or sweet. Pick up the alcohol in the back of the mouth but just in fits of warmth and spiciness. A couple of thin gaps here and there, also a little bit of watery gaps. Both in mid palate. Also pick up some grape notes to this. Has some cola qualities to this.

O-- Traded for this for the fact I liked the idea of taking a winter warmer and putting it in a barrel. Very good idea. Very well done beer. Ticks the boxes of what a Winter Warmer is and the barrel adds a lot of complexity to this. Almost enhances the malts even more. Very cellar worthy and I think might have smoothed this out more as it is something like 7-8 months old now.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2011 15:28:29 | More by mulder1010

gnemesis

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into snifter on 04/25/2011.
The cool weather stuck around a bit longer than usual in Michigan so this made for a tasty treat.
Pours dark brown, almost black with a thick and creamy tan head. Good retention and decent lace throughout. This one smells of bourbon, hints of caramel, vanilla, dark fruits, raisin, and brown sugar... damn it smells good. The taste doesn't disappoint. Much of the same greatness with a touch of oak. The dark fruit flavors really come forward. This beer had a medium/full body with medium carbonation. One of my favorite winter-warmers yet! I'm hunting down more immediately.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2011 17:23:52 | More by gnemesis

jamescain

Texas

3.88/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a 10oz pint glass at Draught House

Appearance: Mahogany with an off white head that fades into a thin lacing on the top of the beer.

Aroma: Bourbon, vanilla, sweet malt, toffee, caramel, coffee and chocolate. Very complex aroma I’m very excited about the first taste.

Taste: Slight alcohol warming with a big bourbon taste, I think with a little time this would mellow out and be even more enjoyable. Sadly the taste did not live up to the nose. The flavors were hard to distinguish because of the strong bourbon flavor.

Mouthfeel: Medium carbonation and medium body. I was expecting more body, but I guess for a winter warmer this what you should expect. There was a slight alcohol warming sensation.

Overall: Good offering from Rahr, this being the first beer from them I have ever tried. If they make it again I want to pick up some bottles for the cellar next time.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2011 15:54:58 | More by jamescain

brewdenver

Colorado

4.97/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

WOW! WOW! WOW! Had this on tap at the Medilsom Moth in Dallas, TX. Poured into a tulip.

I have had the KBS stout and this is right on par in my opinion. Outstanding stout aged in whiskey barrels. This beer was almost completely black even when held in the light. Strong head that had good retention and held on for sometime. Fingers and lacing were strong throughout. Smell was amazing with the whiskey really standing out, followed by roast malts, chocolate, and some caramel from the whiskey and caramel malts. I could not stop smelling this beer. Caramel, whiskey, roast malt, chocolate all hit the palette in perfect harmony. One not overpowering the other or leaving a lasting impression to deter another. Pure and utter goodness. This had equally impressive mouthfeel. Tantalizing the cheeks and tongue with perfect carbonation with a good thick mouthfeel perpetuated by the strong malt profile. This was one amazing beer and will be looking for it anywhere I can find it in Denver.

Serving type: on-tap

05-03-2011 04:14:33 | More by brewdenver

OddNotion

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Another great extra from adam320, what an amazing trader!
From notes.
Poured into my Fantome Tulip.

Appearance: Minimal head that quickly dissipates. Comes in at a dark brown with some ruby highlights.

Smell: Kind of weird smell from this beer, maybe it it was cold when I smelled it. I kinda got some feet and funkiness smell, however a little later I got some nice bourbon flavors. As it warmed, the funkiness went away.

Taste: Well hello, this beer does not follow the nose at all. I loved the way this beer tasted. Possibly the best winter warmer I have ever had. I got a lot of red raisins and figs followed up by some nice smooth bourbon. I find it to be very complex and offers a nice sipping experience.

Mouthfeel: Nice and creamy with a decent amount of carbonation.

Overall: I would love to have this again. I really enjoyed this beer. If you get the chance to have it, go for it!

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2011 03:01:13 | More by OddNotion

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - a good looking caramel brown pour, goes very smoothly into the glass. Has a definite reddish hue. Small light mocha head.

Aroma - toasty grain, bourbon, and cocoa. Some woodiness comes to the fore as it sets up.

Taste - sweet and malty start, a nice bit of roastiness. The bourbon and barrel come through quickly and create a prickly sensation. A bit pushy but not overstated. While the bourbon is dominant, it's letting nice veins of chocolate and roasted grain through. That's a nice blend there. Ends with a smack of whiskey and a light bitterness that is either fading mash or hops. Either way, I'm digging it.

Mouthfeel - pretty smooth, medium carbonation and a good weighty feel for a winter warmer.

Drinkability - maybe it doesn't get below zero in Texas, but when you feel a chill, this will set you straight. I enjoyed this one. Thanks to BGThang for making this a part of a really cool box of beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2011 03:13:35 | More by brewdlyhooked13

JimiG

Texas

4.93/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

WOW!

Decanted to a tulip pint.

This beer pours a beautiful dark brown and has a nice head. Lacing is really prevalent.

The aroma is dark chocolate and bourbon wood. Just amazing to my nose.

It tastes of creamy/silky dark chocolate with a beautiful fruity-like finish that rolls off the palate. It has a very smooth after taste and is like a mellow cigarette after dinner. (i don't mean smokey)

The mouth feel is smooth and silky, much like it tastes.

By far this is one of the best beer I have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2011 00:24:05 | More by JimiG

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.13/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

650ml bomber.

It pours a dark brown with a large, fluffy, tannish head that recedes at a decently slow pace.

The smell is bourbonny, but it is not over the top, which I like. There is also some cooca, fruits, and roastiness.

The flavor is kind of lost, so is the mouthfeel. It is rather thin. The predominant flavor is bitterness which really was surprising. It is very bitter for a winter warmer/bourbon aged beer. It has tannic notes, hoppy(?) bitterness, and roasted malt bitterness. There is also some caramel, bourbon, and cocoa.

I don't think it was executed the way it could have been.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2011 03:23:35 | More by crossovert

DavoleBomb

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter.

4.0 A: Black color. One and a half fingers of super creamy beige/tan head. Average retention and a good amount of lacing.

4.0 S: Good balance between the bourbon components and the beer - the bourbon holds about 60% of the nose's share. Bourbon and barrel contribute a decent amount of vanilla, oak, melon fruitiness, and a touch of booze. The underlying beer offers a pleasant plum fruitiness, some caramel, nuts, graininess and a touch of roastiness.

4.0 T: I assumed the beer would be bolder and more robust, but it it isn't and it works well. Rather it tastes like an easy drinking porter moreso than a winter warmer. Grainy, with a moderate roastiness, plenty of nuttiness, and only a mild caramel and dark fruit component. The bourbon is less pronounced than in the nose, but still plays a good role in the overall flavor. Vanilla, leather, oak, and melon are all there with some strength. I think the 10 weeks in the bourbon barrel was just right given the strength of the beer. Any longer and the beer would have to fight with the bourbon components.

4.5 M: Medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Somewhat creamy with a good crispness to it. I like this.

4.0 D: Pretty good and easy drinking beer. Lots of things done right and nothing done wrong.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2011 02:18:02 | More by DavoleBomb

TheKingofWichita

North Carolina

2.3/5  rDev -44.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

Pours a very deep black color with a thin brown head and a little tiny bit of lacing. Smells of bourbon, oak, vanilla, and chocolate. Tastes of bourbon, oak, vanilla, chocolate, heavy malt body and some allspice and hefty alcohol. Mouthfeel is medium with a light carbonation. Drinkability is low.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2011 18:34:37 | More by TheKingofWichita

MasterSki

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to BgThang for trading me a bottle of this one. It'd been on my wants list for a long time. Served in plastic cups and shared with nkersten, the lover of Winter Warmers.

A - Pours with a finger of tan foam that features good retention, spots of lacing, and a cola-like dark caramel brown body.

S - Lots of bourbon, oaky vanilla, chocolate, nuts, and a slightly salty soy (say that three times fast) note.

T - The taste is significantly less bourbon forward, and thankfully loses the soy sauce quality. Tastes a lot like a higher gravity English brown, which is basically what Winter Warmers are supposed to be (and not this spiced crap we get at Christmas) that has a light barrel-aged component. I think the bottle stated the number of days this was in barrels it was unsurprisingly quite short (10 weeks or something). Lots of chocolate, nuts, vanilla, fruity English yeast, and hints of bourbon. It's perhaps a touch cloying after a while, but still quite nice.

M - Smooth medium body, medium-low carbonation, and not much heat at all. Lightly sticky, and unsurprisingly low in tannic character.

D - I had a few pours of this, and it went reasonably quickly. I'd definitely have it again, and I'm curious to see how much it varies from year-to-year, as apparently the barrel source is always different. It's definitely in the top 5 winter warmers I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2011 18:06:26 | More by MasterSki

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

An extra from jefferz5000 (thanks Jeff!). Winter Warmers are a style I've been slow to come around to, due to typically high spice loading, but this one is atypical in that regard. Plus it's aged in bourbon barrels which is often a good thing.

It pours a dark brown color, transparent only at the edges, with 2 fingers of off-white foam. Very nice aroma centered around the bourbon, lots of sweet malts and some dark fruits like plums or cherries or the like. The malts make this smell delicious, much more sweet than roasty, and complement the bourbon very well.

It tastes good but falls a little short of the aroma. The malts are not as sweet tasting as they smell, more of a bitter note to them. The bourbon is more flavorful than hot so that's a big plus. There's a little sour bite in the aftertaste which doesn't seem right either but isn't exactly objectionable. Medium carbonation, not necessarily a sipper as it goes down easily. Glad to try it.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2011 02:26:19 | More by TurdFurgison

ChadQuest

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark Brown/Black with a tan head.
i really like this aroma, the bourbon comes right up front first but is soft and integrated with a roasty body. The last aromatic impression leaves with vanilla sweetness.
Fainter bourbon with Powdered Chocolate and Vanilla and Oak, with some cinnamon like spices thrown in. The Modest 8% isn't hidden totally which adds to the enjoyment for me.
moderate viscosity with a coating slightly sticky finish.

Really enjoyed this bottle. I love bottles i can relax for 2 hours with and enjoy the whole time.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2011 02:12:23 | More by ChadQuest