Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer - Rahr & Sons Brewing Company

wagenvolks

Texas

4.18/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle (2010) into an oversized wine glass.

Been looking forward to trying this beer for a long time now, and props to Rahr for finally bottling it! BBAWW pours with a deep, burnt mahogany hue. Above builds a hefty crown of tan head that retains exceedingly well and drapes a few sticky webs of lace along the inside of the glass. The aroma is decadent, with lots of toasted chocolate & coffee from the malt, dark raisins, and bourbon-ness from the barrels that adds whiffs of vanilla and booze.

The flavor doesn't shy away, either. Bigger chocolate malt profile than the aroma suggests, and the bourbon courses across the back of the palate with notes of oak and vanilla. The booze is evident, but shies away from becoming too hot at the last moment, leaving a smooth finish of caramel nuttiness. Mouthfeel could stand to be a bit fuller in body, but the carbonation is solid. I mush admit, I was a bit skeptical about Rahr given their generally sub-par flagship lineup, but this beer is a barrel-aged masterpiece.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2010 05:41:52 | More by wagenvolks

champ103

Texas

3.58/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Pours a dark brown color with some ruby highlights around the edges. A two finger beige head forms at first, but recedes to a ring that sticks throughout. Not much lace though.
S: Toasted malt, chocolate, light vanilla. A hint of oak from the barrels. Overall good, but fairly neutral.
T: Follows the nose. Toasted malt, powdery chocolate, and vanilla. Some residual sweetness, and lingering wood/oak flavor. A lingering bitterness builds as well. There is also an odd, spicy aftertaste that I can not put my finger on.
M/D: A lighter body than I was expecting. Thin, and almost under carbonated. Easy to drink. Everything is well incorporated. I will finish the bottle without a problem.

Overall a very nice barrel aged beer. Probably the best I have had from Rahr. I am thinking that a bigger body would help things out tremendously. It just seems too thin to me. Something I would recommend, and a good addition to the Texas beer scene. Though I have had better barrel aged beers.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2010 03:34:46 | More by champ103

Randyweizen

Texas

4.65/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This beer was worth every cent of the nine-some-odd dollars I paid for the 22-ounce bottle. Just tried a new bottle of this winter's batch, and boy am I glad. In several ways I'd say it's just fine: it's a dark, pretty clear beer with minimal head (something my mother-in-law seemed to care about more than I did, and she wasn't even drinking it), and it has a richly malty smell.

Sipping this beer is a pleasure. The flavors are many and good. I had mine straight out of the fridge, so it was cold at first, but I nursed it for some two hours and got to enjoy the unfolding notes of dried fruit, cooked sugar, a little cocoa, nuts, and liqueur. This is not a spiced beer; these flavors seem to come out of the interplay between the malt and the muted-but-present alcohol. I should add that while it is on the sweet side of the spectrum, this is not some syrupy oversweet mess. The body is commensurate with the type (a strong, warming beer to sip slowly by the fire) without exceeding the bounds of taste and drinkability. I was pretty stoked about this, too, as it seems all too easy for breweries to churn out sticky-sweet monsters worth more as symbols of boldness than as something you would actually want to put in your digestive system. Good job, Rahr. I don't like all your beers that much, but this is a masterpiece.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2010 11:54:57 | More by Randyweizen

kiltedtxn

Texas

4.13/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This was found at Gingerman Fort Worth on July 18th, 2010.

This is the same version from December of 2009 that was aged in Makers Mark Bourbon barrels, only aged 6 more months in the keg.

A- Dark ruby to black in color, little to no head

S- A ton of vanilla, almost no cherries, very malty with a little chocolate

T- Big vanilla, moderately malty, no cherries

M- Slight high alcohol burn (not as much it originally had), very smooth creamy feel

D- Very drinkable, could drink it more often if available

I was wanting a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream to make a float but they were out. I was surprised that the cherries had dissipated to slight to non-existent, because it had such a huge presence in December of 2009.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2010 18:04:41 | More by kiltedtxn

Mora2000

Texas

4.63/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap at the Fort Worth Flying Saucer and reviewed from notes. Rahr's Winter Warmer aged in Maker's Mark barrels, sounds interesting.

The beer pours a dark brown-red with a small tan head. The aroma is awesome, with some oak, vanilla, bourbon and a little roasted malt. The flavor is great as well, with tons of vanilla and oak character. You get a little bourbon and some spices as well as some dark fruit and some coffee and roasted malts. This is a complex masterpiece that is a great improvement over the regular Winter Warmer from Rahr and Sons. The beer has low carbonation and a thick mouthfeel. The alcohol is not that present in the flavor but the alcohol warming affect is great. I was sitting outside on the patio in about 40 degree weather and this beer warmed me up nicely. I wish they would bottle this because this is as good as any beer I have ever had from the state of Texas.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2009 05:11:27 | More by Mora2000

natelocc787

California

4.22/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice crimson red body with a light tan head. Notes of winter spices, oak, vanilla and dark cherry in the nose and taste. This beer tastes exactly like the Winter Warmer with an oaky vanilla profile (must be) from the bourbon barrels. I guess that's exactly what it should taste like but I didn't notice a remarkable difference between them. The mouthfeel was smoother in this version with the vanilla more pronounced. It's nice to see what a little barrel aging can do to a winter warmer. Great example, very drinkable. I was told it was between 8-11% but it tasted more like 6-7%. Very small nutty character in the finish which was dry for the style. A treat and great after dinner/late night beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2009 01:42:03 | More by natelocc787

mjl21

California

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Ginger Man in Fort Worth. Poured into a pint glass. Unsure of abv.

A-Pours a dark brown that lets a little bit of light through. It has a small tan ring that surrounds some film. Leaves a little lace in between sips.

S-This one is all about the bourbon, which my friend claimed was Makers Mark. Oak and vanilla are there. It picks up some coffee aroma as it warms. Hard to detect the base beer with all of the bourbon barrel characteristics.

T-Lots of vanilla and oak start it off. There is some spice from the base beer that hits midsip. I also get some cherry as well. The malt is both sweet and roast. Vanilla flavor returns in the back. It has a very oaky aftertaste. Like the nose, some coffee appears as it warms.

M-Thick and oily. It had a nice level of carbonation.

D-Really enjoyed this one. The abv was well hidden.

This was definitely a pleasant surprise. A really great non-hyped barrel aged beer. Too bad they don't release it in bottles to the public.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2009 18:06:40 | More by mjl21

spaceycasey

Texas

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

Served on tap at an area brewpub. Served into a snifter glass.

Appearance: Deep tawny brown, slightly reddish hue, slightly hazy, but carbonation bubbles rising to the top from first sip to last. Thick creamy head that stuck to the side of the glass like glue, forming beautiful lace.

Smell: Vanilla, oak, bourbon, roast and sweet malt.

Taste: Sweet malt with oak and vanilla hints, but prominant bourbon taste. Faint caramel notes. No hop presence.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and creamy - only moderate alcohol warmth.

Drinkability: An excellent beer - perhaps one of the top 3 I've ever had brewed in the state. Alcohol content limits the amount one could responsible consume, but this is a perfect night cap in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

01-18-2009 19:45:50 | More by spaceycasey

turbine2475

Texas

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

Hand Bottled and pulled from a case marked competition only.

A - Pours a deep brown with intense cola highlights and a large two finger vanilla head that disipated quickly leaving a spotty lace.

S - Intense bourbon scent with the expected vanilla and oak and some malty spice.

T - Lots of bourbon, vanilla, and grain. Almost drowns out the light flavors of caramel and all spice, but definately one of the best bourbon flavors I have had in any beer I have tried.

M - Smooth with a moderate carbonation and an alcohol burn expectantly reminicent of a shot of whiskey.

D - Great brew. I hope Rahr makes this again, but the bottle I have left will be shared for a special ocassion. A must have!!!

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2008 05:05:55 | More by turbine2475

mhewes

Colorado

4.8/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is Rahr's Winter Warmer aged in Maker's Mark bourbon barrels.

A : Pours a nice dark brown with a good tan head.

S : Real malty with some good oak and bourbon notes

T : Awesome. The malt shines through with heavy bourbon and oak flavors. There's no hop bitterness to it but it doesn't miss it. Really smooth. There's decent amount of alcohol in it but it is hidden very well. It sneaks up on you.

M : Creamy and smooth

D : Incredible. I would love to be able to have it again

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2008 02:07:10 | More by mhewes