Okay, here's a beer that evokes strong emotion in the imbiber ... some react favorably, others with something resembling revulsion. I fall somewhere in the middle, to be honest. Anheuser-Busch's attempt at a winter warmer style beer is, in many ways, technically off the mark (way too thin and virtually no fruity esters typical of the style, for example). Somehow, though, it has grown on me and I have learned to grudgingly appreciate this brew for what it is ... whatever that is. If you're in the mood for something different, and really like vanilla flavors, you might just like this beer. If you don't, or doubt you would, I'd recommend spending your hard-earned beer fund on something else ... preferably a craft-brewed beer! Love it or hate it, at least this is an A-B beer with some flavor, huh?

I've resisted reviewing this beer for long enough now ... here's my take on A-B's Winter's Bourbon Cask Ale:

Pours a very clean and bright copper color with a tight off-white head that settles fast leaving spotty lacing in the pint glass. The nose is really quite sweet and smacks of vanilla extract, some caramel notes and a slightly nutty character. I detect no hop presence in the nose. Likewise, I detect only the slightest hint of anything resembling bourbon or oak. This beer isn't as fruity in the nose as I'd hope for in a winter warmer style beer, but it is rather festive none the less. The palate is very similar to the nose - exceedingly sweet up front , but yielding to a rather nice caramel and nut combination. The vanilla is predominant, but a little bit of a rich bourbon-like aspect is subtly evident. The mouth feel is far too thin and clean for a winter warmer, but it does make this an easy drinking beer, albeit one that defies standard categorization. Very soft in the mouth, there is little to no hop presence and leaves a slightly cloying finish. This beer starts too sweet for me, and seems a little artificial with respect to it's vanilla flavoring, but it redeems itself somewhat with the interplay of flavors that follow the initial vanilla assault. Due to the light, easy mouth feel and body, this is an easy drinker and definitely packs more flavor than the typical macro-brewed product. The question is, do you like the flavors you taste? I'm a fan of vanilla, and vanilla flavored foods, so I'm maybe an easy target to appreciate this beer despite it's obvious limitations. World class winter warmer? No way. A decent, flavorful ale at a cheap price ... I think so.

This one is on tap right now at Pinch in Carbondale. In my opinion, this is a beer that is far better on tap than bottled. The overwhelming vanilla aromas and flavors are disbursed a little on draught, I think. If you've only had this beer in bottles, you might try it on tap and see what you think ... same, different, bad either way ...? You be the judge.