After returning the evidence of my beer addiction (for more beer money, of course), I was left for a few dollars in my pocket and a thirst for more beer. Fortunately for me, the recycling center happens to be part of the beer store down the street, so I had only to cross the parking lot. Unfortunately for me, I only had $7 with me (note to self: do not leave house without debit card again). After browsing a while and realizing that most of the Maine beers I’ve come to love cannot be had for that price, I found, tucked right next to a display stand of Sebago beers, a strange white and blue bottled beer called “Winter’s Bourbon Cask Ale.” The price, at something like $6.75 once you factor in tax and deposit, was affordable, and it was stacked with the Sebago, so I took a chance.
I was tricked. Actually, that’s not fair. It’s more like I deluded myself into thinking that a six pack for less than I usually pay, and bottles whose shape was strangely reminiscent of Bud Light bottles, could be a good micro at a great price. Upon further examination at home, I found the Anheuser-Busch name at the bottom of the bottles and shuddered. I reluctantly popped the top of one of these suckers (hey, I said I needed a drink), and was met with an overwhelming aroma of vanilla. The description on the bottle said “ale aged on bourbon barrel oak and vanilla beans,” so it was not entirely unexpected, but damn, that’s a lot of vanilla.
The pour revealed a medium-amber colored ale (at least it’s not a lager, right?) with a little carbonation and a puffy white head with almost no lacing. The taste was vanilla, followed by a hint of malt, followed by a whole lot more vanilla. I believe I’ve had a chilled Starbucks beverage that had about the same vanilla content as this. The hops were entirely buried, as was the bourbon flavor I was hoping for. I guess I should have been more suspicious when the label said it was aged on bourbon barrel oak rather than in oak bourbon barrels. They must have just tossed some old staves in the tank or something. There is a slight bite of alcohol on the finish, owing to the 6% ABV, but the overwhelming impression is vanilla, and lots of it. This is better than A-B’s lagers, but do yourself a favor and spend a few bucks more for a much better winter warmer. However, if you’re looking for a dessert with alcohol in it, this might be worth a try.
My Rating:
