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Brew Masters Private Reserve
Anheuser-Busch
- From:
- Anheuser-Busch
- Missouri, United States
- Style:
- American Lager
- ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 80
- Avg:
- 3.49 | pDev: 17.19%
- Reviews:
- 104
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jun 05, 2022
- Added:
- Nov 13, 2005
- Wants:
- 5
- Gots:
- 3
Decades ago, Budweiser brewmasters started a tradition. During the holidays, they'd collect the purest liquid from the brewing kettles; pre-sparged, first wort. This first stock - unusually smooth and rich despite its robust alcohol - was reserved for A-B friends and family, until now. Note from the brewers: this an all-malt beer; NO rice or corn. Imported hops. 20 Plato. It's also a completely different recipe than Budweiser.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by beerphilosopher:
Reviewed by beerphilosopher from Illinois
4.1/5 rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.1/5 rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a wide mouth tulip-style glass from a huge quart-size dark abber bottle with a flip top that's really very cool looking. Great packaging, if you ask me.
A - Bright golden with lots of effervescence. Tall, two-finger white head that dissipates pretty fast. Minimal lacing left behind. Certainly a richer color than a typical Bud.
S - Not at all what I expected. While it's a little "Bud-like," it's more ... dare I say this ... like a decent belgian beer. It's got that malty, yeasty character that it characteristic of a Belgian. Reminds me a little of a Duvel knock-off. I say this knowing that the mere suggestion that a BUd product is like a Belgian is tantamount to beer heresy. Still, I stand by my assessment.
T - Again, this beer is surprising me. Good malty body with a very discernable yeast backbone. Like a baked bread or pie. Not a lot of hop attitude here, but a very, very respectable malt beer. Slightly spicy, sweet, and smooth, yet not cloying.
M - Very clean and crisp ... now that is not so suprising. Fairly light and smooth. Finishes easy.
D - This beer is very drinkable, especially since the 8.5 abv is well hidden. I'd like to taste test this one with a few of my discerning beer buddies. I'd put money on it that they wouldn't know this was a Bud product in a million years. I'm truly impressed with this one ... I love it when a beer exceeds my expectations in almost every regard. Doesn't happen often. And it's even less likely that it would be a Bud offering ... way to go Augustus!
Try this one and swallow your "beer pride." If you can allow yourself to admit that Budweiser can produce a quality beer, you might just like this one. It's a shame it's a "once a year" beer.
Hmmm ... anyone ever tried to cellar this? (assuming you could get it several years ago?) At 8.5 I recon it's right on the edge of feasibility?
Dec 16, 2005A - Bright golden with lots of effervescence. Tall, two-finger white head that dissipates pretty fast. Minimal lacing left behind. Certainly a richer color than a typical Bud.
S - Not at all what I expected. While it's a little "Bud-like," it's more ... dare I say this ... like a decent belgian beer. It's got that malty, yeasty character that it characteristic of a Belgian. Reminds me a little of a Duvel knock-off. I say this knowing that the mere suggestion that a BUd product is like a Belgian is tantamount to beer heresy. Still, I stand by my assessment.
T - Again, this beer is surprising me. Good malty body with a very discernable yeast backbone. Like a baked bread or pie. Not a lot of hop attitude here, but a very, very respectable malt beer. Slightly spicy, sweet, and smooth, yet not cloying.
M - Very clean and crisp ... now that is not so suprising. Fairly light and smooth. Finishes easy.
D - This beer is very drinkable, especially since the 8.5 abv is well hidden. I'd like to taste test this one with a few of my discerning beer buddies. I'd put money on it that they wouldn't know this was a Bud product in a million years. I'm truly impressed with this one ... I love it when a beer exceeds my expectations in almost every regard. Doesn't happen often. And it's even less likely that it would be a Bud offering ... way to go Augustus!
Try this one and swallow your "beer pride." If you can allow yourself to admit that Budweiser can produce a quality beer, you might just like this one. It's a shame it's a "once a year" beer.
Hmmm ... anyone ever tried to cellar this? (assuming you could get it several years ago?) At 8.5 I recon it's right on the edge of feasibility?
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by DoubleJ from Wisconsin
1.75/5 rDev -49.9%
1.75/5 rDev -49.9%
I was lucky enough to taste a 2006 Vintage at a bottle share. I'm hoping that was simply past its prime, because the beer tasted a lot like bran cereal soaking in water. Not something I want a liter of.....
Dec 02, 2014Rated by SD-Alefan from South Dakota
3.75/5 rDev +7.4%
3.75/5 rDev +7.4%
Bottle (2007)
Had a 5oz. sample
Held up surprisingly well.
Lots of nicely-rounded malt flavors, some dark fruit and a bit of leather.
Not bad.
Oct 19, 2014Had a 5oz. sample
Held up surprisingly well.
Lots of nicely-rounded malt flavors, some dark fruit and a bit of leather.
Not bad.
Reviewed by ehammond1
3.47/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.47/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle (2006)
Thanks for opening this with me, UCLABrewN84!
(Aged for 6 years)
Clear light amber with some carbonation and a small white head that leaves dots of lace down the glass.
Sweet, fruity aroma of apple juice and bready malt.
The sweet flavors are similar to the aroma, with an earthy and sweet apple juice flavor playing the largest role along with bread and simple grain. Low bitterness.
Medium bodied with low carbonation.
Good enough, and far better than I anticipated.
Jun 13, 2012Thanks for opening this with me, UCLABrewN84!
(Aged for 6 years)
Clear light amber with some carbonation and a small white head that leaves dots of lace down the glass.
Sweet, fruity aroma of apple juice and bready malt.
The sweet flavors are similar to the aroma, with an earthy and sweet apple juice flavor playing the largest role along with bread and simple grain. Low bitterness.
Medium bodied with low carbonation.
Good enough, and far better than I anticipated.
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California
3.58/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.58/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Bottle I brought to share at DarthKostrizer's tasting.
2006 vintage.
Pours a clear brown with a khaki head that settles to a thin cap on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, apple juice/cider, and some slight vegetal aromas. Taste is the same along with some slight brown sugar flavors. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is actually a pretty good beer that has held up for 6 or so years. If I was given this blind, I would never guess it was an AB product.
Jun 03, 20122006 vintage.
Pours a clear brown with a khaki head that settles to a thin cap on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, apple juice/cider, and some slight vegetal aromas. Taste is the same along with some slight brown sugar flavors. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is actually a pretty good beer that has held up for 6 or so years. If I was given this blind, I would never guess it was an AB product.
Brew Masters Private Reserve from Anheuser-Busch
Beer rating:
80 out of
100 with
121 ratings
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