-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale
Alltech's Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co.
- From:
- Alltech's Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co.
- Kentucky, United States
- Style:
- English Strong Ale
Ranked #26 - ABV:
- 8.19%
- Score:
- 84
Ranked #23,035 - Avg:
- 3.71 | pDev: 17.52%
- Reviews:
- 737
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 01, 2024
- Added:
- Jul 13, 2004
- Wants:
- 172
- Gots:
- 1,114
Award winning Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale is a unique sipping beer with the distinctive nose of a well-crafted bourbon. Our Kentucky Ale is aged for up to 6 weeks in freshly decanted bourbon barrels from some of Kentucky’s finest distilleries. Subtle yet familiar flavors of vanilla and oak are imparted to this special ale as it rests in the charred barrels. Pleasantly smooth and robust, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale may also be served as an aperitif or after dinner drink.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Gyle41386:
Reviewed by Gyle41386 from South Carolina
3.5/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. I added this beer to my Wants list a long time ago because the picture was off this rocking blue and white jug type thing. I guess they don't use that anymore? I have the bottle that is pictured now, which isn't a problem or anything. I just won't be keeping it.
The pour reminds me of cream soda. Similar color with about a finger of foam, most of which fizzes away quickly to leave behind a small thick cap. There's a decent sheet of lacing stuck to the middle of the glass.
To put it as simply as possible, this beer smells like barrel. It's like when you smell a barrel-aged beer and you notice all of the aromas of the base beer and then whatever elements the barrel aging imparts. Well, with this beer, I'm not really smelling anything I would attribute to a base beer. It's really just those barrel elements, like oak, vanilla, caramel, maybe just a little bit of bourbon.
The flavor pretty much follows that. The description says that this beer is a marriage of an Irish Red and English Pale aged in bourbon barrels. I suppose I'm getting more English Pale than Irish Red, but this really just tastes like a generic barrel-aged beer. Tastes like brown sugar, vanilla, some almost toasty oak...I'm not really noticing any bourbon. Perhaps subtlety is what they were shooting for.
The texture is definitely Irish Red/English Pale. Much lighter than I expected for a barrel aged strong ale, but then again, I suppose it's such a broad style that it could still be appropriate. I don't know. Carbonation does very little to this beer, as it just sort of lays flat on the tongue. It's not lively and bubbly, nor is is mouth-coating and sticky. On the bright side, it's a very easy drinker for being 8+%. I never taste even a hint of alcohol, and the aforementioned light body gives this beer the potential to be very dangerous. All in all, a pleasant drinking experience despite not being terribly exciting.
Sep 25, 2011The pour reminds me of cream soda. Similar color with about a finger of foam, most of which fizzes away quickly to leave behind a small thick cap. There's a decent sheet of lacing stuck to the middle of the glass.
To put it as simply as possible, this beer smells like barrel. It's like when you smell a barrel-aged beer and you notice all of the aromas of the base beer and then whatever elements the barrel aging imparts. Well, with this beer, I'm not really smelling anything I would attribute to a base beer. It's really just those barrel elements, like oak, vanilla, caramel, maybe just a little bit of bourbon.
The flavor pretty much follows that. The description says that this beer is a marriage of an Irish Red and English Pale aged in bourbon barrels. I suppose I'm getting more English Pale than Irish Red, but this really just tastes like a generic barrel-aged beer. Tastes like brown sugar, vanilla, some almost toasty oak...I'm not really noticing any bourbon. Perhaps subtlety is what they were shooting for.
The texture is definitely Irish Red/English Pale. Much lighter than I expected for a barrel aged strong ale, but then again, I suppose it's such a broad style that it could still be appropriate. I don't know. Carbonation does very little to this beer, as it just sort of lays flat on the tongue. It's not lively and bubbly, nor is is mouth-coating and sticky. On the bright side, it's a very easy drinker for being 8+%. I never taste even a hint of alcohol, and the aforementioned light body gives this beer the potential to be very dangerous. All in all, a pleasant drinking experience despite not being terribly exciting.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by RaulMondesi from California
2.2/5 rDev -40.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25
2.2/5 rDev -40.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25
One time I went on a double date with my boy and Jenny I can’t remember her name, while I was paired up with my friend’s sister’s friend. Yes. There we go. Anyway, even going into it, I knew my chick had a bit of a screw loose. So much so that we referred to her as “District 9.” Anyway, as we drove to Angel Stadium, I noticed part of an old, rotten orange in her car’s console. Obviously I asked about it, and she told me that zhe found it on a running trail and she that she put it in her car because she wanted it to smell good (now you know why we called her District 9). Anyway, that orange is this beer to Raul.
Feb 18, 2024Reviewed by Weisenbeer from Ohio
4.21/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Well, this brew certainly is its namesake .... Smell bourbon, looks like bourbon, and definitely has some strong hints of bourbon flavor .... If you like bourbon and you like beer, you will like this!
Feb 01, 2024Rated by Beeristhebest from Wisconsin
3.33/5 rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.33/5 rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
I had an expired bottle but it was still a quality ale. Will find this fresh and enjoy it more.
Nov 24, 2023Reviewed by dajerzy52 from Florida
4.29/5 rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Notes of bourbon in the nose, sweet malt finished with a hint of hops. Not overly complex.Overall a great beer for the bourbon drinker that wants to have a beer.
Sep 28, 2023Rated by CruzinCooler from New Jersey
3.19/5 rDev -14%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.19/5 rDev -14%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
A bit bitter. Not much if a bourbon taste. Strong which is nice.
Aug 24, 2023Reviewed by robwired from Kansas
4.4/5 rDev +18.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +18.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A nose of oak and apple vanilla.
There are flavors of oak, apple vanilla and a tinge of cinnamon.
The mouthfeel is light.
It finishes with caramel and toffee to the palate.
The glass: Rastal Teku.
May 29, 2023There are flavors of oak, apple vanilla and a tinge of cinnamon.
The mouthfeel is light.
It finishes with caramel and toffee to the palate.
The glass: Rastal Teku.
Reviewed by TDM_62
4.99/5 rDev +34.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
4.99/5 rDev +34.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I just recently was in Kentucky. Just picked this beer up in a restaurant and decided to give it a try. I personally find this beer very smooth and have a nice flavor profile. My wife who does not drink a beer or ale at all. When I say at all she has never even attempted to try any beer or ale due to the smell. I asked and out of the blue she said she would try it. She took a sip and then another sip and looked at me and said that is not bad. I live in Missouri but this will be a staple in the refrigerator behind the bar forever!!!!
Apr 07, 2023Reviewed by MadMadMike from France
3.52/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.52/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle, cold, into a pint glass. Fizzy foam cap washed away quick, left little bubbles on the edge. Frazzled lace.
Smell is wood, toast, maybe vanilla.
Taste is muted. There’s elements of malt, mild hops, vanilla extract (which explains the warmth.,). There’s an artificial element in there.,. flavoring to boost the short time in barrel.
Mouth is light and lively.
Overall? This isn’t cohesive enough to deserve respect from a discerning palate.
Mar 25, 2023Smell is wood, toast, maybe vanilla.
Taste is muted. There’s elements of malt, mild hops, vanilla extract (which explains the warmth.,). There’s an artificial element in there.,. flavoring to boost the short time in barrel.
Mouth is light and lively.
Overall? This isn’t cohesive enough to deserve respect from a discerning palate.
Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale from Alltech's Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co.
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
3309 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!