Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale
Alltech's Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co.

Less vanilla than expected, but good none the less.

By every metric a very good beer. Smells faintly like vanilla extract without any wheat/yeast or generally beer-y aromas. When drunk it has a very thick mouth feel, followed by a very strong bitter, bourbon flavor instead of a more mild ale flavor. This slowly fades away after getting it down, with it mellowing out into a subtly sweet, vanilla aftertaste that lingers like a bite of creme brule.

I feel like they could've kept the vanilla flavor without the need for bourbon barrels, and it would've been much better without the sharpness from that flavor profile. But it's good regardless of that fact.

 

 

 

A moderate through-the-head pour from a 12oz. btl. into a 16oz. mug yielded a finger of eggshell white soapy fizzy foam with short retention and a few spots of lace. Clear orange amber body, shiny gold in bright light.

Mild smell of vanilla, bourbon, bready malt and yeast. Very faint herbal hops.

Semi-sweet with medium-low bitterness to start. The Cream Ale base acts as a strong malt backbone, the vanilla and bourbon blend and balance with the malt. Hop flavor is low and indistinguishable. Bourbon (the hop flavor killer) and oak rise during the middle, the sweetness of the malt flavor slows the finish from drying to almost semi-dry. Bitterness and the return of hop flavor linger on awhile.

Medium, slightly oily bodied with abundant carbonation. Light on the bourbon (this is key to the smoothness and balance), the alcohol from the beer itself is well hidden. Warms very well, onto the revisit list goes this one.

From a twelve ounce brown bottle, this beer is a crystal clear, gold-amber color with a thin, tightly bubbled, white head. The aroma is intensely vanilla, almost distractingly so. There is maybe a little wood character as well. The taste is moderately sweet with a bit of malt and, again, huge vanilla taste. Moderate bitterness. The finish is lingering.

Appearance: Clear dark gold, good head.

Smell: Just like vanilla extract, straight vanilla with a hint of alcohol.

Taste: Hits with vanilla right away, a little light breadiness is mixed in there with the vanilla. Actually pretty balanced, vanilla is there but not overpowering. Medium bodied.

Overall: A beer that was gifted to me, I wasn't expecting much but it's not bad. Not really something I'd pick up on my own but interesting to try.

A really good beer, tastes like a cream soda and at moments I forget I’m even drinking a beer. Very sweet and refreshing and definitely something I would like to pick up again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

12oz bottle served in a shaker pint glass. Date stamp on neck of bottle: 07/22/24 13:48 6.

Appearance: Bright (clear) amber color, with a very thin white ring of foam. No persistent lacing noted.

Smell: Definite vanilla, along with a slight fruity note.

Taste: Strong vanilla taste - approaching artificial / soda level. There seems like there is a hint of bourbon barrel under it all, but the vanilla dominates. Comes across as very sweet, but there is a bit of a bitter finish that counters it. There is a beer in here, but at times it comes across like a strongly flavored soda.

Mouthfeel: Good carbonation, a little sticky on the teeth.

Overall / Drinkability: I'm not sure how I feel about this beer. It has the sweetness and strong vanilla of a soda....and yet there is some beery notes in here. One is enough. I think this would have to be paired with the right food.....maybe ice cream floats?? I'm not sure it would pair with something savory.