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Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer
Rahr & Sons Brewing Company
- From:
- Rahr & Sons Brewing Company
- Texas, United States
- Style:
- Winter Warmer
Ranked #3 - ABV:
- 11%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #6,656 - Avg:
- 4.09 | pDev: 12.71%
- Reviews:
- 132
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 26, 2024
- Added:
- May 28, 2008
- Wants:
- 112
- Gots:
- 156
November Release - English dark ale aged in bourbon barrels - fresh American oak - dark malts - English hops - sweet, smooth vanilla & oak finish
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by sdeese21:
Rated by sdeese21 from Louisiana
3.66/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
May 18, 2015
3.66/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
May 18, 2015
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by stortore from Illinois
4.08/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.08/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 ounce can into a tulip snifter. Think it was a 2022 issue, had 5/29/23.
Pours a semi opaque dark cola color, with a short head and some soapy lacing. Aromas of caramel, malt, oak, some chocolate, light bourbon, vanilla as it warms, light char, a bit of a spicy aroma. Flavors of bourbon, caramel, malt, oak, vanilla, light chocolate. Smooth, a very good medium body, well carbonated.
Lots of caramel and oak, the barrels are prominent in the flavor. Not as spicy as expected, or as many others are for a “winter warmer “. Certainly worth a purchase.
Jul 20, 2023Pours a semi opaque dark cola color, with a short head and some soapy lacing. Aromas of caramel, malt, oak, some chocolate, light bourbon, vanilla as it warms, light char, a bit of a spicy aroma. Flavors of bourbon, caramel, malt, oak, vanilla, light chocolate. Smooth, a very good medium body, well carbonated.
Lots of caramel and oak, the barrels are prominent in the flavor. Not as spicy as expected, or as many others are for a “winter warmer “. Certainly worth a purchase.
Reviewed by Grax from Iowa
3.79/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Aroma of sweet, dark malts. Flavor is a wave of warm bourbon caramel flecked with nutmeg and hoppy bite leaving behind an aftertaste of sweet malt. Not bad.
Apr 06, 2023Rated by Captain69 from Illinois
4.3/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
great malty smell dark brownish black in the pour with thick head strong but great bourbon malt tast
Feb 09, 2023Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
4.24/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz can from Tavour. Dark brown pour with a foamy beige head. Aroma is malty, toffee, chocolate, sweet. Taste is caramel, malty and very warm. Sweet, brown sugar. Finishes a bit dry and plenty warm. Excellent.
Feb 09, 2023Reviewed by MutuelsMark from Kentucky
4.04/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours dark like a stout, head is tan but quickly goes away. Nose is full on bourbon. Taste is a bit more muted than the nose but still taste the bourbon. Good beer, but not overwhelming.
Jan 04, 2023Reviewed by Tilley4 from Tennessee
4.34/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.34/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Simply fantastic...this is from last year and has been in a keg at my local bottle shop kept cold..
The bourbon barrel is subdued and brings a wonderful oak and vanilla aspect to the beer. Spices are mellow and this had melded into a delightful treat. Like a Christmas pudding with a dash of booze.
I'd like to try some fresh to see how it compares but as is this is terrific terrific stuff.
Easily the best WW I've ever had.
Dec 23, 2021The bourbon barrel is subdued and brings a wonderful oak and vanilla aspect to the beer. Spices are mellow and this had melded into a delightful treat. Like a Christmas pudding with a dash of booze.
I'd like to try some fresh to see how it compares but as is this is terrific terrific stuff.
Easily the best WW I've ever had.
Reviewed by russpowell from Arkansas
4.22/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.22/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours an effervescent crimson/hazel with one finger of tan head. Average head retention & lacing
S: Cinnamon, cakeyness, dark fruit (figs & raisins ) once warm
T: Barrel, brown sugar, dried cherry some barrel dryness, molasses, brown sugar, a touch warming booze & vanilla. Bourbon & vanilla as this warms, a little leafy hop, dark cherry & brown sugar as this warms. Brown sugar, cinnamon, Bourbon, & leafy hops in the finish
MF: Chewy, low carbonation , super warming
Nice effort, so superior to their regular Winter Warmer. Will now go back for a 4 pack!
Nov 07, 2021S: Cinnamon, cakeyness, dark fruit (figs & raisins ) once warm
T: Barrel, brown sugar, dried cherry some barrel dryness, molasses, brown sugar, a touch warming booze & vanilla. Bourbon & vanilla as this warms, a little leafy hop, dark cherry & brown sugar as this warms. Brown sugar, cinnamon, Bourbon, & leafy hops in the finish
MF: Chewy, low carbonation , super warming
Nice effort, so superior to their regular Winter Warmer. Will now go back for a 4 pack!
Reviewed by DIM from Pennsylvania
4.41/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.41/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I've been drinking a lot big, wonderfully abrasive big stouts and barleywines lately. This is a nice change of pace.
This is mellow and approachable, but with many layers and nuance. Smooth toffee, potpourri like spice and dried fruit, roasted nuts, and well incorporated barrel notes of light bourbon and vanilla with very little oak. Maybe a trace of coconut. This goes down easy for 11%.
Oh my, this is splendid. If available, I'd buy a case annually. Love the 12oz format. Highly recommend!
Feb 11, 2021This is mellow and approachable, but with many layers and nuance. Smooth toffee, potpourri like spice and dried fruit, roasted nuts, and well incorporated barrel notes of light bourbon and vanilla with very little oak. Maybe a trace of coconut. This goes down easy for 11%.
Oh my, this is splendid. If available, I'd buy a case annually. Love the 12oz format. Highly recommend!
Reviewed by UWDAWG from Washington
4.35/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12 ounce can into a snifter.
Look- Semi-frothy medium tan head, black, average head retention, below average lacing.
Smell- Bourbon, vanilla, oak, cocoa.
Taste- Bourbon, vanilla, cocoa, coffee.
Feel- Thin body, smooth, slightly mouth warming, below average carbonation.
Overall- A nice beer for a cold winter day.
Jan 21, 2021Look- Semi-frothy medium tan head, black, average head retention, below average lacing.
Smell- Bourbon, vanilla, oak, cocoa.
Taste- Bourbon, vanilla, cocoa, coffee.
Feel- Thin body, smooth, slightly mouth warming, below average carbonation.
Overall- A nice beer for a cold winter day.
Reviewed by imnodoctorbut from Texas
4.3/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
coffee black with an excited tan frothy foam head that has high retention and leaves sticky patches of lacing as it settles to a thin cap
strong aroma of bourbon, dark fruit, and roasted toffee malt; shades of oak
bourbon front and center; rich raisin and plum back it up, along with a sticky sweet toffee malt; vanilla comes through as it warms, as do various holiday spices.
moderately low carbonation, medium body; feels full thanks to carbo prickles and strong booze kick. finishes boozy but with a solid earthy hop bitterness. wildly enough, the booze hit takes a seat after about 30-45 minutes.
overall:
whew. wish I'd let this sit about 6 months. this is an incredible brew that has been just drenched in bourbon booze heat. I wonder, however, if this brew would actually be too sweet if not for the booze kicker. only time will tell with my other bottle, but this was sublime as-is. best winter warmer I've ever had, hands down - especially when the booze heat takes a break and calls it a night about 40 minutes in. absolutely beautiful after that point.
Nov 30, 2020strong aroma of bourbon, dark fruit, and roasted toffee malt; shades of oak
bourbon front and center; rich raisin and plum back it up, along with a sticky sweet toffee malt; vanilla comes through as it warms, as do various holiday spices.
moderately low carbonation, medium body; feels full thanks to carbo prickles and strong booze kick. finishes boozy but with a solid earthy hop bitterness. wildly enough, the booze hit takes a seat after about 30-45 minutes.
overall:
whew. wish I'd let this sit about 6 months. this is an incredible brew that has been just drenched in bourbon booze heat. I wonder, however, if this brew would actually be too sweet if not for the booze kicker. only time will tell with my other bottle, but this was sublime as-is. best winter warmer I've ever had, hands down - especially when the booze heat takes a break and calls it a night about 40 minutes in. absolutely beautiful after that point.
Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer from Rahr & Sons Brewing Company
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
462 ratings
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