Budweiser's Reserve Black Lager

"Don't be afraid of the dark" this beer was my favorite in my early twenties. A really solid Dunkel-

 

With the beechwood staves, the whole point of the staves is not to get any flavor contribution at all. However, the staves can be sterilized by charring them all over and then using them. Charring would as you suggest remove the Bourbon per se, but the vanilla and oak come from the charred wood staves.

 

Ok picked up a 4 pack of this up at TW for $7.99, let it chill for a few hours in the fridge while I worked. Man was pleasantly surprised. Very good drinking beer, don't buy it for the bourbon, because it isn't much there, but the hint of vanilla and a slight twang in the finish make this a good drinking beer. Really smooth and nice roast/coffee flavor from the malt.

 

I agree. The Bourbon aspect might take a decent concept and then try too hard to complicate the base beer. But I'm just a simple guy and Bourbon smells like fraternities.