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If you caught just a glimpse of this year's limited seasonal offering from Anheuser-Busch -- Budweiser Brew Masters Private Reserve 2006 -- you might think it was a whiskey or a wine. The box and bottle inside are decorated with what looks like a family crest, a painting of a chateau, fancy script writing and a specific vintage, 2006. This is not your usual 12-ounce container, not even an oversized one-pint, six-ounce doozy. It's a 46.5-ounce magnum. This is special stuff. This is holiday booze.
As the story goes, Budweiser has a tradition of tapping the richest part of the brew to toast the winter season. Now you can try a batch. Pop the stopper (some smoke escapes), give it a pour and you'll see an amber beer with fine white lacing. It does not look or taste anything like the usual light watery lager associated with Anheuser-Busch. Every element is upped a notch: It is darker, thicker, maltier -- sweet and yeasty -- and finishes with a lingering bitterness. At 8.5% alcohol by volume, it is also strong for a beer, though it doesn't taste especially potent. Who knew Bud could have such complexity?
-- James Oliver Cury
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