Central Waters Brewers Reserve Bourbon Barrel Barleywine

Brewed by Central Waters Brewing Co.
Style: Barley Wine
Amherst, Wisconsin USA

Serve in Snifter

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Sampled April 2009
A salty, almost peat like aroma is noticeable as I vigorously pour this beer into my 25cl tulip glass. It forms a three-finger thick, amber tinged tan colored head that rests on top of a darkish brown beer that shows a hazy, plum-amber color when held up to the light. The aroma has a huge coconut note to it along with notes of vanillin; this is definitely quite distinct and definitely nice smelling. Sweet caramelized malt aromatics contribute notes of brown sugar, toffee and sweet brown bread play a supporting, subtle, but boosting role to the coconut and vanillin notes. As the beer warms up the brown sugar notes pick up and combine with the toasted coconut aromas. A touch of warming, spicy alcohol becomes more noticeable in the nose as well.

The beer feels thick and viscous as it hits my tongue. It has a complex, caramelized sweetness from the chewy malt. The coconut note is here in the flavor as well, playing a big role but note quite as big as it did in the aroma. Spicy alcohol notes add some warmth and a touch of drying character to the finish that balances the up front sweetness. The barrel influence doesn’t just provide flavors of coconut, but also touches of vanillin, a Bourbon spiciness, spicy oak notes, a touch of butterscotch and a slight tannic edge (this last is pretty subtle though). This is really a sipping brew because of the full body and overall richness. Brown sugar and caramelized malt notes just ooze from this beer. Other malt influences of toasted, concentrated pale malt flavors, a slight nuttiness at times and a big biscuit-like malt character. Resinous hop notes play a role here as well, quite a significant role actually, but I didn’t notice them until quite a bit of time had passed because of all the other things going on; bitter earthy pine notes, a nice menthol touch and this eve has some essential citrus oil flavors.

This is much more enjoyable than I was expecting. The coconut notes from the barrel are really nice and it really works with the thick, sweet, rich base beer; without the barrel influence, the base beer might note even be all that good or balanced. The aroma is not as complex as the flavor, but it is quite distinct with its inviting coconut note. This is definitely an enjoyable beer that I am quite glad to have tried.

12 oz bottle. Pours hazy red amber. Aroma is raisin, dried cherries, vanilla. Taste of cherry, bourbon, vanilla.

Bottle shared with northropfrye in a snifter. The aroma is exquisite. This is a excellent sipping barley wine. Strong flavour of bourbon and sweet malts. Enjoyable on a cold day.

I tend to find these bourbon barleywines a bit too much, too sweet. This is a great beer, but not my favourite style. Dark amber in colour, very little head. Intense sweet malt, grain, bourbon aroma. Flavour to match.

12 oz. bottle. It pours a nice deep copper color with a thick off white head. The aroma is really nice with layers of sweet fig, raisin, toffee, vanilla and wood. Vanilla and toffee really jump out. The flavor is again, very sweet yet expertly balanced with a piney, earthy bitterness near the finish. Up front it displays fig, caramel, vanilla followed by a strong alcohol presence that cuts the sweetness and richness on the palate. There’s some wood in there too, but its pretty subdued. It’s very full bodied and rich with a perfect amount of carbonation. Loved this one!

Bottle thanks to lemonhead. Cloudy amber pour no head. Lovely aroma. Rich caramel, bourbon, wood and vanilla. Flavors were no surprise. Lots of bourbon, caramel, sweet with a rather dry oaky finish. Mouthfeel was in the medium range with subtle carbonation. Awesome stuff, I need more. Nice cigar BW.

On tap at Local Option. Brown with quarter inch cream head with good retention. Aroma is bourbon, oak, and caramel. Flavor is this plus vanilla and a little chocolate. A dryer finish than expected for a BA barleywine. Very nice.

2012 Vintage. Bottle. Poured a cloudy amber brown color. Small head. Powerful aroma of oak and bourbon barrel wood, which dominate aroma. Some caramal and floral/fruit pine hop aroma also present. Taste is Medium light sweetness, medlight bitter, and huge bourbon barrel flavors with some warming alchohol. Medium-heavy body. Softer carbonation. Long Finish. Outstanding sipper. I almost put this on the rocks:)

Bottle from Skyview, thanks! Clear ruby copper with a vanishing thin tan head. Aroma of bourbon, alcohol, malt, toffee, vanilla, oak and some sugar. Taste is a bit boozy with vanilla, oak, sweet malt, dark fruits. Rich and finishes with some warming.

Thanks to levifunk for this bottle. Pours a deep copper color with a tan head that goes to a ring. Smells of rich malt, figs, caramel. Taste is bourbon, caramel, sizable alcohol burn. Medium body crisp carbonation.

Sampled from 12oz bottle. Poured a dark brown color with a light tan head. Aroma was sweet malts, with touch of dried fruits (raisin) and a touch of bourbon notes. Flavor was a bit sweet, in malty characters. Pretty tasty.