Central Waters Brewers Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout

Brewed by Central Waters Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial Stout
Amherst, Wisconsin USA

Serve in Snifter

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UPDATED: JUN 27, 2006 2005 bottle from StewardofGondor, sampled side by side with the non-barrel version on 12/22/05 with Rastacouere and Siroy.
Yet another intensely filtered pour yields approximately the same results as the non BA version. The lack of age on this one allows the head to recede a little more slowly, but it is soon only a tan ring on the edges atop a deep, milk chocolate brown body, that is frighteningly clear.
Aroma of strong bourbon aging, translating in to plenty of syrupy vanilla and dry woodiness. German chocolate cake soaked in brandy, quite dry on the end and fairly strong, but lacking any hops or roast.
Flavor begins with a strongly dry wood effect, huge vanilla and warming alcohol notes with the chocolate from the regular version mixing to add a sort of marshmallow like sweetness on the side. But the bourbon barrel is tyrant here, not so much, this time, from an over exposure to the barrel, as it is from the lack of a base stout that can really handle the barrel gracefully. Earthy, composty, salty coffee rinds build on the palate, with the vanilla softening and the alcohol only a slight sting on the end.
Body is mediumish, but horribly filtered and overcarbonated, leading to a vapid, unsubstantial texture. The word complex never really comes to mind. Basically a coffee-chocolate stout exposed to strong bourbon. Horribly lacking texture, no hop apparency. Barrel-aging is interesting, but why is this top 50? Not trying to be cynical and purposefully against the grain, but I just don’t get it. Will revisit in a year.
Rerate. 05 bottle consumed 6/27/06. It’s only been 6 months but still a rerate is in order.
Well this is just strange. Great head retention, nearly perfect and creamy with plenty of lacing. But the aroma is all bourbon, some very light smoke and traces of black malt. Very burnt and dark and like usual, too much bourbon (though the coconut vanilla has died down). The flavor is too bourbony while the texture still disappoints, watery and loose. Still, there is enough malt to keep interest and some nice ashiness and roast on the very end. 6/4/5/2/12.
Total score is an average of the two.

On tap at local option. Black with quarter inch white head with retention. Aroma is chocolate, bourbon and oak. Flavor is the same with a long dark chocolate and bourbon finish. Very nice; definitely prefer this to Peruvian Morning.

Poured into my bruery tulip. Dark brown with a half finger head which quickly dissipates. Ring of lacing clings to glass. Aroma of bourbon and slight vanilla, not amazing but good. Taste follows nose, bourbon and slight vanilla, finishes with all bourbon. A very good beer just not great.

2011 vintage. Bottle to snifter (thanks, elkhunter36). Looks good; like a nice BBS. Smells pretty good, but a little mild. Tastes good; nice mix of malt and booze. Mouthfeel is good too. A very nice beer!

Bottle at home, from my MTh glass. Pours clear black, with a thin tan head, and poor lacing. Nose is bourbon, vanilla, toast, nuts, almond roca,caramel corn, very nice nose! Flavours of pepper, toast, marzipan, almonds, mocha, graphite, and cashew nougat. Decadent stuff, absolutely lovely!

2011 Vintage. Strong aroma, murky brown full bodied Imperial Stout. Alcohol sweetness with bourbon zing, vanilla undertones, chocolate and roasted malt bite. Drinkability is acceptable yet troublesome.

Bottle 12fl.oz.

Clear dark brown colour with a small, fizzy, fair lacing, mostly diminishing, off-white head. Aroma is moderate to heavy malty, roasted, caramel, burnt malt, alcohol - bourbon. Flavour is moderate to heavy sweet and light moderate bitter with a long duration, licorice - laber laver, caramel, bourbon. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft to flat, finish feel is light alcoholic. [20120331]

One of my favorites. It starts with the incredible aroma, continues with the great mouthfeel and the intense finish of Vanilla, Bourbon and Oak with a touch of Alcohol warmth make this complete. Great brewery that we are lucky to have in Wisconsin.

Originally reviewed: 4/7/11. Big thanks to BeerFMAndy (BA) for this bottle in a trade awhile back. Wanted to age this for awhile, but my impatience got the better of me. Vintage 2010. 12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Pours a very muddy dark brown with a thin tan head on top. Light lace. The nose is full of bourbon, vanilla, oak, and faint chocolate tones on the finish. The mouthfeel is different. It’s thin, and the carbonation spritzes a bit much at times, yet, it still feels somewhat "heavy." I think that’s just the booziness though. The bourbon is still a little hot on this one. Sweet vanilla, wood, cinnamon. There is some creamy milk chocolate on the back end, but I have to wade through the strong bourbon to get to it. I definitely could have sat on this one a bit longer, as I’m sure the bourbon would have faded some allowing this to become more of a balanced stout. But, I’m glad I tried it. A flavorful big stout I wouldn’t mind having again sometime. Thanks again, Andy.

12oz bottle has a big, coffee nose, vanilla, brown sugar, malty, cake icing. Flavor is sweet, malty, vanilla, chocolate, rootbeer, cola. Finish is smooth and sweet. Really nice.

January 2010 vintage into a brandy snifter. Huge thanks to surlytheduff for this killer extra! A - Dark brown body that lets some light through. Light khaki edging. Some lacing and alcohol legs. S - Huge amounts of sweet vanilla and oak. Some roasty malts, milk chocolate and dark fruit. So bourbon heavy, loving this aroma. T - Very sweet but not cloying. Starts off with milk chocolate and leads into strong vanilla notes. Hints of coconut, oak, and roast. Tastes great but isn’t very bold. Its actually pretty tame. Mouth feel is a bit on the light side but still medium bodied and slightly silky. High level of carbonation. O - A delicious beer. It has a fantastic aroma and a great flavor profile, but it comes off a bit tame and subdued. Probably good news for someone who isn’t into a sugary bourbon bomb, however I actually enjoy those.