Central Waters Brewers Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout

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

Well, overall I did enjoy the beer. Since I recently had Peruvian Morning to compare it too, I would say PM won hands down as a better beer but this was still very nice. Dark chocolate exploded off the nose on this one, along with some nice oak, bourbon and vanilla. The body seemed light for an impy stout and I could actually see thru a portion of the body. Dark brown with a light brown cap. Flavor was dominated by the bourbon, dark chocolate, light vanilla, medium sweetness with a black walnut like bitter finish. 12oz was just the right amount for me.

Thanks bvc! Dark quiet brown, gritty dark chocolate and rich brownie batter nose. Wet and light bodied, strong wood, quite the contrast.

Thanks to my man Erocks for this one. ’08 bottle. Very dark brown pour with a tan ring around the glass. Aroma of bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, some coffee. Flavor is vanilla, bourbon, and coffee grounds. The aromas seem to meld together well in balance. Pretty nice mouthfeel.

RBSG 07. Darkest brown, small off white head. Roasty malt, butterscotch, vanilla, bourbon. Medium body is a bit too thin, but pleasant with softly balanced carbonation. From notes.

GABF 2009. Darkest brown in color with a small but lasting beige head. Aroma is bourbon, roast, vanilla, and oak. Flavor is bourbony - but not too much - with roasted malt, caramel, chocolate, and vanilla. Some barrel notes also present. Not too boozy, which some bourbon stouts can be. Palate is smooth and fairly full with soft carbonation. A very good bourbon stout, but come on, everyone’s doing a beer of this style nowadays.

12oz from my summer Secret Santa - thanks!!! Murky brown pour rather than the oily black one would expect from the style. Dry nutty notes in the nose alongside understated barrel sweetness and stoutliness. The body is a bit thin, but there’s some life to it. Taste is a bit odd, I’m afraid: while there are trace elements of vanilla and chocolate malts, balanced ever so slightly by some roasted and woody flavors, there’s a weirdly brackish finish, which could charitably called vinous but could uncharitably be called slightly infected. Either way, not the greatest example of the style.

On tap at Quivey’s Grove Beer Fest. Pours out a deep brown with a small lacing head. Wonderful aroma of vanilla, oak and bourbon. Flavor is complex with roasted malt, burnt fruit, oak and a bourbon. Nice coffee and chocolate aftertaste to go with the vanilla. This was far and away the best beer of the day!

The pour reveals a deep black color with a thin beige head. Very appealing aroma of wood barrel, chocolate and roasted malt. Very good flavor of roasted malt, chocolate, wood barrel and vanilla. The body is light to medium with a creamy texture and moderate carbonation. This is solid stuff.