Brewer's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout
Central Waters Brewing Co.

Brewer's Reserve Bourbon Barrel StoutBrewer's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout
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From:
Central Waters Brewing Co.
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
Ranked #778
ABV:
10.8%
Score:
95
Ranked #1,768
Avg:
4.26 | pDev: 8.45%
Reviews:
795
Ratings:
2,816
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 11, 2024
Added:
May 29, 2004
Wants:
  442
Gots:
  877
American-style stout aged for 1 year in used 12 year bourbon barrels.

The brewery's most highly sought after beer, this imperial stout is aged to perfection in oak bourbon barrels. Look for this tasty teat to contain hints of bourbon and vanilla with roasted overtones that is [sic] sure to please any connoisseur's palate. Serve at cellar temperature from a snifter glass and enjoy this expression of out passion for brewing.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by CHickman:
Photo of CHickman
Reviewed by CHickman from New York

4.75/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Vintage 2014: Pours pitch black opaque color with a thick foamy 2-3 finger dark tan head that faded slowly, had a ton of bubbles in it and left great spider web foamy lacing coating the sides.

Smells of bourbon up front, with deep woody oak notes, cocoa powder, burnt malt, charred wood, dark chocolate, roasted grains, molasses, some light vanilla and a boozy sweetness. The wood and barrel accents are very influential and earthy and mix well with the chocolate and booze sweetness. This is very complex but minimal in that the main characteristics are the entire aroma with variations of the nose slightly changing with each whiff.

Taste is delicious, with a lovely combo much like the nose with dark chocolate, roasted grains, molasses, deep woody oak notes, bourbon, cocoa powder, toffee, burnt malt, charred wood, vanilla, a boozy sweetness and chocolate milk or chocolate syrup which makes it smooth like a milk stout and not an imperial bourbon barrel aged bad boy. Super smooth and very similar to Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout in many ways, but not as strong with less heat and more oaky notes. The wood almost tastes like cedar chips, and the booze is evident but not hot or abrasive – damn good stuff.

Mouthfeel is very smooth, creamy or velvety depending on the sip, with a medium to heavy chewy viscous body and feel that leads to a sweet bourbon infused aftertaste that has a slight bitterness and traces of coffee grinds. As stated above it’s very similar to Goose Island BCBS, but like it’s younger brother that may not have the bad ass reputation but is better looking; this brew is not as strong as BCBS and has more oaky and earthy/peat moss notes, but it’s an outstanding imperial stout in its own right and one I will seek out as well as highly recommend.

11/9/2016-Cracked open a 2015 bottle and it looked just as good with a nice thick tan head that lasted a long time and dissipated very slowly, leaving very good spotty lacing. Nose is oaky with strong bourbon, vanilla, toffee, dark chocolate, roasted grains, molasses, and then some earthy and fruity notes. Nice blend of barrel and malt, with char and bourbon leading to a fine barrel aged stout finish.

Taste is more woody and earthy than I recall with a combo of charred wood, dark chocolate, bourbon, roasted grains, molasses, smoky oak notes, cocoa powder, burnt malt, vanilla, a boozy sweetness and burnt coffee grinds. It's very smooth and again on the thin side like a milk stout but with more oak present, charred wood, faint piney notes and mild booze. Roasty and more influenced by the bourbon and vanilla, this aged 2015 was very enjoyable.
Feb 21, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.4 by dkbrew85 from Illinois

Mar 11, 2024
 
Rated: 4.41 by Oktoberfest from Ohio

Dec 02, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by Nyoder

Nov 26, 2023
Photo of The_Kriek_Freak
Reviewed by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

4.56/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
This beer pours black but with a definite brown hue about it. The aroma is very pleasant with hints of bourbon, wood, and the unmistakable sweetness of an imperial stout. The flavor is not overpowering and it is extremely balanced between a mellow sweetness and a lingering but subtle bitterness. The mouthfeel is smooth, but more carbonated than I was expecting. This is a great barrel aged imperial stout and I would definitely seek it again.
Nov 19, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by Justinbshelton from Alabama

Nov 12, 2023
 
Rated: 4.34 by petrusek23 from Ohio

Oct 12, 2023
 
Rated: 4.19 by hopley from Massachusetts

Jul 02, 2023
Photo of Braunmeister_1943
Reviewed by Braunmeister_1943 from Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Purchased as part of a 4 pack from Goshen Beverage in West Chester, PA on 6/29/23.

L- Pitch black with a very delicate head.

S- BBA notes very forward: vanilla,
caramel.

T- Beautiful bourbon but not over-
powering. Some “boozy “ heat
very delicate stout flavors on
the back end.

F- Rather light mouthfeel. Very delicate
carbonation.

O- A great BA imperial stout!
Jun 30, 2023
Photo of Brenden
Reviewed by Brenden from Ohio

4.26/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
L: Dark brown with some light sneaking through the edges, very thick; slight tan head with some lacing
S: Barrel, including some oak, caramel, and vanilla notes, with a touch of barley, chocolate, and vague dark berry
T: Fudgy up front, not just chocolate but thick fudge, with nice drying from woody notes and no letup from some sweet vanilla, toffee, and caramel notes all the way through; a bit of those dark fruits linger throughout
F: Not as thick as it looks, more of a medium body; it would be better if it didn't thin out a touch as it went, but pretty good from front to back
Jun 26, 2023
Photo of tradershmulie
Reviewed by tradershmulie from Connecticut

4.32/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nice deep color, but not pitch black. Head dissipated quickly. Noticeable carbonation.

Good smell. A bit sweet. Very pleasant.

Very tasty. Smooth, a bit of sweetness, but not too much. I like the carbonation.

Overall a very good stout.
Mar 14, 2023
Photo of defunksta
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin

3.77/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours a completely dark black color with a strong dark tan head. SRM of 23-24. (4.00)

Aroma: Strong aromas of bourbon with hints of coffee upfront. This mixes into a chocolate, sweet caramel, and bread pudding aromas. Aromas are rich and sweet. (3.75)

Flavor: Strong flavors of bourbon again upfront. There's a strong bourbon and boozy bite in the middle before it melds into a warm caramel, maple syrup, and bread pudding flavors that lingers at the end. Sweet. (3.75)

Feel: Heavier bodied, mild carbonation. Strong and sweet with a booze and bourbon bite. (3.75)

Overall: Heavy on the bourbon here and I'm sure a great Stout. A little too much bourbon and booze flavor for my taste, but still has some nice warm and rich flavors off the end. Caramel, maple syrup, bread pudding. Sort of reminds me of an imperial Backwoods Bastard. The heavy bourbon isn't my forte, but okay. (Rating: 3.77)
Mar 05, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by bruindre from Massachusetts

Feb 09, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by Shenk87 from Pennsylvania

Jan 14, 2023
Photo of Blogjackets
Reviewed by Blogjackets from Ohio

4.31/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a twelve ounce bottle, the body is a deep brown or black. One finger of a light tan head and good lacing.

Aroma is the barrel, vanilla, chocolate and dark fruit (a bit of cherries).

Taste follows nose with an assertive bourbon flavor and some oak, chocolate, dark fruit, and malty char. At the end of swallow, a light bitterness appears. As the stout warms, everything softens. Wonderful.

Creamy mouthfeel with good carbonation. Not the thickest stout feel, but flavor more than makes up for it.

A top notch barrel aged stout.
Jan 02, 2023
 
Rated: 4.16 by not2quick from Missouri

Nov 23, 2022
Photo of Viaduck
Reviewed by Viaduck from California

4.14/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A nice tan head sits atop a dark body. Very pleasant aroma: bourbon, the sweet scent of fermented malt, vanilla, brown sugar & implied happiness. Only the slightest bit sweet with a touch of saltiness. Flavor is everything promised by the aroma with some complex barrel flavors. As thick as expected but a bit thin on carbonation. An excellent stout.
Nov 05, 2022
 
Rated: 4.29 by jakecattleco from California

Nov 03, 2022
 
Rated: 4.5 by DBosco from Massachusetts

Aug 31, 2022
 
Rated: 3.96 by beefbucket from Missouri

Jul 14, 2022
Brewer's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout from Central Waters Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 2816 ratings