Brewer's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout - Central Waters Brewing Company

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2011 bottle. Thanks Mikesgroove!

Appearance. Pours thick and dark brown with a very thin tan head that rises from the depths and fades almost as quickly as it came.

Smell. Massive amounts of sweet dark chocolate. There's some sweet cramel there and just a little bourbon and wood in behind, but man that chocolate is awesome.

Taste. Sweet dark chocolate, and lots of it (big surprise there), some bourbon and vanilla, and just a bit of espresso and dry wood. Very nice.

Mouthfeel. On the lower side of full bodied, medium-low carbonation. Just a little boozy warmth.

Overall. Bourbon barrel aging gone right! Tons of chocolate doesn't hurt either. Really liked this one. Thanks again Mikesgroove.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 03:36:11 | More by Rutager

bmwats

Louisiana

3.7/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle, into a mini-snifter.

A: Dark brown, slight head. No real lacing.

S: Roasted espresso, whiskey, licorice, and raisin.

T: Licorice and molasses.

M: Peaty, with a high alcohol profile.

D: Sip and enjoy.

Atmosphere is pretty solid. Dark appearance, no real head or lacing, however. Nose is coffee with a bittersweet licorice. Overall, this is a good quaff.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 06:17:32 | More by bmwats

qthompso

Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 2011 12oz bottle poured jet black into a tulip. I'm trying to find some brown along the edges but this thing is DARK. A finger of big bubbled mocha colored head hangs around for a while.

Smells of deep, dark chocolate, coffee, and bourbon. I pick up a bit of vanilla but the smell that lingers more than anything is definitely the bourbon.

This one drinks pretty hot. I get chocolate, vanilla and some faint cherry notes but the bourbon hasn't mellowed out as much as I would've expected over the course of the last year. I'd rate this beer a bit higher but it seems pretty thin for an imperial stout. I would've expected more roasted barley in the taste.

A medium bodied imperial stout. Nice carbonation and a strong bourbon finish.

A good BA stout for those that like bourbon with your beer. If you're looking for a textbook big, roasty stout, you're not going to get it with this one. Either way, pretty tasty.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 01:35:53 | More by qthompso

FosterJM

California

4.05/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

1607th Review on BA
Bottle to Central Waters Snifter
12oz

2011 Vintage
Thanks to ErikKoppin for this one

App- Out of the bottle it pours like a wood stain as you watch it fall into the glass. In the glass its a deep brown as the beer settles and melds together again. The density was quite nice with some lighter edges but a nice depth in the glass. A nice 1" head that was a bit tan in color was there and the left. It was a small bit of cling but not much.

Smell- The prickly booze from the bourbon is the 1st notes that I got. It turned into a bit of a dark chocolate and semi-malty beer as it warmed more from cellar. It was a bit one dimentional as some of the other CW beers but nice aromatics and a bit larger than the 9.5% would elude too.

Taste- I liked it, but felt it needed to be a bit smoother. It had a great profile with some malty dark chocolate and then the booze kicked in and gave the subtle notes to balance out the base stout. The char was there with a bit of the wood with a nice vanilla and sweetness.

Mouth- The body on this one was a bit grainy and prickly but the carbonation level and the residual vanilla and other flavors made me like this a lot. Kept wanting to savor it and not finish. Wish I had another bottle.

Drink- Its a good beer. A lot going on with the treatment. Not as lush as others in the category but for a 12oz. Hit the spot for stout day.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 16:41:47 | More by FosterJM

cvm4

Mississippi

3.88/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

2011 bottle...

A - Doesn't pour like a thick stout, somewhat thin it seems with a light brown head that fades quickly. Body color is deep brown.

S - Sweet vanilla and bourbon. Not a lot else going on that I can tell, and I'm okay with that.

T - The taste follows the nose. Bourbon through and through. Undertones of dark chocolate and a smattering of roasted malts. Not sweet at all, which is nice, and there is a slight tinge of alcohol burn.

M - Somewhat thinner than I'd care for. It's not cloying but also doesn't coat the palette with a thicker beer. This also lends way to the beer just being a smooth sipper.

O - It's a fine treat! Everything is spot on for an above average bourbon barrel stout. The only let down is the body/mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 15:34:26 | More by cvm4

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 Vintage received as an extra in a trade. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Pours a nice deep dark brown almost black hue with a half finger mocha head that faded rather quickly to leave a thin halo and light clouding. Very light lacing.

S - Not a whole lot of chocolate and roast malts. Its overpowered by the pleasant vanilla-y bourbon with that coconut like aroma that comes from a good barrel age.

T - The chocolate is there along with roasted malts, light and subtle. The bourbon (which itself is mellow) is the true star here. Nice and sweet with good vanilla and oak barrel notes. Quite nice and super smooth/balanced.

M - Mouthfeel is very, very good for a stout of this ABV and with aging. Smooth and creamy but with just a splash of sharp carbonation. The bourbon is very mellow, not harsh at all. It walks the line between a sipper and something one could enjoy large amounts of.

O - Overall this was an enjoyable brew from Central Waters. Everything melds nicely together with no one flavour or characteristic jumping to the forefront. Have a few more bottles of this vintage to cellar.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 02:21:30 | More by rudzud

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.1/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a deep black with a razor thin, tan, foamy head that casually blankets the liquid's surface throughout drinking. The tight bubbles leave elegant lacing down the inside of my glass and there is no observable sediment. The nose hits you hard with intense notes of boozy bourbon, coconut, vanilla, and milk chocolate sweetness. The taste is grainy, sweet, and boozy with a lingering bourbon caramel. Its body is a rich and sweet airing on the side of heavy medium, but lacks the smoothness that would take this beer to the next level. The alcohol is relatively well hidden within the beer's intense sweetness, but manages to cut through after each sip. Overall, this was a great extra and an exceptional bourbon stout, but there are better options available.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 19:59:04 | More by ThePorterSorter

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a snifter

A near ink black body with a dark mocha colored cap. The cap rose about one finger before falling to a thin layer of bubbles. Some stray lace here and there.

The aroma is lively and well-rounded with notes of bourbon, caramel, vanilla, oak, molasses, roast, dark chocolate, and coffee grounds.

Some initial sweetness (vanilla, chocolate, molasses) is swept away pretty quickly by the bold flavors of dark roast, bourbon, coffee, and oak. The finish is slightly boozy with a lingering roast bitterness.

A medium body; smooth with higher carbonation than anticipated. A touch of ethanol heat in the finish.

This is a tasty little number, but the mouthfeel is a real downer. A fuller body with low carbonation would do wonders.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 20:45:48 | More by ColForbinBC

dtmets84

New York

3.9/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 sans vintage

Poured into a tulip.

Appearance- reddish brown with a 1/2 cm head that
disappates

Smells of bourbon with toffee/coffee

Taste matches the nose with lots of bourbon burn especially on the finish

Mouthfeel- a little on the thin side

overall-decent would probably cellar another to see how it develops over time

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 05:04:54 | More by dtmets84

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle, huge thanks to Vega416 for including this as an extra. Poured into Founders snifter. 2011 vintage, bottled in December (about 7-8 months ago). Tasted this a little bit after BA Blackout.

A- Pours a very dark brown pretty much opaque. Pretty much no head, just a flat glossy dark brown pretty much black head. Some light small carbonation bubbles rising along the sides, pretty much no lacing.

S- Bourbon, vanilla from the oak, slightly roasty, some dark fruits in the background.

T- Bourbon, vanilla from the oak, light dark fruits (plums, cherries, etc.) in the background, some very light roastiness. Very well balanced, nice use of barrel aging to bring out unique stout flavors.

M- Medium bodied, not much carbonation- as expected for a BA stout, easily drinkable, a little bit of heat.

O- This was a very good BA stout that had a complexity of unique tastes that balanced very well together and was pretty easy to drink. There was a decent amount of bourbon presence, but not as much as in the BA Blackout stout. I thought this was very similar to the BA Blackout stout. The appearance wasn't as nice, but the bourbon presence was a little bit toned down which made the beer a little bit easier to drink, both mouthfeels were very similar- the Central Waters was a little bit less carbonated. Overall I'd recommend trying the Central Waters BB Stout if you are into BB beers, worth seeking out to try however I'm not sure if I'd drink this all the time.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 00:29:17 | More by jaasen64

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 "vintage"

Black in color with brownie brown coloring on top. I can't see the bubbling IN the beer, but I see a tiny bubble or two break the surface in my snifter. Not much in the way of head or foam though.

Chocolate, oak, brown sugar, and roasty coffee and dark bread crust. With a little hint of alcohol. Smells like a great night cap. But overall it is a bit subdued.

Flavor has brown sugar, milk chocolate, creamy coffee, vanilla, and roasted malt. This is roasty, warm, a little syrupy on the palate. A good sipper with complexity and depth. Will recommend and buy again!

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 03:05:12 | More by scruffwhor

doucmehu

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this multiple times in the past few years. Reviewing a 2010 vintage, cellared properly since purchase. Poured slightly chilled, warmed to room temp as I drank.

A: Deep, dark, murky waters and a respectable, albeit fleeting soda-pop head. Lacing is prominent. Weird ass floaties appear near the end.

S: Vanilla, oak, brown sugar, bourbon. Nothing is overpowering, but overall quite pleasant.

T: Vanilla is the dominant flavor on this one, fading into some bourbon, baker's chocolate, oak. There is a hint of the dark fruit esters and molasses normally present in the style, but it is hiding out. This is most certainly has an edge to it.

M: Prickly carbonation for a big bodied stout, average weight but lacking some of the oily stickiness I like in an Imperial Stout. Alcohol is fading nicely on the vintage, but still a very present factor. Maybe a bit too thin.

O: I like this beer. So many BA stouts, so little time. This is certainly a solid offering overall, but when you consider the price and excellent 12oz form factor, it's a home run in my book. On the "value" scale, I would give it a solid 8.5-9.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 03:51:51 | More by doucmehu

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.93/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle poured into a Kate the Great snifter. Bottled December 2010.

Appearance - Pours a dark brown body with a nice head that just fits in the glass. Settles slowly. Not as black as I'd like a stout to be.

Smell - Bourbon and lots of oak. Vanilla comes through with the chocolate from the stout. Tons of vanilla, really. Not the best barreling and not a ton of the stout comes through.

Taste - Bourbon and oodles of vanilla again. Oaky immediately with a more-than-healthy bitterness. The bitterness combines with some astringency from the oak to cover up a lot of the creaminess I was hoping to get. Chocolate, sure, but it's all blending with this harshness that's really holding this back.

Mouthfeel - Thin and astringent. Well carbonated. Maybe too much. I'm looking for something creamier and chewier to back up the barrel, but the stout isn't holding up well enough.

Overall - Bourbon is still delicious, even if the stout doesn't seem to be able to take it. I imagine this base stout would be rather mediocre and the bourbon is making it taste better than it really is.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 03:24:13 | More by Alieniloquium

jokemon

Illinois

4.98/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I feel bad writing such a simple review but there is not much else to say but "this is a very good beer and you should try it.

Had it on tap at the Malt House in Madison, WI.

Dark as night, and taste like bourbon milk chocolate with a bit of coffee.

Serving type: on-tap

07-06-2012 00:48:21 | More by jokemon

jmarsh123

Indiana

3.88/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours black with some patchy tan head leaving good cling along the side.

Some chocolate a little roasted malt and a touch of sweet bourbon. Alcohol is subtle.

Lots of chocolate up front. Semi-sweet chocolate fading into a little bit of smoke. A kiss of bourbon, but it's very subtle. I'm not sure I'd be able to pick it out if I didn't know it was there.

The mouthfeel brings the beer down a bit. Good upfront flavors, but instead of finishing with a viscous boozy finish, it falls flat and finishes very thin. Carbonation levels are the on the medium to high side for the style.

Really enjoy the flavors of this one although I wish the bourbon were just a touch more present. The mouthfeel, however, leaves a lot to be desired and drops the overall to just good instead of very good.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 19:27:02 | More by jmarsh123

barnzy78

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle, bottled Dec 2011, poured into a snifter, pours deep brown/near black with a very thin tan head, quick dissipation, minimal lacing. Aromas are sweet, roasty, chocolatey, bourbon, and booze. Tastes are harsh bourbon up-front, hot booze, coffee, chocolate, vanilla, oak. As the ale warms, the flavors meld a bit better and the bourbon isn't as harsh. Mouth-feel is medium bodied - I was hoping for fuller - finishes boozy. Overall, pretty good here, but probably wouldn't seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 04:12:07 | More by barnzy78

Jfriz25

Wisconsin

4.43/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage

Appearance- dark brown with some reddish tones. A couple cm of head that disappears to almost nothing.

Smell- the first smell was a blast of whiskey but there are also strong chocolate notes as well. Smells awesome.

Taste- a lot of bourbon, some chocolate and maybe a little coffee. Seems like a different taste shines through with every sip which is nice. Slightly boozy finish. If I could I'd give it a 4.8.

Mouthfeel- a little on the thin side but still manages to be creamy.

Overall- I picked up a 4 pack to throw a couple in the cellar but I might drink them all and go pick up another while they're still in stock!

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 23:01:47 | More by Jfriz25

sukwonee

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

A: another ugly looking beer from CW. Dark reddish brown, not completely opaque, but not transparent either. Almost no head. Not much lacing.

S: Bourbon, coffee, chocolate, vanilla, brown sugar, roasted malt, excellent smell!

T: Tastes great. Oak, vanilla, bourbon, coffee, chocolate, brown sugar, molasses, and some hop bitterness in the finish. Gets a 5 from me.

M: Similar to BBBW, this stout also is too thin and flat.

O: I don't like how this beer feels in my mouth, but it smells and tastes great. It has much less booziness compared to the BBBW. Great brew!

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 02:30:53 | More by sukwonee

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.15/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2011 Vintage Received in trade from JoeyBeerBelly, thanks for the opportunity!
Pours a solid black color without much of a head, just spotty bubbles. This smells great! Subtle vanilla and oak barrel notes meld nicely with a lightly roasted caramel and chocolate base. It shouldn't be there, but I swear I'm getting peanut butter on the nose. Bits of bourbon round it all out quite nicely. Taste is roasty and chocolate up front that slowly fades to vanilla and oak. Mild bourbon comes in and lingers with some caramel and chocolate long after each sip. Medium to thick body with a light level of carbonation and a slick sweet mouthfeel. Great Stout, and it smells wonderful. Could use a bit more roast and a few more bubbles, but I don't mind it a bit as is.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 00:50:16 | More by johnnnniee

312HopBomb

Illinois

4.95/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2011 batch in a 12 oz brown bottle. Served in a Goose Island Belgian Tulip (silver goose).

Dark brown with garnet highlights. Not much head, it falls to a ring.

OMG the smell is the best I have ever experienced. It is the most intense, complex blend ever. I am struggling to wrap my brain around all the aromas mixed together. First, the blast of bourbon then vanilla and toffee, molasses, caramel and brown sugar. Booze with dark fruits and some oak. Fig, date, and plum. I can't believe how great this smells.

Each sip is a pool of concentrated flavor swirling around my tongue. This is almost better than the smell if that is even possible. The bourbon, vanilla, caramel, toffee, molasses, dark fruits and booze continue on and on leading one to take the sips in increasingly rapid bursts. This is not the way to sample an imperial stout but oh well.

The mouthfeel is like velvet. Fine carbonation that lasts to the final sip.

Overall: At this price point this is the best value on the planet. I am kicking myself for not buying all I could get my hands on because it's gone now. I only got two or three four packs. I can't wait until next year's release. Central Waters knocked this style out of the park.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 05:59:32 | More by 312HopBomb

CuriousMonk

Virginia

3.18/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from 12oz bottle (2012 vintage) into tulip glass. Pours a bright amber color with a small white head that dissispated righ before you could say awww! Aromas are of ripe figs, sugars, cereal grains, and booze. Flavor was quite disappointing for me (which led me to think it might have been infected) - almost could detect some sweet cereal grains, bourbon yet a little "watered down". Grainy with almost a rye bread like flavor as well as some dark fruit flavors. The backfinish was warm and boozy. Mouthfeel is decent throughout. Overall, a disappointing beer despite its high ratings IMO.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 19:18:09 | More by CuriousMonk

Enish266

California

3.48/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into a snifter. 2011 vintage. Thanks pantanap.

A - pretty standard deep black with light brown head

S - bourbon is dominant with some roast backing it up

T - like the nose, bourbon is the highlight which I want in beers of this style. Drinkable for the abv with a intermingling of roast and chocolate.

M - thin for a -bal stout. Perhaps a touch more carbonation than I would like.

O - as far as barrel aged stouts go I'd have to put this smack dab in the middle. Being thin and having a boozy character the main detriments.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 08:00:21 | More by Enish266

Duffman929

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle from '11

A: Dark black color that left a nice lingering brown head. Looked fairly heavy and left a nice lace around the glass.

S: Bourbon smell was quite noticed. Smelled of oak, chocolate. It was devine!

T: Bottle was still on the hot side, which was disappointing, but the flavor of the bourbon was quality. For sure, a redeeming factor.

M: I expected some alcohol flavor, but this wasn't as mellowed out as I was hoping. I'm thinking it would have been better after the cellar for a few more months.

O: I liked this much more than Peruvian Morning and it probably would have been rated higher if aged a bit more in the feel/taste areas. Smelled great though. I'd like to try it again after some integration.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 04:21:11 | More by Duffman929

ChimRichels

Wisconsin

4.23/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pitch black, zero light gets through. Cream colored head quickly dissipates to a thin film

S - Smells very inviting, a combination of sweet bourbon, vanilla, chocolate and fresh roasted coffee beans.

T - Very dry and roasted coffee flavors. Bourbon is not as prevalent as it was in the aroma, but the sweetness is still there.

M - Surprisingly thin. Definitely not as thick as I was expecting.

O - Not the behemoth I thought I was getting myself into, but still a tasty stout.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 03:02:59 | More by ChimRichels

eclipse54

Idaho

3.83/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A 12 ounce bottle from fvernon; December 2011 vintage. Thanks man! Poured into a tulip glass.

Pours a dark brown color that appears black in the glass. A thin veil of bubbly, almost soapy beige head forms, dissipating quickly to a ring and scattered patches of bubbles. Scattered patches of bubbles cling to the glass as lacing.

Upon opening the bottle, the aroma of ethanol is immediately noted. Once in the glass, a bouquet of vanilla, bourbon, oak, and toffee open up. Some cane sugar, caramel, and faint molasses are notable as well.

Flavors of vanilla, oak, hazelnut, and whiskey lead, with toffee, caramel, and sugar following suit. Some roasted grains and dark fruits pull through towards the rear, and ethanol appears at the finish.

Mouthfeel is thick, coating the palate and offering several lingering flavors. A syrupy texture lingers, and a dry finish is accentuated by a slight ethanol burn. Ample carbonation helps cut through the viscocity.

Overall, this is another solid offering from Central Waters' barrel program, but I think some more time in the bottle would have helped it improve further.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 02:12:06 | More by eclipse54