Bourbon Barrel Barleywine - Central Waters Brewing Company

facundoCNB

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a cloudy orange-brown pour with a hint of carbonation that formed a slight foamy ring around the top of the glass. smells of maple, bourbon, vanilla.. not much of the typical barleywine smell aside from the sugary sweetness of the malt that rises immediately.. for being such a boozy beer, you don't really smell the alcohol. a bitterness up front that is slammed immediately by the sweetness of the bourbon and malt combined.. vanilla, wood, caramel, toffee, grassy hops in the finish. has a bitter aftertaste, which blends in perfectly with the vanilla bourbon flavor.

a full body, low carbonated beer. excellent sipper and great tasting.

i gave a bottle of this to my dad and he said it made him stop liking craft beer. i guess my dad's getting weirder now that he barely drinks anymore (due to heavy doses of heart medication), but he had a point. he was expecting a barleywine mostly, and he barely tasted it. all he got was bourbon, and that's mainly up front in this one, but the malt bill is still there, and let's face it - barleywine is about malt. the thing i don't get is he used to be a big scotch and bourbon drinker when i was a kid.. he just said he was grossed out because there was bourbon mixed in his beer.... but he didn't complain when i gave him my homebrew blackout stout (made with applewood and oak bourbon chips). i guess the moral of the story is, don't drink this if you just got out of the hospital and are expecting a non-bourbon flavored beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 09:42:46 | More by facundoCNB

ncaudle

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

06-19-2013 01:00:02 | More by ncaudle

BeerGut4Life

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -18.6%

06-17-2013 03:12:04 | More by BeerGut4Life

GJ40

North Carolina

4.01/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled from a 12ox bottle. Thanks Surge1311! This is a big, boozy beer. In fact it might be a bourbon with a hit of beer. The aroma is strong bourbon. The flavor follows with a rich malt backbone. This beer is flavorful and intense. I think the bourbon dominates too much but it's a fantastic beer that leaves you with a lot to think about.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 03:39:56 | More by GJ40

JSBILK

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

06-16-2013 00:18:38 | More by JSBILK

bigaltemple

Colorado

4.2/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12oz. 2013 Vintage

Pours a dark amber with ruby highlights at edges. Mild, 1/4", tan head disappears immediately leaving only a thin collar. Some spotty lacing.

No mistaking this has seen a barrel. First impression is all bourbon with heavy vanilla and oak notes. Caramel malts and dark brown sugar start to sneak past. Very light earthy hops bitterness is buried in there as well.

Very boozy. Barrel is quite prominent in each sip. Lots of oak. Some caramel and vanilla sweetness mingle with the alcohol. Very low on bitterness. Drinks like a full bodied brew, but seems just a touch thin to me. Very dry finish. Definite sipper.

Thought it was very good. Wouldn't mind having more to open every few months to note any mellowing/changes.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 03:33:19 | More by bigaltemple

tbeq00

California

5/5  rDev +16.3%

06-13-2013 16:19:01 | More by tbeq00

ComRock12

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

06-13-2013 12:47:54 | More by ComRock12

MarkyMOD

Colorado

4/5  rDev -7%

06-13-2013 01:21:01 | More by MarkyMOD

JoninVT

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

06-11-2013 01:19:49 | More by JoninVT

jarrgal

North Dakota

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

06-10-2013 11:47:16 | More by jarrgal

Curt1

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -7%

06-10-2013 02:10:50 | More by Curt1

vicsju1991

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

06-09-2013 19:16:40 | More by vicsju1991

Phillyz

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

06-09-2013 07:32:52 | More by Phillyz

outoffocus

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

06-08-2013 15:14:21 | More by outoffocus

Mscarpen

Tennessee

5/5  rDev +16.3%

06-08-2013 12:46:10 | More by Mscarpen

zrab11

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

06-07-2013 17:55:48 | More by zrab11

kustard

Illinois

4/5  rDev -7%

06-06-2013 19:51:04 | More by kustard

Matthewpakula

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%

06-06-2013 18:30:09 | More by Matthewpakula

savagepm

Colorado

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%

06-06-2013 01:08:02 | More by savagepm

Rau71

California

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

06-04-2013 15:01:49 | More by Rau71

blkcld

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

06-04-2013 04:39:31 | More by blkcld

DrZeus10

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

06-03-2013 23:12:19 | More by DrZeus10

weonfire

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

2013 Vintage.

A - Amber/Burgundy, finger of cream head- dissaptes quickly into a small ring around rim. small lines of carbonation rising. small amount of light is barely visible at bottom of glass - mostly opaque.

S - Bourbon, vanilla, oak, sweet carmel, aged fruits

T - Sweet bourbon, vanilla, toffee, carmel, oak. finish is a somewhat boozy taste, bitter hop is real low (2/10)

M - excellent carbonation, froth level is very good, high viscosity

O - Very good. Enjoyed very much. Yes, very sweet and a bit boozy at times - but it is 11.5 ABV. flavors are excellent. Bourbon/vanilla/oakiness are very drinkable. nose bursts with awesomeness.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2013 22:38:25 | More by weonfire

smartassboiler

Illinois

4/5  rDev -7%

06-02-2013 18:06:42 | More by smartassboiler