Bourbon Barrel Barleywine - Central Waters Brewing Company

Bourbon Barrel BarleywineBourbon Barrel Barleywine

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BA SCORE
95
world-class
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1,028 Ratings
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rAvg: 4.3
pDev: 10%
Reviews: 476
Hads: 552

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Brewed by:
Central Waters Brewing Company visit their website
Wisconsin, United States

Style | ABV
American Barleywine |  11.50% ABV

Availability: Rotating. bottle (472), on-tap (4)

Notes:
Aged for 1 year in used bourbon barrels.
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Reviews

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Photo of MCain04
MCain04

Illinois

4.49/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into a Half Acre 12 oz snifter. $15/4pack.

A: Dark dark ruby body with a light tan head of less than a finger with quick dissipation leaving a rim of foam and a small amount of lacing.

S: Bourbon-forward with sweet malty notes, vanilla, and some hops on the nose that complement well.

T: Sweet malts are the first on the palate, vanilla and oaky notes, and the barrel characters blend nicely into a bourbon finish. Lots of heat on the back end of this. A little bitter and dry on the finish, representing some of the hops of the brew.

M: Very smooth, medium carbonation, sticky and dry finish. Very nice and drinkable.

O: A fantastic barleywine that is complemented very nicely by bourbon barrel aging. Best bourbon barrel aged barleywine I've tried to date, although I do have Sucaba and barrel-aged Bigfoot waiting in my cellar. I inherently hate Central Waters for their terrible customer service, but they make a damn good BBBW

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 01:23:18 | More by MCain04
Photo of Jimmys
Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.11/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into tulip. 2013 vintage.

A: dark orange/ terra cotta hued body. slightly hazed. head pours a bit underwhelming with a light brown/orange/white hue. retention is limited, but present. spots of lacing left behind.

S: dark fruit. plums. a lot of bourbon oak. a LOT of oak. but good, the wood is welcomed and works great with all this sweetness. no hop aroma at all, not that I mind one bit, this thing is all about big beer and bourbon.

T: holy hell, the first sip is fucking rocket fuel. straight ethanol. hope a few more sips will get me better acquainted. ahh, that's a little better. bourbon warmth/flavor for sure. similar to the nose, lots of bourbon-y oak flavor. a little bit of caramel sneaks out when it can. lingering brown sugar and alcohol heat.

M: carb is mellow and works well with this big guy. full bodied to the gills.

D: this would definitely be a prime candidate for cellaring. as soon as I took my first sip I thought maybe I opened this too soon. oh well, live and learn. regardless, there are some really good aromas/flavors going on here that im sure would develop some nice complexities over time. grab a few if you can.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 14:14:44 | More by Jimmys
Photo of nicnut45
nicnut45

Illinois

3.79/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into arrogant bastard snifter. 2013 vintage

A- A muddy red pond water appearance. Almost no head on an average pour. A slight tan head bubbles to the surface.

S-Upon warming, she really starts to come to life. Carmel, bourbon, peppercorn, floods the nostrils. Digging a little deeper, I catch a whiff of scotch tape. Weird I know, but I smell it none the less.

T-This is way too bitter and harsh if your just pulling it out of the fridge. Needs to warm up a bit. Upon warming shes a bit alcoholic, and bitter as wormwood. Hot and spicey down the gullet with a soothing burn. The hot alcohol covers up the subtle flavors that will reveal itself with time. Flan, caramel, and alcoholic sweetness are major flavors now but give it 3-4 years and I think she will really shine.

O- Lay her down and I think this will be great in a few years. She is surely hot to say the least and strongly bittered to boot.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 02:31:31 | More by nicnut45
Photo of AJacob81
AJacob81

Illinois

4.29/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

2013 vintage served in a snifter. This amber-ruby beauty pours w a half-finger of khaki head that recedes quickly and is retained w decent legs and spotty lacing. The aroma is of burnt brown sugar, figs, and rum-soaked raisins w a hint of vanilla. The flavor is caramel, smoky bourbon, and a lot more hops than other reviews would have led me to believe. I'm sure this ages well, but this is pretty hot fresh. Still very very good, and worth the acclaim.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 02:01:08 | More by AJacob81
Photo of OneBeertoRTA
OneBeertoRTA

California

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Big thanks to Zander for a few bottles of 2013 and 2012.

Pours about 3 fingers of head. Dark Maroonish brown

Smell- Bourbon, fig, booze

Taste- Plenty of carbonation, medium heat. The sweetness of the bourbon really adds to the traditional ABW flavor. Incredibly drinkable for 11.5% and a powerful beer. Compared to BA Numbskull this just has that donkey kick oomph in it. This is a big beer, just my liking.

Mouthfeel- high carbonation, medium build, flavor attack

Overall- Amazing beer and a perma-want

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 03:46:47 | More by OneBeertoRTA
Photo of Seanniek91
Seanniek91

New Hampshire

4.54/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served from a 12oz bottle into a snifter.

Appearance- Cloudy Amber/brown with little to no head. Good lacing.

Smell- Caramel and vanilla (bourbon), some mild chocolate, light booze, no hops, and light maltiness.

Taste- Ohh very smooth vanilla bourbon notes. Lots of caramel and malts. No real hop presence here. Can't taste the booze, but can feel it go down.

Mouthfeel- Full body and smooth with mild heat at the back of the throat.

Overall- This is great, very smooth and flavorful. Nice extra from a recent trade!

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 17:20:46 | More by Seanniek91
Photo of kodt
kodt

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2013 12oz bottle poured into New Belgium Snifter

A - pours a deep amber, thin tan head.

S - bourbon is prominent, sweetness of caramel and fruit.

T - Lots of flavor, sweetness, malty, and a good amount of bourbon heat coming through.

M - Enough flavor to compliment the alcohol. Medium carbonation.

O - Great barleywine, perfect for sipping. A bit boozy, but I like that.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 21:14:05 | More by kodt
Photo of Jparker37
Jparker37

Wisconsin

3.98/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a snifter glass. Bottled in 2013 is all that is described. Excited to judge this versus the y2k barleywine.

A - Hazy brown in color with some amber highlights. Smaller vanilla colored head from a gentle pour. Left some bits of lacing.

S - That barrel smell is beautiful. Toasty malt holds up well to those smells though. I get some cigar tobacco mellow tones.

T - Has a short bit of caramel and toasty malts early on but the barrel flavors begin to take over. Midway through some hops try to peek in but are overwhelmed by the huge whiskey barrel flavors. A lot of the toasty oak and spicy booze warmth last well into the aftertaste.

M - Full bodied, medium carbonation, a touch of sweetness early that dried up at the finish.

O - This beer seems a little young and could use a bit of time to really tame down and let some maltiness come through better. The booziness is getting a little too much for me. All in all, the beer has complexity and I would love to age one of these bottles to see what it can morph into.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 02:16:06 | More by Jparker37
Photo of wyatt13
wyatt13

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

2013 vintage. Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into my Half Acre snifter.

A - pours a dark toffee or burnt caramel with a half finger off-white head that dissipates quickly.

S - bourbon and oak are most noticeable, with a nice sweetness of caramel & dark fruits.

T - wow, great barrel character here. Nicely balanced with the base beer without being overpowering. Also manages to rein in the sweetness. A bit of heat on the aftertaste, but it doesn't detract too much.

M - sticky, but not too thick. Lots of carbonation here for a barrel-aged beer.

O - really liked this one. Nicely warming without impeding the drinkability. Great for a snowy winter day.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 02:36:39 | More by wyatt13
Photo of CaptCleveland
CaptCleveland

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle from a couple of awesome MN BA traders!

Ruby red elixir poured into Hoppin' Frog snifter. Clear liquid, minimal lacing, thin, white rim hugs the edge.

Wonderful complex aromas: oak, vanilla, dried fruit, bourbon, caramel. Could sniff this all night.

The caramel and vanilla are right up front, then comes a nice bourbon bitterness that really balances the brew. The bourbon pleasantly lingers.

Medium body, smooth, sticky, like toffee.

This really hits the spot. Complex melding of flavors. Was thinking of sitting on a couple, but really drinking well right now.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 21:42:21 | More by CaptCleveland
Photo of FreshHawk
FreshHawk

Illinois

4.34/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A - Nice tawny ruby color. Small to medium sized, tight, creamy, smooth, off-white head. Average retention leaving a very nice layer of lace.

S - Strong toffee/caramel backbone. Interplay between vanilla and dried cherries and dates. Aroma is very fruity with touches of alcohol and bourbon. Slightly sweet with just that subtle hint of booze in the back.

T - Oaky flavors off the bat, with subtle notes of vanilla in the back. Gives way to a nice dried fruit flavor. Cherries, dates, raisins providing a definite sweetness. Strong toffee and butterscotch malt throughout. Finishes on a slightly tart and boozy note with bourbon and caramel flavors sticking on the tongue.

M - Medium body. Average carbonation. Slightly wet and slick feel.

D - Pretty drinkable, although it is more of a sipping beer. Flavors meld nicely. Bourbon is definitely present but it doesn't overpower or have too harsh of a burn. Strong malt backbone and fairly sweet but nowhere near cloying.

Notes: Much more of an English BA barleywine in my view. Nice for a sweet sipping beer that definitely presents bourbon flavors but isn't too harsh. Nor does it necessarily rely on the bourbon (although I'm not sure if it'd be anything special as a regular barleywine). It's a nice treat, but it isn't anything earth-shattering for the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 02:54:42 | More by FreshHawk
Photo of King_KongDCO93
King_KongDCO93

Minnesota

4.66/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: small carbonation, reddish/brown color. Dark enough that you can't see through the glass. Has almost no head.

S: caramel and vanilla aroma are opulent, mixed in with some cherries and toffee

T: Notes of caramel and vanilla just like the smell. some notes of butterscotch and sweet fruits. Really not noticing too much of the oak barrels its very light but you do taste it more as you drink.

M: palate feels balanced, has a large body but really creamy and has some tangginess

O: slightly boozy for 11.2% abv very very nice. the caramel and vanilla flavor is amazing

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 01:07:36 | More by King_KongDCO93
Photo of Belgianbeerbunny
Belgianbeerbunny

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - Minimal head. The color of burnt sienna. Had to go into my children's Crayolas for that description.

S - Like Bourbon.

T - Like Bourbon, with a vanilla finish. Not as hoppy as I'd expected from an American Barleywine. The sweetness of the finish negates any over-hopped flavor.

M - Medium body and carbonation

O - This is a wickedly good beer because it's essentially like drinking Bourbon. If you like Bourbon, you'll enjoy this one and because the ABV is so high, I can only enjoy one.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 01:06:22 | More by Belgianbeerbunny
Photo of SerialHiker
SerialHiker

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a lovely deep, dense mahogany…little head to speak of, but when I swirl it around, it livens a bit and the thinnest light khaki layer forms…but doesn’t last…the color and look are fantastic, but there could be a bit more head…(3.5/5)

Smell: Definitely bourbon barrel aged, that’s the first thing that hits me…there’s a dark cherry candy sweetness that follows close behind, diluting a bit of that alcohol punch…oak, vanilla, caramel, cola, creamy sweetness round it off…it’s bourbon barrel alcohol heavy, but delicate enough to allow other flavors to come through…(4.25/5)

Taste: Yum, tons of flavor…oak and bourbon alcohol heat right off the bat, though quickly sweetened bringing in the traditional barley wine flavors…candy sweet and tons of caramel malts, mild earthy tones…it’s flushed with a boozy quality that comes in and out, not overly done, but certainly not letting me forget that it’s bourbon barrel aged…it’s easy to say that it’s too boozy, because it is strong, but for me it’s just right…intentionally powerful, one sip lasts three minutes…(4.5/5)

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body, medium carbonation…fluffs up beautifully, bring tons of candy sweetness to the palate…when it fades, bourbon alcohol takes over and tingles the outside of my tongue and heats the back of my throat…rich, smooth, chewy, lively, boozy, sweet…fades sweet with tons of boozy heat…fantastic…(4.5/5)

Overall: This is a fantastic brew…a pure sipper, I’m sitting here watching the Oscars and it’s perfect…it makes me want to start a fire in the fireplace…the straight barley wine flavor playing the support role here would outshine most other brews by itself, but the addition of the bourbon barrel aging gives it a sophistication deserving of a snifter glass…boozy, straight forward, intoxicating, this brew is deserving of its allusiveness…I was lucky to snatch it up when I did and thankful I have a couple more to share, it’s no surprise this is one of Central Waters highest rated beers…a top shelf brew that’s well worth the price, if you get the chance to taste this, take it…I’d love to see this on tap somewhere just to see what a little more carbonation and head would do to the overall package…fantastic! (4.5/5)

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 02:46:01 | More by SerialHiker
Photo of rodkin
rodkin

Missouri

3.9/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 2 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2012 vintage.

Very small head, that quickly dissipates. A thick, translucent dark red. It's got some yeast sediment or something in there that's pretty gross looking.

Smell is vanilla, oak, dark fruit, caramel. Very sweet, but not cloying. The bourbon comes through with some added complexity, but it doesn't smell boozy at all.

Smell is vanilla, oak, cherry, booze, raisin. Some leather, kinda. Hint of caramel. Boozier than the nose.

Medium thickness, decent carbonation. A little more carb and a little less body than I'd like.

A fine barleywine. Probably the best thing I've had from Central Waters.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 00:08:18 | More by rodkin
Photo of Mgm54
Mgm54

New York

4.58/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Serving Type, 12 oz bottle, 2013 vintage, obtained in a trade with Stevedore, many thanks!

A - A deep amber, makes be think of caramel malt, maybe rum. 1cm tan head, still mostly retained after a minute or so.

S - Big notes of bourbon, caramel, and malt. Just wonderful, it smells like the candy of beer. Notes of vanilla bean as well. This smell makes be so happy, it truly deserves a 5.

T - Malty sweetness up front, with some bourbon heat coming next, then some hoppy bitterness (it is quite fresh!). Spicy notes coming from the bourbon.

M - Very smooth maltly booze, in the back end it feels a bit like bourbon

O - a wonderfully beer, I will be ageing my other bottle for a bit to see how the beer settles into itself. If you can get some, please do! This is my first Barrel Aged Barleywine, so maybe I am just a bit overzealous, but this is wonderful.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 03:19:38 | More by Mgm54
Photo of Mebuzzard
Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.3/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

This is a 2012 version, drank on 2-21-2013

Pours a deep caramel body. White head is minimal and the lacing is thin. Small collar around the glass.

Sweet aroma. Caramel and sweetbread. Vanilla and bourbon. A bit woody. Some faint hops

Thin flavors, but they are good. Vanilla, caramel, wood, bourbon and earthy pine. Sweet baked caramel is ever present. The bourbon barrel provides smoothness. Yet it doesn't mesh well with the other flavors. The hops have faded, to be sure.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 08:19:01 | More by Mebuzzard
Photo of dsuedbeck
dsuedbeck

Minnesota

4.81/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

2013 Vintage

A: Reddish brown, murky, really thin white head that disappears quick.

S: Big bourbon notes, sweet caramel malts, some banana.

T: Starts off with a big malt taste, caramel, toffee, dark fruity notes up front. On the back end you get the bourbon and oak. Definitely a little boozey beings it is so fresh.

M: Great bourbon flavor lingers, small amount of carbonation, perfect amount of body to hold up to the alcohol.

O: Fantastic beer right now, super excited to let a few age. Definitely one of the best barleywines I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 04:20:49 | More by dsuedbeck
Photo of timc100
timc100

Illinois

4.46/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Fresh 2013 vintage

A: Gorgeous - dark ruby/mahogany, murky and dank - substantial beige head for a barrel aged beer. Great lacing and retention

S: HUGE caramel bourbon notes, vanilla and oak. Some cherry, and raisin. Delicious but very boozy and hot. Needs some time, then I'd imagine perfect

T: Big bourbon - caramel, lighter vanilla and oak. Bitter aftertaste which pairs well with the sweetness. Some dark fruit but it's hidden due to the overly boozy freshness. Could improve greatly, I'd imagine.

P: Smooth - medium to full body.

O: Fantastic barleywine and BA beer. Wish I had a few more to cellar

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 04:11:36 | More by timc100
Photo of vic21234
vic21234

Illinois

4.56/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. 2013 Vintage. Was happy to get my hands on a 4 pack of this today.

A- Pours a dark red, almost brown color. A small amount of off-white colored head quickly fades.

S- Nice aromas of bourbon and dark fruits. Some sweetness and caramel is noted too.

T- Really nice stuff. Starts very smooth with tastes of dark fruits and sweet malts. Then comes the bourbon and oak notes, which takes over the back half of each sip.

M- Low carbonation, drinks hot, a great sipper.

This is a great barleywine. Drinking kind of hot right now but not a bad thing at all. I'm anxious to see how it mellows out.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 01:58:02 | More by vic21234
Photo of Lognar
Lognar

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

2013 Vintage, so it's quite fresh.

Look - A dark reddish brown - amber. Like carbonated bourbon. Semitransparent with no head but good carbonation.

Nose - Dark fruits and vanilla/bourbon from the barrel. The smell was clearly barleywine + barrel - exactly what it should be.

Taste - The barrel really blends with the barleywine style to add a lot of depth. The barrel is wonderfully complementary to the style. The taste is a mixture of the dark fruits and the sweet bourbon, oak, and vanilla from the barrel. There is a slight bitter hops presence as well. The finish brings out an astringency and bitterness that comes from the tannins of the barrel and the hops, respectively. There is some warmth on the finish as well, but it's smooth and expected with the barrel aging.

Feel - Medium to thick. Chewy. Fizzyness from the carbonation.

Overall - The barrel aging really makes this one and add to the complexity, but it doesn't overshadow. The barrel characteristics know where they belong and they don't crowd the rest of the brew. The slight hop presence was a welcomed characteristic as well. Fresh this one is a pleasure to drink. I expect it will be absolutely wonderful with age.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 04:58:38 | More by Lognar
Photo of emyers
emyers

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz. bottle poured into a Founders snifter. 2013 vintage.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy brown with a thin beige head, which dissipates after about 30 seconds into a thin lacing.

Smell: Bourbon up front along with oak and figs. Caramel comes through next with more bourbon. The bourbon, while being the most dominant smell, is definately not overpowering. In fact, I could use a bit more of it. Some alcohol heat. The aroma is very nice, but a little one dimensional when all is said and done (for a bourbon barrel aged barleywine that is).

Taste: Where the aroma was lacking in intensity, the taste is defintely not. Bourbon and rich caramel hit the palate hard along with vanilla, oak, and dark fruits. The finish brings bittering hops along with more caramel and bourbon. Alcohol heat is apparent in the finish, but not in a way that detracts from the experience. Very well done.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied and smooth. Coats the tongue a bit as it goes down, but the bittering hops come through just enough to clear the palate.

Overall: A very well done BBA barleywine. The bourbon presence is balanced nicely with the caramel malt, dark fruit, and bittering hops. While it certainly isn't anything earth-shattering as far as BBA barleywines go, this really is a phenomenal beer given the price.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 01:04:11 | More by emyers
Photo of joeseppy
joeseppy

Illinois

3.56/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2013 Murky brown--soft caramel. Head quickly dissipates.

Wafts of banana walnut whisky bread pudding with raisins, drizzled with caramel.

Sweet, in cloying fashion, from beginning to end. Blast of bourbon alcohol numbs the tongue and the heat goes down into the chest. Grapefruit rind bitterness and overripe tropical fruit. Prunes, maybe raisin in burnt sugar aftertaste.

Medium body, sticky with low carbonation.

This is a dank brew. Reminds me of Burton Baton. The bourbon aging not melding well. For me its a 'meh' at this time.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 04:30:36 | More by joeseppy
Photo of DovaliHops
DovaliHops

California

4.36/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Finally got to try this beer after the past two that were sent to me as extras broke during shipping. Third time's a charm! 2013 vintage. Pours a ruby amber color with a small, off-white head that disappears quickly. Scent is much more citrusy and hoppy than I expected. At first I get citrus hops and bitter aromas, followed by sweet, bourbon booziness. Kinda reminds me of the BA Bigfoot I had a few weeks ago. Dark fruit aromas and a bit more bourbon. Taste is hoppy as well...very interesting. After reading reviews of this beer, I was not expecting this. Maybe I drank this one too soon or the 2013 version is more hoppy? Citric, hoppy bitterness up front...immediately followed by delicious barrel flavors. Lovely bourbon with vanilla, coconut, and toffee. Not very boozy for what the ABV is...very smooth. The combo of the hoppy bitterness, the citrus, the bourbon, and the oak make this one quite enjoyable. Drinkability very high. Mouthfeel is perfectly carbonated, smooth, and full-bodied. Overall, I don't know what it is about this beer... but, the only other "hop-forward" BA barleywine I have had was BA Bigfoot. I can't imagine the base beer for this one being as hoppy as regular Bigfoot... I'm so confused right now. This beer threw me in a direction I was not expecting, but it was very delicious.... I guess I'm somewhat disappointed because I was hoping for a BA barleywine that wasn't "familiar". Can't rate it on that though.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 10:06:17 | More by DovaliHops
Photo of wiscokid920
wiscokid920

Wisconsin

4.85/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

12 oz bottle poured into Snifter. Vintage 2013

A- Deep rich copper/amber color. Small 1/2 finger tan head which fades fast....most likely due to the high alcohol content! Not a lot of retention or lacing.

S- HUGE bourbon booziness! Vanilla and sweet rich malt, caramel and toffee notes.

T- Big time malt flavors with bourbon booze without being dominant. Notes of vanilla, oak, and smooth bourbon finish.

M- Velvety smooth. This bourbon barrel barleywine has a huge malt sweetness with excellent boozy balance. The alcohol is nice and warming but not overwhelming. Extremely well balanced.

O - A FANTASTIC barleywine! A FANTASTIC BEER! One of the best beer's I have had. Extremely well balanced! Great fresh, but can't wait to put a few years of age on the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 05:38:22 | More by wiscokid920
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Bourbon Barrel Barleywine from Central Waters Brewing Company
95 out of 100 based on 1,028 user ratings.