Local Option Bourbon Barrel-Aged La Petite Mort - Central Waters Brewing Company

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

bomber into snifter. what I assume is a 2013 vintage. very interested to try this as it is a first for me (bourbon barrel aged weizenbocks that is).

A: pours a muddy dark burgundy/brownish hue. opaque and dark. head is slightly off-white, slightly brownish. big bubbles. head is rimmy. retention is lacking (perhaps my glass...).

S: definitely get some solid oak aroma, not necessarily a ton of bourbon. at first. more and more bourbon comes out as the drink goes down. a lot of dark, ripe fruit. rich. reminds me of a English barleywine more than a BB aged weizenbock. very rich and appealing.

T: a fantastic caramel/toffee/candied fruit/plum/everything rich flavor starts things off. reminds me of a nice tawny port. getting a little bit of chewy wheat out of this, but not a ton. finish is has a touch of bourbon heat, but very limited. woody. nutty too. great complexity.

M: carb is mellow. tickling even. full bodied drink.

D: this thing tastes more like a big bourbon barrel aged quad or dubbel than a weizenbock. certainly everything works well here, however I am struggling to find wheat bock flavors and aromas. regardless a great sipper and a great way to step outside the normal box from central waters. I applaud the courage and I thoroughly enjoyed this beer, regardless of style guidelines.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 03:58:42 | More by Jimmys

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.26/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Received in trade from ajzy, thanks for the opportunity!
Pours a solid dark brown/black with a tightly bubbled off white head that slowly recedes to a cap on top. This smells incredible, there's so much going on here! Dark and burnt sugars, dried prune, raisins, vanilla, sweet bourbon, nutmeg, clove, and a hint of ethanol. The flavor follows the aroma quite well. Sweet and malty with darker sugars and light dried fruit up front. Vanilla with hints of wood and sweet bourbon mixed with some spices and a fair amount of alcohol that is present, but not harsh. Medium to thick body with a light to moderate level of carbonation and a sweet almost syrupy mouthfeel. Weizenbock is probably a stretch for this beer, it more Belgian dark strong imho. Great brew anyhow, I really enjoyed it. It kind of reminds me of some Bruery stuff, only it's better.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 02:56:10 | More by johnnnniee

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.34/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

22oz, Winter '13
Riedel tulip

A: Pours a murky brown color. Not as thick as I would have though. Some light gets through. Not a lot of head. Basically only a collar of off white/almost tan head. Seems like there is carbonation though.

S: Getting a lot of that bourbon right away. Vanilla and toffee. Sweet maltiness. Smells tasty.

T: Sweet toffee and vanilla goodness. You get those nice flavors from the front if the tongue to the mid-palate. What I love, it's not a huge barleywine or stout and packs this much flavor. Nice lighter body. Finish is long with lingering toffee/vanilla notes.

M: It's a big medium to full bodied beer. Style helps with thinner mouth.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 15:49:33 | More by inlimbo77

vic21234

Illinois

4.24/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

22oz bomber poured into a snifter. I was surprised to find this one yesterday at my local shop.

A- Pours a cloudy mahogany, borderline light brown color. A small amount of head quickly fades to the sides of the glass. Some alcohol lacing is noted too.

S- Bourbon, caramel, dark fruits and sweet malts. That pretty much sums it up.

T- First taste is bourbon. The bourbon notes are heavy and tasty like an Central Waters BA offering. As the beer warms it seems to take over more so. Otherwise the beer taste much like the smell, with caramel and dark fruit notes.

M- Medium to heavy bodied, low to medium carbonation, great sipper with the BA bourbon notes.

Nice beer, don't think I've ever had this style, but I'm pretty sure barrel-aging can make anything awesome.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 00:18:15 | More by vic21234

lunarbrew

Wisconsin

4.3/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours dark red, hazy, and with almost no head. There is little to no lacing. Not the most attractive beer.

The smell is rich with bourbon. Very inviting and invigorating. I can smell barrel, booze, toffee, and brown sugar. I'm guessing it's going to be quite sweet.

This is very tasty. Much more fruit than in the nose. Some raspberry and raison. Loads of bourbon with a boozy aftertaste. Some vanilla and some toffee. The hop flavor is a little masked by the bourbon, but I don't mind. There is definitely some earthy and floral hop notes hiding out here. Not balanced bourbon flavor, per se, but I don't care one bit. Bring on the bourbon, IMO.

Lighter than you would expect from the flavor and appearance, but it works. I'd say light-medium MF with medium carbonation. A little bit of boozy heat tingles my tongue.

This was not the beer I was expecting, but I'm sure not disappointed. CW continues to impress with bourbon/malt bombs. This is an excellent offering.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 02:44:17 | More by lunarbrew

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

3.76/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Picked up a bottle recently at discount liquor in Milwaukee at a 1 bottle per person limit release. It pours a rich mahogany with a full healthy white foamy head. The head retention on this one is really nice, and quite honestly, its a really beautiful looking beer. After looks though, everything starts to go somewhat down hill. Both the smell and the taste of this weizenbock are intensely dominated by the flavor/scent of bourbon. I really really enjoy Weizenbocks and so I was really disappointed. The bourbon really dominates everything very strongly and many of the natural flavors from the base weizenbock have a hard time peaking there way through. Now don't get me wrong, I really like bourbon barrel aged beers, but the intensity of this one is so strong that it actually makes it somewhat hard to enjoy. If I wanted to get a full blast of bourbon flavor I would just have some Eagle Rare on the rocks. I really would like to try the regular La petite morte because I really think that that would be more my style. That all being said, this beer is still decent, it's just a really intense sipper.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 01:22:50 | More by Zachtheporter

chanokokoro

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a Central Waters Brewing Company branded snifter

Pours a slight darker caramel brown capped by a one finger cream colored head. Speaking of caramel, there a bunch on the nose along with bourbon, and hint of cocoa. A lot of toasted oak, vanilla, almond, toffee, caramel, a touch of plum, and raisin. Finishes really smooth with continued caramel and oaky bourbon. Low, gentle carbonation, smooth syrupy full body with a hint of creaminess. I'd never guess the base beer is a weizenbock. Tons of barrel character here and fairly complex. A completely successful collaboration.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 06:20:26 | More by chanokokoro

dpodratsky3

Georgia

3.53/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bomber poured into tulip glass

A: Super deep brown that you can't see anything though, creamy off-white head

S: The aroma is entirely bourbon, background hints of caramel malt and a little bit of roast, this is listed as a weizenbock but I don't detect any hints of yeast aroma

T: Tastes more like a smooth bourbon stout than a wheat beer, again the bourbon dominates, followed by the roast which is accentuated by the alcohol burn, to me it tastes like a slightly smoother bourbon strong ale

M: Not too heavy body but the dryness helps, pretty full with alcohol

O: Overall a good bourbon beer but it tastes about like you'd expect, doesn't have any distinguishing characteristics that make it a weizenbock

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 01:53:46 | More by dpodratsky3

kawilliams81

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a 8 oz snifter.

A- pours a dark copper with a half finger of head. A wall of lacing that resides immediately.

S- dark fruits, brown sugar, vanilla, bourbon, tobacco

T- semi sweet toasted malts, dark fruits, bourbon, but then I get a bitter almost metallic taste.

M- medium body and carbonation. A little thin at 9%, with a dry finish.

O- I love the aroma of this beer, but the taste just doesn't follow. Also, the thinner mouthfeel is not up to par for a 9% a beer for my liking.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 02:21:27 | More by kawilliams81

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

poured into tulip glass.

Appearance: murky brown bodied beer with a red hue. 1 finger of an off white head. spotty lace.

Smell: bourbon, coconuts, bananas, cinnamon, chocolate, and a hint of spice.

Taste: bourbon forward, but it remains a mellow flovor. Vanilla and Chocolate. Little spice in the finish. Tobacco, cola and a hint of bananas in the aftertaste that makes your mouth water!

Mouthfeel: low end of a medium bodied beer with low end of moderate carbonation. Smooth beer with a touch of warmth. Cant beleive this is a 9% Wiezinbock.

Overall: this is 1414 without being a big stout, just a different beer style. Its an under the radar brew for sure! The barrel notes on this beer are fantastic; they are almost identical to 1414. I cant imagine this is a beer that's is to style, but it just does not matter. its a wonderful beer! Its is honestly a pleasant surprise! Top notch Job on this beer Central Waters!

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 04:11:48 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

Duff27

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dense light tan one inch head on a dark brown/black body. Clumpy lacing and a cap and collar to boot.

Smells amazing. If you've had 1414, the aroma is near identical...boozy, bourbony, delicious.

Bourbon-forward for sure. Sweet. Easy drinking at 9%....???? Kind of a muddled finish, slight bananas integrates with the barrel aging.

Thin mouthfeel for a BA beer, average for the base style. Good carbonation.

Only drawback that I could come up with is the muddled finish but what the hell, this is awesome. All the best parts of 1414 but easier drinking. Wow. Thanks 4DAloveofSTOUT!

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 01:52:51 | More by Duff27

Mscarpen

Tennessee

4.43/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked this one up at the CW Brewery in Amherst.

Pours a cloudy deep amber with minimal Lacing and less than an eight of an inch of head.

Bourbon notes of vanilla and caramel but not to heavy on the high notes. Very indicative of the nose on other CW BA beers. Sweet dark fruits as well.

I'm not familiar with style of beer, but it comes across, to me, as a mix between a Barleywine and an Old Ale. Low hops, very sweet, a tinge of bottle on the middle of the tongue them quickly fades. Bourbon is predominant but not overwhelming.

Medium mouthfeel and not overwealingly syrupy.

Overall, a great BA beer from Central Waters. Glad I picked up a few.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 19:06:21 | More by Mscarpen

Florida9

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap @ Fountainhead. Served on a small snifter.

Extremely cloudy dark brown in color. Served with the absolute minimal amount of head that reduces to virtually nothing. Light lacing. Aroma is full on caramel with notes of molasses and chocolate syrup. Flavor is moderately sweet with mOre caramel, chocolate and lots of vanilla with lesser notes of oak and bourbon. Mouthfeel is on the heavier side of medium, smooth, but finishes awful thin. An interestIng beer, but one is enough.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2012 21:19:33 | More by Florida9

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Local Option cervoise at (where else?) Local Option.

Metal: aging a weizenbock for six months in Heaven Hill barrels. Yeah, I said it. The result pours a bleak dark russet topped by a pair o' fingers of tan foam. The nose comprises bourbon, vanilla, sweet caramel, light oak, light fig, and light roasted malts. The taste brings in more of the same, generally speaking, with whiskey really taking the upper hand and squashing the majority of the competition. As things progress, though, some light toasted wheat comes through, along with molasses and a good helping of clove. But don't think the bourbon's gone away just yet... The body is a stolid medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a smooth, yet lightly grainy feel. Overall, a nice, if a bit over-the-top, barrel-aged w-bock. Rock on.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2012 03:02:20 | More by TMoney2591

MasterSki

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Local Option. Served in a chalice.

A - Creamy foam settles to a thick collar and partial cap, leaving behind minimal lace. Dark brown body, with some transparency at the edges.

S - Lots of earthy bourbon, with sharp oak and vanilla notes from the barrel. Some milk chocolate, caramel, and nutty malts carry over from the base, but I get very little of the Belgian yeast.

T - Taste is very whiskey heavy, with a touch of alcohol bite to it. Lots of sour mash whiskey and oak in the finish, after vanilla and caramel sweetness mid-palate. The wheat, bock, and Belgian elements seem to have been largely obliterated.

M - Chewy and viscous medium-full body, with a dry and barrel-heavy finish. Medium-low carbonation, and some mild alcohol warmth.

D - The unique flavor combinations found in the base beer have been largely overpowered by the barrel-aging. As a result, it ends up tasting like a nebulous barrel-aged strong ale of some sort - not necessarily a bad thing, but doesn't up being particularly unique or distinct either.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2012 01:09:43 | More by MasterSki