Headless Heron
Central Waters Brewing Co.

Headless HeronHeadless Heron
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Central Waters Brewing Co.
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
Pumpkin Beer
Ranked #16
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
92
Ranked #4,774
Avg:
4.14 | pDev: 8.45%
Reviews:
79
Ratings:
399
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 17, 2023
Added:
Sep 25, 2014
Wants:
  34
Gots:
  67
Generously spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and cloves, this barrel-aged pumpkin spice ale overflows with dark fruit, dried fruit, and hints of bourbon. Perfect for settling in to watch a few leaves fall to the ground.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Rojada1988:
Photo of Rojada1988
Rated by Rojada1988 from Pennsylvania

3.62/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Apr 08, 2016
More User Ratings:
Photo of cheeseheadinMinneapolis
Reviewed by cheeseheadinMinneapolis from Wisconsin

4.16/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2023 release, 12oz can 12.0% ABV canned on 09/14/23
Look: Brown body with a little murk. Not much of a head but it does leave some lacing for a while.
Smell Is strong spice, hint of sweet & bourbon
Taste is some caramel/dark fruit and chocolate. I'm getting very little pumpkin flavor in the beer. Pumpkin seems to be more in the lingering after taste. Plenty of spice with cinnamon and clove being the strongest. The barrel is mild but comes thru more later on.
Feel is ok not really thin or thick.
4.14/5 overall.
Dec 17, 2023
Photo of Luscious_Malfoy
Reviewed by Luscious_Malfoy from Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
vintage 2016 bottle aged to damn near perfection. get a little bit of wet cardboard oxidation on the nose but other than that it’s pure pumpkin fall spices with a hint of whiskey. taste is similar but the whiskey has been smoothed out from when i has this bottle fresh. mouthfeel is full, perfectly carbonated. it’s smooth and very easy drinking for the style. overall, this was an aging experiment i went into thinking i had sat too long on. i stand corrected. this beer was incredible. a nice melding of fall pumpkin spices and bourbon. wish i’d saved another.
Nov 01, 2019
 
Rated: 4.16 by Old_Dead_Oak from Wisconsin

Oct 25, 2019
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

3.84/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
2016 vintage; drank 10/11/16 @ the Yarchives.

Opaque brown appearance.

A rough pour yielded a huge tan head; strong, frothy lace.

Pumpkin pie, cream, oak & faint bourbon notes in the nose.

Creamy, medium mouthfeel.

Pumpkin pie, cream & mild bourbon flavors up front; oak notes on the finish.

An interesting imperial pumpkin beer; perhaps the oak looms too large but at the very least it was drinkable & enjoyable.
Apr 01, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by Nurt20 from Illinois

Jan 21, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by tittyfish from Minnesota

Nov 29, 2018
 
Rated: 3.55 by Chilmer from Iowa

Oct 06, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by Bum4ever from California

Sep 17, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by rspauldi from Texas

Dec 27, 2017
 
Rated: 4.23 by drummerdwzp from Connecticut

Dec 10, 2017
Photo of PatrickCT
Reviewed by PatrickCT from Connecticut

4.06/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark, jammy body with a ruby orange hue. Minimal head settles, as quickly as it rises, into a bubbly, thin, wispy cap. The slightly sticky lace slides down the glass not unlike the legs of bourbon.
The Aroma is woody and spicy, with a waft of prunes and dark currents, mingling together to give the impression of toasted prune skins. The bourbon and barrel are obvious throughout.
The taste mirrors the aroma, more hot with alcohol and with the piquant flavor of dried fruit. Finishes with a slightly woodiness and sour end of the fruit.
The body is medium which makes this dangerous. It's heavy and complex aroma and flavor go down easy. On the palate it is smooth until the bourbon influence gives it some bite. It is warm, comforting and should be treated as a sipper.

Overall this is a 4.25 but I took points off because it was given to me by Joe.
Nov 23, 2017
Photo of LongTaco15
Reviewed by LongTaco15 from Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Look: Pours dark solid brown with a finger of head that lingered for a bit.

Smell: Bourbon, Barrell, a bit of pumpkin and spices

Taste: Chocolate up front, followed by pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and bourbon. Very complex and tastes great.

Feel: Medium mouth feel.

Overall an awesome barrel aged pumpkin ale. Really enjoying this one. I can't find a date on the bottom but I think it is from 2016.
Nov 01, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by MTKATL from Georgia

Oct 31, 2017
Photo of TreyIsWilson
Reviewed by TreyIsWilson from Michigan

4.21/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A - Pours dark brown with a one finger tan head. Good amount soapy lacing.

S - Aroma is nutmeg, clove, cinnamon and bourbon.

T - The taste is pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, vanilla and bourbon.

M - Medium bodied with low carbonation. Creamy mouthfeel with a soft dry finish.

O - A very solid barrel aged pumpkin beer. The bourbon is light and adds a nice depth to the flavor.
Oct 28, 2017
 
Rated: 4.5 by GreenBayBA from Wisconsin

Oct 22, 2017
Photo of JohnnyHopps
Reviewed by JohnnyHopps from Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance - The beer porn a dark brown brown murky color.

Smell - The nose was boozy but far from hot or astringent. It seemed well balanced.

Taste - At the front was t at the front was bourbon which was accompanied by sweet pumpkin spice. Unlike some pumpkin ales, this was not a cinnamon mom. The spices did not overwhelm the pumpkin or bourbon.

Mouthfeel - Though perhaps it was a hair thin, but still had a fairly thick feel.

Overall - I would suggest that this belongs in the upper echelon of pumpkin beers.
Oct 13, 2017
 
Rated: 4.23 by Muss42 from Michigan

Oct 07, 2017
 
Rated: 4.2 by peensteen from Canada (ON)

Aug 21, 2017
Photo of REVZEB
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois

4.32/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
People say that all pumpkin ales are virtually the same, and in many cases I tend to agree, but this one stands out. The feel is so rich and luscious, and it feels designed to let the subtle flavors with the pumpkin shine. Bourbon, fall spices, wood, dark fruits like figs and prunes, cinnamon and biscuit. Good sipper for a brisk fall day
Jul 07, 2017
Headless Heron from Central Waters Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 399 ratings