Brewer's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Cassian Sunset
Central Waters Brewing Co.

Dark brown body, clear pour; interesting two-tone head separated by colors and (apparently) density, light tan and thin head alongside a darker brown and thicker cluster foam. Great aroma; rich caramel and sweet chocolate with a boozy note; black coffee seeping into the nose. Big taste; brown sugar, maple syrup, coffee and bourbon; spicy. Heavy body; smooth and lightly syrupy; modest alcohol warmth throughout.

Overall a very good beer with a strange looking head. The vanilla beans and cinnamon used are somewhat hidden within the rest of the flavors, but the beer still drinks beautifully for a huge beer. The used bourbon barrel aging, I'm sure, really adds another dimension to the already high ABV. Potent and alluring.

Pouring temperature: 53.6 ℉; bottling info: 022253132573B
Source: @GreenBayBA

 

A very enjoyable imperial stout. Pronounced BA flavor with a subtle vanilla aroma. Slightly thin mouthfeel with a hint of cinnamon on the backend. Coffee flavor is present but not overpowering. The high abv is deceptively masked and not overwhelming. I’ll definitely be buying this again!

Appearance: Black, tight head.

Smell: Chocolate, then big barrel wood/vanilla.

Taste: The chocolate and barrel starts out strong, then big sweetened cinnamon note. Plenty of chocolate flavor throughout.

Overall: Tasty stuff, I'm not a big cinnamon fan but this had it in the right proportion. Not a lot of coffee to my taste buds. It did have some sludge—like undissolved cinnamon chunk or something?

Alone by twilight, compounded with tears at midnight. No, I am not sad - just alive. To think and to breathe; and to breathe while I think… Could it be… Could I… Will I… And we…. What about “we”? But really, as I sit, as I sip, I wonder: What is it to be man? What is it to “be”?

If you can, rejoice in what is beautiful to you.

 

Appearance: Pours dark brown with some lighter mahogany hues around the edges; the beige film quickly fades to a ringlet; leggy with a few spots

Smell: Cinnamon pastry with caramel, chocolate and Bourbon barrel tones

Taste: Cinnamon pastry forward with some caramel adding sweetness; chocolate flavors emerge and, after the swallow, the Bourbon envelops, bringing some vanilla and oak, as well

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with very low carbonation

Overall: A 2017 bottle so, after five years, much of the carbonation may have faded; I was surprised at how the cinnamon hung around; the coffee has disappeared and, while this was enjoyable, I suspect it would have been bigger, with more coffee and a better mouthfeel had I not been so neglectful to leave this bottle in my cellar for so long

 

 

 

12 oz bottle, fresh 2021 bottle

black, but some ruby highlights when held to the light. foamy head that quickly fades. aroma is complex - mild bourbon, espresso, mild cinnamon. similar flavor, deep roasty malt flavor without any booziness. fuller bodied, fairly slick mouthfeel

 

 

 

 

Purchased at Bound Beverage, Warrington, PA. Label indicates this is a 2021 batch. $18.50/4pk

Pours a jet black, totally opaque black color. Not a glimmer of light showing through this brew. A slight mocha colored head that fades very quickly.

A malty, sweet, chocolaty aroma. A slight hint of booziness. Smells really good.

Wow…an awesome tasting stout. A mix of sweet chocolate, bitter coffee and malt. The 11.7% ABV is well hidden but the bourbon barrel aging does give a smooth boozy taste to each sip. A beer meant to be savored.

A smooth, mouth coating creaminess after each delicious taste. Low carbonation, rather heavy consistency.

Overall, an A+ stout. For my money, on par with Founders KBS. Ranks up there as one of the best I’ve had in a long time. Highly recommended!

 

poured from a 12oz brown bottle – vintage 2018 [neck has code 14418]

Bourbon Barrel Cassian Sunset– Brewers Reserve filled my snifter with a very dark brown [almost black] and when held up to the light has ruby highlights. A ½-finger tan head was produced. The head quickly reduced to a thin collar of foam. The smell is spicy, mostly cinnamon with also vanilla, and coffee malt. The taste follows the nose with nice bourbon notes added and a spicy warming finish. Mouth feel is creamy, full bodied and a lighter amount of carbonation.

Overall, a nice bourbon barrel stout that is full of flavor and very drinkable for a 11.7 abv.

Color is great deep black tar looking no light escape worthy but head is just a 1/4 inch of mocha foam that settles to nothing. Smell is intense! Strong cocoa and bourbon mild spices rounding cinnamon, Taste is surprisingly smooth and balanced chocolate mild barrel little oak and coffee are the flavors to expect but I do get some faint spices like a good rum. Body again is super smooth dangerously drink able for almost 12%.

Overall very impressed with this beer such a shame I can only pick up Central waters in Ohio. If I see this again I will be sure to score a four or six pack for sure!

2021 vintage. 12oz bottle poured into a tulip. Pours almost black; small khaki head that fades quickly leaving okay retention and lacing. The aromas are somewhat mild. Some bourbon along with some hints of cocoa. Mild hints of coffee and spices. Malts are there. The flavors are balanced. The bourbon ultimately shines, but doesn't dominate or diminish everything else. More hints of coffee, cocoa and vanilla. Hints of coconut. The cinnamon and spices aren't exactly bold, but they're noticeable, especially in the finish. Subtle sweetness. Malts do their thing. Subtle warmth, but it's not hot or boozy at all. The alcohol is well hidden, especially when considering the ABV. Mouthfeel is full-bodied with moderate carbonation. It's very fluffy and smooth.

This is an alright barrel-aged stout. I wish that the coffee and cinnamon was bolder and more pronounced. It's not bad or anything like that though. I guess maybe I just had high expectations since I'm a sucker for cinnamon and then you add coffee, vanilla and bourbon? That's right up my alley. So it's ultimately fine, but I guess I was just expecting something different in my head.

05/20/21 bottle @ home

 

 

12oz bottle from 2016, so ~4 years old

Dark with amber cutting through the sides, but just barely. Smell is all chocolate and sweet initially, then comes the stale coffee and harsh booze notes. Holding up pretty well for being so old. No alcohol in the taste, just a very pronounced chocolate flavor. Weird, because there are no claims of chocolate being added. You feel the heat of that ~12% in your chest, like taking a shot of bourbon

A supreme stout

 

Bottle courtesy of basaywhat.
I think it’s 2018 vintage so ~2 yrs old.
Standard stout appearance, minimal brown head.
Very very coffee-forward, with some burnt and cinnamon finish. Vanilla notes. Not boozy.
Pretty good.

 

 

 

Pours a dark cola-black with a finger and a half of khaki foam atop. Head retention is good. Aroma is roasty, toasty, nutty and caramely malts with fig, toffee, vanilla beans and cinnamon sprinkled over the top. Light boozy burn courtesy of the bourbon. Flavor profile is vanilla bean, cinnamon and toffee alongside roasty, toasty, nutty and caramely malts. There is a boozy bourbon kiss at the back, surging heat forward. Mouth feel is still, low in texture with a very light siltiness. Thickness is medium-thick. Overall, stout playful between the vanilla bean and cinnamon additions and the boozy bourbon burn. It's a mix of dessert and booze.

Served in a 15.5oz Speigalau tulip from a 12oz bottle.

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. 2018 vintage.

A: Black with some lighter mahogany hues. One finger of beige head settles into a thin cap. Tiny spots of lacing.

S: Cinnamon rolls, fudge sauce, mocha, caramel, bourbon ball candy, oak, and bourbon barrel.

T: Baker's chocolate and roasty malt flavors up front. Thin ribbon of caramel. Mocha. Bourbon ball candy. Cinnamon is on the more subtle side. Nougat and vanilla. Oak, mild woody char, and an undercurrent of sweet bourbon minus any bite. Long and pleasant finish of semi-sweet chocolate, cinnamon, and bourbon ball candy.

M: Thick, moderate heft, chewy and velvety texture. Ample carbonation has a very gentle touch and creates an airy, whipped feel.

O: So many of the so-called "pastry stouts" out there today are just sugar bombs and a bad case of diabetes waiting to happen. I'm very happy to report that is not the case here. This ends up being a very drinkable imperial stout that really grew on me as I made my way through the glass. There's a subtle touch here, and a great sense of balance. No one ingredient outshines another, and the sum of the parts creates something greater. One would struggle to believe this is nigh on 12% abv, too. It goes down far too easily for a beer of its size. Well worth a drink.

 

Bottle is stamped 2018, just bought it yesterday. Whoops. Scores may be a little low as a result.

This one took a couple of bottles to warm up to. I did not appreciate all it has going on right away. I just drank the last one in the 4pk, about a year since the first. I have liked it more with each bottle.

 

 

 

 

L: Jet black color, almost no head, not lacing to speak of, light carbonation.

S: Chocolate, coffee. Quite faint.

T: Chocolate, coffee, vanilla, cinnamon. Delicious!

F: Full bodied, full flavored. Very smooth.

O: A super delicious dessert imperial stout.