Brewer's Reserve Call Me Old Fashioned
Central Waters Brewing Co.


- From:
- Central Waters Brewing Co.
- Wisconsin, United States
- Style:
- Imperial Red Ale
- ABV:
- 12%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #16,363 - Avg:
- 3.98 | pDev: 7.29%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 18
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 26, 2023
- Added:
- Mar 01, 2020
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 3
An imperial red ale brewed with cherries and a touch of bitters, and then aged in brandy, bourbon and orange CuraƧao barrels. This is our take on an Old Fashioned, a true Wisconsin classic.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BeerForMuscle:
Rated by BeerForMuscle from New Jersey
4.14/5 rDev +4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Nov 02, 2022
4.14/5 rDev +4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Nov 02, 2022
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania
3.91/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.91/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle into a goblet. No dating, but I believe it to be 2-3 years old.
Pours a murky rusty chocolate brown. Loose bubbly head shrinks to a ring and covering, impressive given the abv. Aroma is bourbon with a hint of orange. Taste is similar, but the orange seems stronger. Also slightly bitter. Finish is boozy and bitter. A different beer, but not as good as I hoped.
Oct 30, 2023Pours a murky rusty chocolate brown. Loose bubbly head shrinks to a ring and covering, impressive given the abv. Aroma is bourbon with a hint of orange. Taste is similar, but the orange seems stronger. Also slightly bitter. Finish is boozy and bitter. A different beer, but not as good as I hoped.
Reviewed by chum_husk from Minnesota
3.95/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.95/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle. Looks murky. Not much scent. Very unique beer, lots of flavor. The cherries and the bourbon are most prominent. I'd buy this one again in a heartbeat
May 25, 2023Reviewed by BubbleBobble from New York
3.43/5 rDev -13.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.43/5 rDev -13.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a reddish muddy brown, brief 1" rusty head that faded out to a thick ring, little lacing. Nose is bourbon, crushed fake maraschino cherries, vanilla, sugary booze. Taste follows with a big boozy bourbon note with oak, barrel, toasted brown sugar, and more spicy bourbon on the finish. Mouthfeel is thin but a bit creamy with tight carbonation. Expectations were very low for this, but it remains surprisingly smooth despite a big booze punch.
Dec 29, 2022Reviewed by Strix from Wisconsin
3.92/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.92/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Murky brown swampwater.
Nose is heavy on the bitters, orange peel, clove.
Oak, caramel, bitters, more bitters, and bitters.
Feel a bit thin.
Lots of points for creativity but also a bit of a mess for me. Boozy and unbalanced, lacking the stout base that is the quality niche most of the Brewer's Reserves operate out of.
I can see how the right person might go for this, but I do not think that person is me. Points for trying through.
Nov 29, 2022Nose is heavy on the bitters, orange peel, clove.
Oak, caramel, bitters, more bitters, and bitters.
Feel a bit thin.
Lots of points for creativity but also a bit of a mess for me. Boozy and unbalanced, lacking the stout base that is the quality niche most of the Brewer's Reserves operate out of.
I can see how the right person might go for this, but I do not think that person is me. Points for trying through.
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania
3.85/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A - Very murky dark medium cherry mahogany color with light colored thin lacing.
S - Bourbon, cherry, and spice on the nose.
T - Spice, oak, Bourbon, cherry, Brandy, and some spicy citrus while ending with some light citrus bitterness.
M - Thick, chewy, slightly frothy around the edges, and some alcohol permeating up into the sinuses.
O - The 12% is not shy in this beer and presents itself as boozy.
Nov 12, 2022S - Bourbon, cherry, and spice on the nose.
T - Spice, oak, Bourbon, cherry, Brandy, and some spicy citrus while ending with some light citrus bitterness.
M - Thick, chewy, slightly frothy around the edges, and some alcohol permeating up into the sinuses.
O - The 12% is not shy in this beer and presents itself as boozy.
Reviewed by jakecattleco from California
3.81/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Draught pour into a tulip glass at Pounders. Probably the first Central Waters beer where I was less than impressed. Still solid, but pretty mute for my palate and preferences.
Jul 20, 2021Rated by matt-evans2 from Wisconsin
4.02/5 rDev +1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
4.02/5 rDev +1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
interesting take on the old fashioned
Jan 25, 2021Reviewed by DvdP from Netherlands
4.05/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.05/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a deep dark red, with the tiniest sliver of foam. Smells strong, spicy, some cherries, definitely spirits. Lots of boozyness, bit of sharp spirits but those belong. Cherry in the taste, brandy, plenty curacao. Really reminds of the cocktail! Fun.
Dec 26, 2020Reviewed by q33jeff from New Jersey
3.66/5 rDev -8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.66/5 rDev -8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
**
11/24/2020
Bottle to snifter.
LOOK: light brown with a slight reddish hue. minimal beige head, poor retention. Looks like a brandy after a bit.
AROMA: cherry, brandy, orange peel, touch of clove.
TASTE: fruitcake with cherry and berry; little bit of honey flavor also. touch of raw oak. heavy alcohol finish.
FEEL: medium body, poor carbonation, a nice warming brandy feel from high abv.
Not bad, but the other CW barleywines I had were decidedly better.
**
Nov 25, 202011/24/2020
Bottle to snifter.
LOOK: light brown with a slight reddish hue. minimal beige head, poor retention. Looks like a brandy after a bit.
AROMA: cherry, brandy, orange peel, touch of clove.
TASTE: fruitcake with cherry and berry; little bit of honey flavor also. touch of raw oak. heavy alcohol finish.
FEEL: medium body, poor carbonation, a nice warming brandy feel from high abv.
Not bad, but the other CW barleywines I had were decidedly better.
**
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