Petrology (Stone/Steinbier)
Central Waters Brewing Co.

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Central Waters Brewing Co.
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Ale
ABV:
4.8%
Score:
+6 ratings needed
Avg:
4.15 | pDev: 2.41%
Ratings:
4 | reviews: 4
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 10, 2023
Added:
Jul 02, 2023
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
Steinbier is a historical style of beer traditionally brewed without the use of metal brewing equipment in which the mash or wort was heated using fire roasted field rocks. Creating a beer in this style in the modern day takes a bit of creativity & ingenuity. We first borrowed a modified horizontal wooden puncheon from our friends at Supermoon Beer, to add some non metal brewing equipment to add the rocks into. We then created a malt base that consisted of some very fun crystal & color rich malts to accentuate the Maillard reaction that occurs when the hrocks hit the wort, further adding to the toasty, and malt rich flavor & aroma of this stonebier. We finished the beer with some Wisconsin Grown Tettnang hops from WI Hop Exchange.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Photo of Sabtos
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio

4.21/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A dark amber pour fills to a sparkling tiger eye brown, or even darker, under a short, bubbly and uneven khaki head.

I don't think I'm imagining or associating this simply by knowing the process, but after a toasty yet caramelly roast and a lightly piney bitterness, it comes to a unique minerality not unlike Samuel Smiths, though drier, yet with a fluffy, not too filling carbonation. It also gives strong Oktoberfest vibes with time--kind of chestnutty, leafy and autumnal--especially after more sips, making for a more delicious session overall.
Nov 10, 2023
Photo of Lucular
Reviewed by Lucular from Maryland

4.24/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
8 oz pour on tap at the Milwaukee taproom. This was probably my favorite beer I sampled - it has a distinctive earthy/mineral flavor to it with nice toasty malt notes and a hint of citrusy/herbal hops. Solid.
Oct 16, 2023
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

3.99/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
really cool beer, not just for the hot rocks process it employs, but for how subtly complex it is, really unique even if it would appeal to any fan of amber types, its a crowd pleaser but thats hard with the beer nerds in this style space, but it totally does it for me, enormous malt depth here, but still so drinkable, i love it being this low alcohol, this refined, and there is just the softest oak element to it too, smooth and flavorful and long but also real light, awesome. chestnut in color, clear, shining, frothy thick almost churned milk looking head, dense and lasting, really beautiful. the nose is earthy, full of minerals, fallen leaves and oaken autumnal vibes, some sweetness in the brown sugar and maple realm, just a flash, nutty and kilned and it tastes like fresh and unique malt, specialty stuff, not just basic crystal and melanoidin, it has its own character, almond, toffee, raisin, lovely, and it all comes through in the taste. there is a definite caramelized vibe, the hot rocks probably instantly cooking some sugar, and the minerals are cool, earthy and rich, not going to say i taste rocky character, but maybe i do, especially at temperature. seems faintly oxidized in a good way, like this could be brand new or kind of old, and there are some hops on the back end, herbal and spicy and that distinguishes it from basic red ale too. the yeast almost has lager vibes, bready and sort of mature to me, lighter bodied and more of a relaxed carbonation, i like the pace of this. you could order one of these, treat it like an amber, pound it down, and be perfectly happy, but you can also take it all in a little more carefully and appreciate just how clever this is. solid effort, id love to see this sort of thing have a revival...
Aug 24, 2023
Photo of cheeseheadinMinneapolis
Reviewed by cheeseheadinMinneapolis from Wisconsin

4.18/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tested from 16oz cans. Brewed in Milwaukee. Not sure if this is a ale or a lager, but it's smooth like a lager.
This is a non distro'd beer as far I know.

Look: nice looking. Transparent reddish amber body. Nice off white head, tall, persistent leaving plenty of lacing.
Smell: sweet malt, bread, berry
Taste: sweet malt, caramel, and a herbal/berry/fruit hop note. Smooth, malty and sweet. Hint of a roasted caramel from the hot stones maybe. I have noticed a hint of tart and dry on the finish as it warms sometimes.
Feel: malty and rather thick for only 4.8%
A solid beer
Keep cold and drink fresh the can states. Yes I agree.
Jul 02, 2023