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Brewer's Reserve Rye Barrel Stout
Central Waters Brewing Co.


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Central Waters Brewing Co.
- Wisconsin, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #1,127 - ABV:
- 11.65%
- Score:
- 93
Ranked #3,538 - Avg:
- 4.19 | pDev: 6.92%
- Reviews:
- 48
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 11, 2022
- Added:
- Jan 01, 2013
- Wants:
- 13
- Gots:
- 14
SCORE
93
Outstanding
93
Outstanding


Notes:
Aged in Rye Whiskey barrels, our workhorse of a Stout oozes smooth layers of chocolate and entwines with sharp notes of rye that are rounded out with ample aging in American oak. Enjoy!
42 IBU
42 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by wally_world from Illinois
3.72/5 rDev -11.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.72/5 rDev -11.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Nice rye spice with light barrel that melds well. Viscosity was lacking for me, and for a non-adjunct BA stout, I like more. The nose is roasty with a bit of rye at the back.
Dec 26, 2020Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana
4.19/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle coded 15619 (June 5,2019 - tasted about 16 months since bottling) poured into a Spiegelau stout glass at just above fridge, no ABV listed on label. The beer pours dense black with minimal highlights and medium brown head. The head recedes to a splotchy, fluffy ring and leaves a little lacing. The aroma is mild with mellowed roasted malt and hints of barrel & vanilla. The flavor is more roasty, rich stout with the barrel adding subtle vanilla, oak and whiskey. The finish is mostly dry and moderately bitter. The mouthfeel is medium plus bodied with medium carbonation. Overall, very good. I received this one in trade, so I can't speak for the conditions in which it aged, but it's very well integrated and delicious. Would buy/drink again at any age. Thanks @basaywhat!
Nov 03, 2020Reviewed by vette2006c5r from Minnesota
4.18/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
Brewer's Reserve Rye Barrel Stout pours black, with a small, lacing tan head. Rich whisky and barrel notes. Flavor is very smooth, a little hint of whisky, with a little heat, sharp notes of black licorice, and hints of sweet chocolate. Good body and feel. Overall, fantastic barrel aged stout. Great whiskey notes, lots of flavor, perfect body.
Nov 02, 2020Reviewed by CraftFan5 from New Jersey
4.1/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
20 May 2020 - Beer #99
Corona Day #69
Price: $12.49 at Good Beer in Manhattan
Appearance: 4 - distinctly brown, not black. Looks almost like Coca Cola but with a nicer, fluffier head.
Nose: 4 - definitely some barrel notes. I expected the rye to make it a bit spicier, but it's actually more earthy and fruity than spicy.
Taste: 4 - very interesting. Very malty as opposed to roasty. If I didn't know better I might have called it a barleywine, or maybe one of them barleywine / stout blends. Certainly tasty.
Mouth: 5 - round and chewy. Taking up residence on the back of my tongue.
Overall: 4 - a truly interesting brew. Bought this 22oz. bottle a while ago; now it's packaged in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles. I wonder how it is fresh.
Stay safe out there, my friends.
Cheers!
Jun 04, 2020Corona Day #69
Price: $12.49 at Good Beer in Manhattan
Appearance: 4 - distinctly brown, not black. Looks almost like Coca Cola but with a nicer, fluffier head.
Nose: 4 - definitely some barrel notes. I expected the rye to make it a bit spicier, but it's actually more earthy and fruity than spicy.
Taste: 4 - very interesting. Very malty as opposed to roasty. If I didn't know better I might have called it a barleywine, or maybe one of them barleywine / stout blends. Certainly tasty.
Mouth: 5 - round and chewy. Taking up residence on the back of my tongue.
Overall: 4 - a truly interesting brew. Bought this 22oz. bottle a while ago; now it's packaged in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles. I wonder how it is fresh.
Stay safe out there, my friends.
Cheers!
Reviewed by stortore from Illinois
4.24/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
22 ounce bottle into a snifter. 2018 edition, had 2/2/19.
Pours a somewhat opaque dark brown, with a one inch foamy head and some slick, foamy lacing. Aromas of roasted malt, chocolate, rye, smoke, char, some rye whiskey, caramel, espresso, light molasses. The flavor shows more rye whiskey than the nose, roasted malt, chocolate, toffee, caramel, espresso, char, rye, some molasses, light oak. Smoky. Smooth, a very good full body, well carbonated.
The rye whiskey barrels are subtle for Central Waters, but really good. Great aromas and flavors. Well worth a purchase.
Feb 26, 2020Pours a somewhat opaque dark brown, with a one inch foamy head and some slick, foamy lacing. Aromas of roasted malt, chocolate, rye, smoke, char, some rye whiskey, caramel, espresso, light molasses. The flavor shows more rye whiskey than the nose, roasted malt, chocolate, toffee, caramel, espresso, char, rye, some molasses, light oak. Smoky. Smooth, a very good full body, well carbonated.
The rye whiskey barrels are subtle for Central Waters, but really good. Great aromas and flavors. Well worth a purchase.
Reviewed by Hopheadjeffery from Illinois
4.21/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Sampled in a taster glass from draft at Eagle Park Brewing Company on February 1, 2020. Aged in rye whiskey barrels, our workhorse of a stout oozes smooth layers of chocolate and entwines with sharp notes of rye that are rounded out with ample aging in American oak.
Feb 25, 2020Reviewed by Buck89 from Tennessee
4.16/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.16/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured an opaque dark brown in the glass with a small and fleeting tan head. Rye was prominent on the nose with a slight sweet and spiciness that accentuated the chocolate and coffee notes. Taste followed closely. The barrel was fairly prominent but it didn't overshadow the base beer. Outstanding.
Feb 11, 2020Rated by Ryner
4.6/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.6/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Ein gutes Bier schmekt als wir mir an das Hertz ein Engel pinkled : ) " a good beer is like an Angel peeing on your Heart "
Dec 20, 2019Reviewed by GOBLIN from Ohio
4.18/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A very good stout and another terrific beer from Central Waters. Appearance isn't impressive as it doesn't pour quite as black as some but as this beer warms and opens up it really shines.
Nov 28, 2019Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut
4.04/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Sampling a 12 oz bottle poured at cellar temp into my snifter.
The beer pours a dark cola brown with a creamy tan head of about 1 cm. This foam fades to an edge layer pretty quickly after the pour. There is also one large wispy island remaining in the center of the glass.
Aroma is some dark chocolate malt and a good dose of sweeter rye whisky and a little bit of vanilla. No hop character and the ABV is pretty subdued on the nose too. Nose is more mild than I expected, but still enjoyable.
First sip reveals a silky smooth textured beer with very mild and gentle carbonation that rolls softly across my palate.
Flavor is a bit of dark chocolate and some roasted malt too. There is a bit of a coffee note and again the whisky comes through a bit on the finish too. Still not any boozy warmth here, just the flavors of the whisky. So the beer is well hidden and the beer is easy to drink, for such a bigger brew. Another winner in the stout realm from Central Waters.
Nov 25, 2019The beer pours a dark cola brown with a creamy tan head of about 1 cm. This foam fades to an edge layer pretty quickly after the pour. There is also one large wispy island remaining in the center of the glass.
Aroma is some dark chocolate malt and a good dose of sweeter rye whisky and a little bit of vanilla. No hop character and the ABV is pretty subdued on the nose too. Nose is more mild than I expected, but still enjoyable.
First sip reveals a silky smooth textured beer with very mild and gentle carbonation that rolls softly across my palate.
Flavor is a bit of dark chocolate and some roasted malt too. There is a bit of a coffee note and again the whisky comes through a bit on the finish too. Still not any boozy warmth here, just the flavors of the whisky. So the beer is well hidden and the beer is easy to drink, for such a bigger brew. Another winner in the stout realm from Central Waters.
Reviewed by bowzer4birdie from Illinois
4.55/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.55/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This is their fantastic base beer in Rye barrels and it did not disappoint. I opened it too cold but allowed it to sit for an hour and it provided me with a great experience. Smooth with a noble simplicity that is the hallmark of CW BA beers.
Oct 22, 2019Reviewed by aleigator from Germany
3.63/5 rDev -13.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.63/5 rDev -13.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Pours a black color with a small mohagony colored head, which disappears right after pouring.
Smells of hazelnuts, cocoa and sweet milk chocolate. Has an oaky richness to it, with older wood, licorice and a dry booze note.
Has a medium mouthfeel, with a lively carbonation, which becomes the most apparent during its finish.
Tastes of baker chocolate, hot Bourbon and dried plums. Offers a lighter, boozy edge then, coated by licorice, fudge and a light hint of caramel. Finishes even heavier on the spices with a mineralic note and lasting barrel.
Drinks relatively thin for its high abv, with a slightly too present carbonation among an otherwise tasty flavor profile.
Oct 21, 2019Smells of hazelnuts, cocoa and sweet milk chocolate. Has an oaky richness to it, with older wood, licorice and a dry booze note.
Has a medium mouthfeel, with a lively carbonation, which becomes the most apparent during its finish.
Tastes of baker chocolate, hot Bourbon and dried plums. Offers a lighter, boozy edge then, coated by licorice, fudge and a light hint of caramel. Finishes even heavier on the spices with a mineralic note and lasting barrel.
Drinks relatively thin for its high abv, with a slightly too present carbonation among an otherwise tasty flavor profile.
Reviewed by beerloserLI from New York
4.19/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.19/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
A slick black pour with a frothy brown head. The nose is densely floral with malt and chocolate. That notes carry right over onto the initial sips. Added tones of the rye and barrel. Rather smooth on the flow and finish. Wonderful balance as with most of their variants. Additional notes of cocoa, vanilla, char, oak, and caramel. Full bodied but crazy smooth. Some slight alcohol heat but otherwise the high abv is well hidden.
Overall, excellent and one of the better newer variants that I’ve had so far.
Oct 13, 2019Overall, excellent and one of the better newer variants that I’ve had so far.
Brewer's Reserve Rye Barrel Stout from Central Waters Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
93 out of
100 with
190 ratings
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