Brewer's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Scotch Ale | Central Waters Brewing Co.

4.89/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours deep brown, one finger of tan head drops to a ring.

Aroma hints at sherry and stone fruit

Flavor is sweet, vaguely Smokey, buttery oak and vanilla

Mouthfeel is lush and heavy, carbonation level perfect for the style

Outstanding example of the style, you might have to go to Scotland to do any better

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4.74/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4.35/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

4.52/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

3.75/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

4.52/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

4.38/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

4.11/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

4.17/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

4.28/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

4.37/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

4.1/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4.11/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Thanks to Virby44 for the trade. 2017 vintage served in a tulip. Pours one shade shy of black with a tight, tan-colored head embedded with pinpricks. Head eventually settles into a solid, quarter inch cap. Swaths and spots lot lacing coat one side of the glass. What a decadent nose on this beer - malted chocolate and huge butterscotch notes. Taste follows nose; however, much more muted. There's also a hint of cherry in the flavor profile followed by residual notes of spirits from the barrel and a kiss of peat that keeps it on par with the style. Mouthfeel is a bit thin. Light-medium, but closer to light, with a mild, even carbonation. Overall, a very tasty beer; however, the body is a bit thin, which ends up detracting from the overall experience.

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4.24/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This is from the 2016 vintage. Quite nice, a little on the thinner side as is the Stout but still quite good. Easy to drink, some might wish for some more heft behind it, but I think it is just right.

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4.3/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

How did they get me to like a Scotch ale? I guess it comes down to the bourbon barrel and smoked wood. If I ever get asked what my favorite Scotch ale is, this is my answer as to #1 in the world.

Pours a ruddy brown, not overly harsh dark brown or anything, average brown, lighter brown head, 1/2". Aroma is a smooth bourbon presence, minor smoking.

Taste continues with the 'smoov' descriptor. A mellow fellow of a ride. A mixture of unsweetened caramel and toffee, brown malt, bourbon, wood, smoke and vanilla. All of this is minimalistic but yet the sum of the products together is that sweet spot. Nothing in terms of bitterness going here, amazing mouthfeel, great low carb to help the layers of flavor sit and reside all the way through.

Quite the gem, and they hold up so well over time. I'm always looking to amass and drink more of these. All other scotch ales pale in comparison.

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4.09/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Found this pack today. Upon arriving home I was disappointed to find it is the 2016 version. I'm not too keen on aged BA beer.

Age has sweetened this more than I'd have liked. There is a bit too much raw sugar, it seems to mask most of the smoke. I get plenty of barrel character, sweet bourbon, vanilla, and light oak. There is also a note of stone fruit that I appreciate.

This was quite good, but I'll keep my eyes out for a fresher bottle in the future.

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4.44/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

4.29/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2015 bottle- poured into snifter. Dark brown color, little head. Faint hint of bourbon to nose, noticeable on palate in nice way. Well balanced with roasted malts.

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3.5/5  rDev -18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

4.29/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Scotch Ale pours a dark brown color, with a very small, lacing head. Big sharp aroma,lots of malts, bourbon and oak. Taste is also very big, boozy and warm, with sharp malt flavors, mixed with bourbon and scotch notes. Good body and feel. Overall, its a very big, boozy beer.

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4.06/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4.18/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25