Brewer's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Scotch Ale | Central Waters Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
Central Waters Brewing Co.
Wisconsin, United States
centralwaters.com
Style: Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.50%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Cherrywood smoked Scotch ale aged in used 12 year old bourbon barrels.
Added by tourdot on 07-15-2013
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 954 | Reviews: 186
4.33/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.31/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.44/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
I do not remember the whole story, but PA (Philadelphia & its neighbors) is the only place that gets Central Waters BC distro outside of Wisco & it is due to a friendship on the part of the owner/brewer. I have met him on a couple of occasions during PHL Beer Week & I always feel a twinge of excitement when I see his beers on the shelf.
From the bottle: "This rich, malty ale has been aged to perfection in our barrel house. Subtle and smooth, this is a decadent display of patience and process. Join us in a toast to good health. Slainte!"
Mine was a 2016 vintage, so once I had Pop!ped the cap, I conducted a gentle pour in deference to its age. After a sufficient amount had been decanted, I gave it a vigorous in-glass swirl to raise a brief finger of foamy, deep-tan/light-brown head with modest retention that soon fell away to wisps. Color was Dark Brown to Very Dark Brown (SRM = > 27, < 34) with NE-quality clarity & cola highlights. Nose was malty, all right, but very peaty. It had a sweet smokiness like meat was being cured. Mmmm. Mouthfeel was medium to full, not quite creamy, but it did feel as though a dollop had been scooped onto my tongue. I simply allowed it to roll around, savoring its rich smokiness imbued with a chocolate & caramel sweetness. It also had a slightly medicinal quality, like that time that I tasted a tad bit of my maternal grandparents' Geritol. Do they even still make that stuff? It taught me a valuable lesson NOT to taste medicines that were advertised on daytime television. Warming, the flavors seemed to magnify. Magnifique! The smokiness really began to take ahold and it seemed to permeate my sinus cavity, which means a break after this one to allow the taste and smell to dissipate. It was not necessarily boozy, but at the same time, its ABV was noticeable, giving me cause to pause. Finish was sweet, smoky, chocolaty, but I was not getting as much bourbon flavor as I had hoped for. Ah, well, can't have it all, right?
1,979 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
I do not remember the whole story, but PA (Philadelphia & its neighbors) is the only place that gets Central Waters BC distro outside of Wisco & it is due to a friendship on the part of the owner/brewer. I have met him on a couple of occasions during PHL Beer Week & I always feel a twinge of excitement when I see his beers on the shelf.
From the bottle: "This rich, malty ale has been aged to perfection in our barrel house. Subtle and smooth, this is a decadent display of patience and process. Join us in a toast to good health. Slainte!"
Mine was a 2016 vintage, so once I had Pop!ped the cap, I conducted a gentle pour in deference to its age. After a sufficient amount had been decanted, I gave it a vigorous in-glass swirl to raise a brief finger of foamy, deep-tan/light-brown head with modest retention that soon fell away to wisps. Color was Dark Brown to Very Dark Brown (SRM = > 27, < 34) with NE-quality clarity & cola highlights. Nose was malty, all right, but very peaty. It had a sweet smokiness like meat was being cured. Mmmm. Mouthfeel was medium to full, not quite creamy, but it did feel as though a dollop had been scooped onto my tongue. I simply allowed it to roll around, savoring its rich smokiness imbued with a chocolate & caramel sweetness. It also had a slightly medicinal quality, like that time that I tasted a tad bit of my maternal grandparents' Geritol. Do they even still make that stuff? It taught me a valuable lesson NOT to taste medicines that were advertised on daytime television. Warming, the flavors seemed to magnify. Magnifique! The smokiness really began to take ahold and it seemed to permeate my sinus cavity, which means a break after this one to allow the taste and smell to dissipate. It was not necessarily boozy, but at the same time, its ABV was noticeable, giving me cause to pause. Finish was sweet, smoky, chocolaty, but I was not getting as much bourbon flavor as I had hoped for. Ah, well, can't have it all, right?
1,979 characters
4.19/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.14/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap. Lots of barrel in the smell and taste. Almost too much, as the sweetness it a bit overdone. Oak and tannins for sure. Slight alcohol heat. Overall a solid beer but just a bit much on the sweet. Normally I love all the barrel I can get, this proves the exception
269 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap. Lots of barrel in the smell and taste. Almost too much, as the sweetness it a bit overdone. Oak and tannins for sure. Slight alcohol heat. Overall a solid beer but just a bit much on the sweet. Normally I love all the barrel I can get, this proves the exception
269 characters
4.25/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.41/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Moderate pour yields a tan head over a dark brown/mahogany body with nice lacing. Nose of dark fruit, caramel , oak, vanilla, and roasted malts. Taste follows with all of the above aromas now transferred to your palate. Yum! Smooth taste and creamy feel. Overall, very well done!
279 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Moderate pour yields a tan head over a dark brown/mahogany body with nice lacing. Nose of dark fruit, caramel , oak, vanilla, and roasted malts. Taste follows with all of the above aromas now transferred to your palate. Yum! Smooth taste and creamy feel. Overall, very well done!
279 characters
4.73/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
12 oz. bottle - vintage 2016
Pours dark maroon red with a dense creamy khaki colored foam head. Smells like toasted brown bread, nutty oak, rich caramel, toffee, molasses, vanilla, bourbon, some chocolate, smoke, dried fruits, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Tastes like dried fruit and dark fruits, plum, cherry, grapes, raisin, prunes, figs, apricot, dates, toasted brown bread, nutty oak, rich caramel, toffee, molasses, vanilla, bourbon, some chocolate, smoke, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Feels medium bodied, creamy and smooth with moderate low carbonation. Overall a really nice bourbon barrel aged scotch ale.
635 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
12 oz. bottle - vintage 2016
Pours dark maroon red with a dense creamy khaki colored foam head. Smells like toasted brown bread, nutty oak, rich caramel, toffee, molasses, vanilla, bourbon, some chocolate, smoke, dried fruits, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Tastes like dried fruit and dark fruits, plum, cherry, grapes, raisin, prunes, figs, apricot, dates, toasted brown bread, nutty oak, rich caramel, toffee, molasses, vanilla, bourbon, some chocolate, smoke, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Feels medium bodied, creamy and smooth with moderate low carbonation. Overall a really nice bourbon barrel aged scotch ale.
635 characters
4.23/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.46/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.24/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Smooth, seductive and oily. This is a much more subtle execution of the style than say Backwoods Bastard or Wulver.
It's difficult to talk about this beer without first mentioning Bastard or Wulver due to the fact that those two have long had the upper hand on the style.
Well Central Waters has an excellent example and it is delicious.
The bourbon is more subtle and tame allowing the base beer to shine and be the star of this show rather than trying to wow the drinker with heat.
Still a slow sipper nonetheless as well as very approachable. Good flavors and feel. Well done
579 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Smooth, seductive and oily. This is a much more subtle execution of the style than say Backwoods Bastard or Wulver.
It's difficult to talk about this beer without first mentioning Bastard or Wulver due to the fact that those two have long had the upper hand on the style.
Well Central Waters has an excellent example and it is delicious.
The bourbon is more subtle and tame allowing the base beer to shine and be the star of this show rather than trying to wow the drinker with heat.
Still a slow sipper nonetheless as well as very approachable. Good flavors and feel. Well done
579 characters
4.27/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.87/5 rDev +13.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
CENTRAL WATERS BREWERS RESERVE BBA SCOTCH ALE 2/21/17
Poured from the 12 oz. bottle into a Samuel Smith English nonick
a: Nearly black clear ruby with a two inch thick offwhite head which receded to thick surface foam and dense lacing.
s; Whiskey and caramel malt.
t; Whiskey with considerable prominence, cut with mild caramel malt. Sweet finish with some pleasing bitter notes. 9.5% ABV is beautifully covered.
m; Medium to full, excellent substantial yet smooth body and some carbonation tingle.
o; An excellent BBA Scotch ale! May be superior to my favorite, Founders' Backwoods Bastard, due to a bit more sweet malt flavor balancing the strong whiskey presence. One of the best BBA Scotch ales available.
719 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
CENTRAL WATERS BREWERS RESERVE BBA SCOTCH ALE 2/21/17
Poured from the 12 oz. bottle into a Samuel Smith English nonick
a: Nearly black clear ruby with a two inch thick offwhite head which receded to thick surface foam and dense lacing.
s; Whiskey and caramel malt.
t; Whiskey with considerable prominence, cut with mild caramel malt. Sweet finish with some pleasing bitter notes. 9.5% ABV is beautifully covered.
m; Medium to full, excellent substantial yet smooth body and some carbonation tingle.
o; An excellent BBA Scotch ale! May be superior to my favorite, Founders' Backwoods Bastard, due to a bit more sweet malt flavor balancing the strong whiskey presence. One of the best BBA Scotch ales available.
719 characters
4.58/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A: I poured this into one of my new pokal gems. Not a thistle, but I'm still on the hunt for my holy grail. Pours what looks like a deep dark brown, but actually when held up to light, exposes that it's the deepest tone of red mahogany. Brilliantly clear with a tightly knit tan head that stays well, resembling the head of an espresso.
A: Instantly bombarded with vanilla, caramel, molasses, vanilla, oak, bourbon, dark fruits, and did I mention vanilla?
T: Toffee right off the bat. I can't help but say figgy pudding, in a good way of course! Vanilla, caramel, and a touch of oak finishes it off. The oak dominantly stays in the aftertaste.
F: Rich, medium carbonation, full bodied, smooth, sticky, some alcohol warmth, and has a hint of a tannin like finish.
O: This is outstanding! Very well may be one of my favorite beers I've tried. Love the style, love bourbon barrel aged, and love the combo, and this one does not disappoint. Slainte!
950 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A: I poured this into one of my new pokal gems. Not a thistle, but I'm still on the hunt for my holy grail. Pours what looks like a deep dark brown, but actually when held up to light, exposes that it's the deepest tone of red mahogany. Brilliantly clear with a tightly knit tan head that stays well, resembling the head of an espresso.
A: Instantly bombarded with vanilla, caramel, molasses, vanilla, oak, bourbon, dark fruits, and did I mention vanilla?
T: Toffee right off the bat. I can't help but say figgy pudding, in a good way of course! Vanilla, caramel, and a touch of oak finishes it off. The oak dominantly stays in the aftertaste.
F: Rich, medium carbonation, full bodied, smooth, sticky, some alcohol warmth, and has a hint of a tannin like finish.
O: This is outstanding! Very well may be one of my favorite beers I've tried. Love the style, love bourbon barrel aged, and love the combo, and this one does not disappoint. Slainte!
950 characters
4.28/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Tan head. Caramel dark brown color.
Nice and malty with a great bourbon and oak presence. Vanilla, toffee, caramel, cocoa, raisins, plums, and molasses.
Medium to full bodied.
This is one of the better ba scotch beers out there and for the price, it can't be beat. Full of flavor.
284 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Tan head. Caramel dark brown color.
Nice and malty with a great bourbon and oak presence. Vanilla, toffee, caramel, cocoa, raisins, plums, and molasses.
Medium to full bodied.
This is one of the better ba scotch beers out there and for the price, it can't be beat. Full of flavor.
284 characters
4.33/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a dark brown, no head at all whatsoever. Smells like charred oak and marshmallows. Some chocolate as well. Definitely a lot of burnt marshmallow character. Lots of burnt sugar. It's a little thin. At the same time, it is so nicely drinkable that it's hard to knock Central Waters' hustle. Just a really nice Scotch Ale.
326 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a dark brown, no head at all whatsoever. Smells like charred oak and marshmallows. Some chocolate as well. Definitely a lot of burnt marshmallow character. Lots of burnt sugar. It's a little thin. At the same time, it is so nicely drinkable that it's hard to knock Central Waters' hustle. Just a really nice Scotch Ale.
326 characters
4.35/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Brewer's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Scotch Ale from Central Waters Brewing Co.
4.3
out of 5
based on 954 ratings.
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25