Central Waters (2023)

Seconded

 

I've mostly learned to just pass on the cocktail inspired BA beers. They just don't do it for me regardless of the brewery.

 

I managed to nab a bottle of the PH anniversary. I enjoyed it, maybe more than the "regular" anniversary stouts. I'm particular about additives in stouts and didn't pick up much of the orange (not an additive per se) in this one. It's there but very subtle. The extended aging does add a bit of depth, but it's not boozy. I imagine the draft beer would be the same as the bottle in this respect since the orange is derived from the barrel, but I could see a higher carbonation level possibly accentuating the orange.
Just one dummkopf's opinion.

 

The Mke taproom currently has 25, orange curacao 25, Black Gold, and Toppling Waters. All in bombers just quietly there for the taking.

I asked how much more Toppling Waters was still in existence and was put under the impression this info is a very closely guarded secret. Anyway, there was 6 or 7 cases of bombers at $50 each as of 2:30 this afternoon.

 

Another anniversary stout release May 6th. 2 bottles; their recipe for Sixteen aged 18 year Elijah Craig barrels and same recipe aged in Four Roses barrels. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?st...7yKE82Y43aF5LZJ5kv4MCCtF8l&id=100064332233587

 

And from the sounds of their post, may not be the last of the 25th Anni releases.

 

I've finally worked my way through these. I personally felt like the 5 year was a little dry and preferred the 4 year ever so slightly.

4 yr > 5 yr > 3 yr > Iced > 2 yr > single yr (didn't get the cognac)

I've always loved CW Barleywine and glad my trip to MKE corresponded with the BW release. Seems like CW is doing lots of cool stuff. When I saw the latest announcement regarding 3 yr Elijah Craig and Four Roses treatment it made me think of Ardea Insignis which was 3 yrs in 25 yr old barrels. Man... that beer was phenomenal if that is what they are referring to in their latest announcement. I love non-adjunct BA stouts and AI was definitely one of my favs. However, I feel like this beer was released after 2014 so the Sixteen guess is probably more likely. I'll be quiet as to not get the hype train going before the release... Unfortunately I won't be in MKE to catch these but will be ISO!!!

 

Freakin love the iced one. It's troublesome how smooth it is because it'll hit you hard.

Honestly thought the cognac was a bit weaker than the 3yr brandy they did last year, but the cognac BW was also supposed to be the English base recipe brewed in Mke from what I was told. I still haven't had them all but wasn't blown away by cognac out of the can. Not bad by any means, but the BBA ones with the original recipe destroy it IMO.

 

If you haven't grabbed any of CW Mke's Mexican lagers to have at the ready for the incoming warm weather you are missing out. I've become a bit of a lager snob since being exposed to the likes of Goldfinger and Art History and I gotta say both the regular and lime versions of CW's Cocina get a big thumbs up from me. 1840 made a Mexican lager with that same heirloom Oaxacan green corn last year and it was one of my favorite brews of 2022. CW's is right there with it IMO.

Sincerely, some random idiot.

 

Not only do I have to go to page 3 to find the CW thread, but no mention of the Twenty-five variant aged for 52 months in Pappy barrels?

SHAME!

 

It seems like either they aren't brewing as many four packs of stouts/barleywines as they used to, or they're focusing on the Milwaukee taproom or something because I barely ever see their stuff around the twin cities anymore. It bums be out because it's nice to have an option for a four pack of BA stouts that is available whenever, but without Central Waters around to fill that role, Boulevard is one of the last I can find consistently.

 

The only ones I ever see are the fake cocktail beers, which I have no interest in. The good ol' stout, barleywine & scotch ales have disappeared from Chicago.

 

I almost went to Amherst last Saturday, but didn't. I went to the Car show at the MN state fair grounds instead. I do have some barrel age CW beers in fridge already. I'm not sure what the price of the big whalers were last Saturday. CW doesn't distro the Barley Wines anymore it appears. I have some 3 years old BW's in cans, it's good and better than the 1 years old bottles.

 

The releases have been $25 a bottle for every 25 special release.

 

Well It's pretty delicous!

 

So, are we all super pumped up for habanero pepper Black Gold?

 

The honey one could be good with light heat. I just hope the spicy one isn’t on the same level as Space Ghost. That stuff had an undrinkable level of heat for me. I like spicy food, but don’t enjoy it as much with beer.

 

It's funny how subjective and context-sensitive spicy flavors can be. When I drink something like Huna or Abraxas where the heat is incorporated into a broader flavor profile I always find myself wishing for more tingle on the finish like Westbrook Mexican Cake has. The one and only time I had Space Ghost I was instantly like "Nope, dump that shit out and crack something else." Same with habanero Sculpin. Hot food can be delicious even if it's a sweaty adventure to eat it all. But I feel like hot for the sake of hot is a different beast attracting a different kind of thrill-seeker.