[Cellar Review] Central Waters Brewers Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout (2011 Vintage)

Brewed By: Central Waters Brewing Co. in Amherst, Wisconsin

Purchased: 12oz bottle from a 4-pack bought at Humboldt Haus On The Boulevard Liquors And Spirits in Chicago, IL; 2014 (2011 bottle)

Style/ABV: American Stout/Imperial Stout, ?.?%???

Reported IBUs: ?

Back in early 2014 I reviewed the 2013 Vintage of Central Waters' Bourbon Barrel Stout. I love that beer, it's a fantastic bourbon barrel stout, and you should buy it if you see it. The story behind tonight's beer is that I was hunting for the 2014 vintage of the Bourbon Barrel Stout. So far, the 2014 vintage has not hit my distro yet. I did, however, see that someone was selling the Bourbon Barrel Stout per BeerMenus. I hopped in my car and went to check it out. When I arrived, I discovered that the store was selling the 2011 Vintage. WHAT? I asked the guy who was working there what the story is with the 2011 vintage. According to the employee, they put in an order for the 2014 Bourbon Barrel Stout, but it is currently unavailable. Central Waters was able to hook them up with some of this 2011 vintage. Apparently, they just have some of this stuff laying around. Cool beans. So...I guess we are doing an impromptu cellar review. About Central Waters: 

Central Waters was founded in 1996 by two friends, Mike McElwain and Jerome Ebel. The two bought an old brick building in Junction City, Wisconsin. During the next two years, the two restored the building, and put in brewing equipment. A few months later, Paul Graham joined the brewery. After three years under the original ownership, the brewery was sold to brewer Paul Graham and home-brewer Clint Schultz. On the brewery's five-year anniversary, Central Waters purchased a new brew house because the old location was having issues with equipment and age. In 2006, Clint Schultz left the brewery. The brewery is currently owned and operated by Paul Graham and Anello Mollica. To read more about the brewery, check out their history page.

The Brewers Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout is part of the brewers reserve series. This one is aged in used oak bourbon barrels, and is described as containing notes of bourbon, vanilla, and roast. 

Central Waters Brewers Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout (2011 Vintage)

The 2011 vintage pours into a dark brown, and eventually opaque body. This looks like it has thinned out a bit with time, pouring more into a cola brown than obsidian black. The beer kicked up a finger of brown head, but the head is short lived. There is some head retention in the form of a cauldron effect, and there is lacing and glossy alcohol legs. Overall, this has held up well in the bottle over the past few years.

On the aroma: one of my favorite things ever, especially in an aged beer. I'm talking about that mother fucking Twizzlers note. This also dives right into big flowers, huge floral aromas, dark fruits, perfume, figs, dates, raisins, and underlying whiskey/bourbon sweetness. After three years, I'm still getting some faint wood, vanilla, bourbon, and chocolate. The nose smells absolutely melded, and this smells like a well integrated beer. I'm really excited to taste this.

Wow. This is fantastic. I know now why Central Waters decided to selectively release a ton of this 2011 vintage into the local supply...this has aged fantastically, melding whiskey raisins and bourbon dark fruits into chocolate, cocoa, wood, and barrel. This is super fused and melded, with Twizzlers, dark fruits, raisins, figs, and subtle oak, bourbon, chocolate, molasses, and vanilla. This is reminiscent of the aged 50/50 Eclipse bottles, which is high praise.

At ~9.5% per Untappd, this is drinking smoothly. I'm not getting much alcohol, minus the warming in my chest. This is sticky and sweet, with a full-bodied mouthfeel. There is still some nice carbonation three years later. This is very complex, and the palate depth is good. Up front: chocolate, bourbon, dark fruits, Twizzlers; the mids roll into some bourbon spice, barrel, wood, tannin, cocoa, vanilla; the back end hits whiskey raisin bliss, with more dark fruits and tons of complexity. This is the fucking tits.  

Rating: Above-Average (4.5/5.0 Untappd)

I'm feeling a Strong Above-Average here. I have to dwell on this before I bump it to that Divine Brew level, but holy shit, this 2011 Vintage aged gracefully. This has melded into something that is incredibly complex, balanced, and delicious. I would not age this any longer, because the touch of oxidation I am getting is only going to grow. Right now, this is amaze-balls. Food pairings here include nothing. Pour this beer into your glass, and fucking enjoy it.

Random Thought: When Central Waters hits their stride, they make some impressive beer. Their Bourbon Barrel Stout is the consolation prize for all you folks that couldn't land some Bourbon County Stout.