So, I saw people on Untappd drinking Central Waters Brewer’s Reserve Bourbon Barrel Cherry Stout, and I knew right away I wanted to try this beer. I have been sampling a number of beers from this brewery lately, and I have very much enjoyed them all. Most of them, I should add, have been some form of imperial stout. I'm also a fan of cherry stouts, so there is that too, and hey, people trying this one seemed to give it high marks.
So, imagine my delight when I saw this at Half Time Beverage, and of course, a can went straight into my cart. Half Time saves the day again. I didn't wait long to drink it after I bought it.
Ingredients, from the website:
Hop Varieties Northern Brewer, Willamette
Malts Caramel, Chocolate, Roasted Barley
Nowhere on my label did it state the alcohol content, though I figured it was potent when I drank it. The brewery website, though, states the beer has an alcohol content of 11.3% by volume. My can was stamped CANNED ON 04/21/26.
About Central Waters Brewery
Central Waters brewery was founded in 1998 in Junction City, Wisconsin by Mike McElwain and Jerome Ebel. They later sold the brewery to employees Paul Graham and Anello Mollica who own it to this day. Central Waters relocated Amherst, Wisconsin in 2007 as an expansion, and later opened a taproom in Milwaukee to satisfy demand for their beers. They are an environmentally conscious operation, and use solar power to make their beer.
Central Waters Brewer's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Cherry Stout in a Leinekugel Brewing Glass
Tasting Notes
Central Waters Brewer’s Reserve Bourbon Barrel Cherry Stout, pours to a dark brownish black (not opaque) color with a moderate short-lived head and a nose of bourbon-soaked cherries. Taking a sip, the beer is medium in body, though I want more in an imperial stout. It's not all that roasty either, but the sherries quickly pop and save the day. They are bright and juicy and tart and combine nicely with the warming boozy bourbon that explodes in the finish. Chocolate, bourbon soaked cherries, and cherry chocolate candy abound.
Value & Verdict
I paid $6.99 for a 12-ounce can from Half Time, and Total Wine lists it for $16.49 a 4-pack in Greenfield, Wisconsin. There website says it is in stock there as I type.
Would be perfect with more body, but gets high marks as it is. Would I buy it again? Try to stop me.
