Central Waters Brewer's Reserve Barrel-Aged Scotch Ale

This beer is from Central Waters Brewing Company of Amherst, Wisconsin. It is part of their Brewer's Reserve series of barrel aged beers. This one takes their Scotch Ale and ages it in used oak bourbon barrels. 

The beer pours a very dark brown, nearing black, adding garnet. There is a short head of light tan foam. The aroma is bourbon, tangy fruit, caramel, a whiff of smokiness. The taste is deep and rich, dark roasted and a touch sweet, bourbon. The beer drinks smooth, round, warming, with a fairly dry finish for all its sweet notes. This is elegant, tasty and drinkable. 

 

 

Again in 2016: The beer pours a very dark brown, nearly black. There is a short head of tan foam. The aroma is very richly malty, toffee, dark caramel, almost sweet potato, dark fruit, vanilla, cherry, with a bourbony alcohol note more than bourbon itself. The taste follows the aromas, hitting all the same notes, but even richer, more mellow, more melded together than in the aroma. There is a bit of that Scotch Ale peat smoke on the end, subtle, but adding to the depth and character. The beer drinks smooth, nearing elegant. The beer has sweetness, but the finish is just this side of dry. This is one very nice beer.