Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Stout

The Dirt
I've been eagerly waiting for the day to write this review. Quite possibly one of the best beers I've ever had, Central Waters' Bourbon Barrel Stout is what I measure all other bourbon barrel stouts against. It's basically the beer lover's dessert, with a silky dark chocolate and bourbon profile that is smooth as a baby's bottom from start to finish. It gets this silky smooth profile by not having much carbonation, which makes the dark chocolate and bourbon all that more easy to savor. Heck, it's still absolutely smooth and delicious if you let it warm up a bit, though the bourbon will become more pronounced (oops...darn).

Although the bourbon is certainly noticeable no matter what the temp, it's not overpowering in my opinion. It provides a perfect sweetness and a bit of booze to go with the tart dark chocolate elements. Honestly, I wish this beer would never end. Any more of any single element would throw off the delicate balance this beer has, and what it has is perfect.

Worth it?
To me this beer would be worth it at any price. Amazingly, it's like $7 for a 4-pack. It doesn't get much more awesome than that folks. Sadly it is only available in Wisconsin (and maybe neighboring states). Road trip anyone?

The Final Word

Rockyard Bourbon Strike Stout

The Dirt
Ever wondered what a spiked oatmeal chocolate chip cookie would be like? Me neither, but that's what this guy reminded me of, and it was delicious. The combination of an oatmeal stout and aging in bourbon barrels made for a unique flavor profile, which at times almost tasted like toffee as well. The front end displays more of the stout, followed by the bourbon, but then quickly balanced by a sweet and oaty-ness of the oatmeal. It then finishes with a caramel bourbon flavor when it's all said and done. With all that flavor, it's certainly a dessert time beer, although it's not as heavy as you might expect which makes it rather drinkable. It could have used a little more alcohol to cut some of the sweetness, but overall was a very delicious experience.

Worth it?
Indeed it was. Not something I would drink too often, but will look forward to having it every once in a while.

The Final Word