Seen the Reserve Cassian Stout on tap at my favorite place. I ordered me up a snifter of this 11.7% imperial stout by Central Waters Brewing. A semi local brewery that has some impressive stuff.
Definite black black. Funny looking tan head. Like bubbling pancake batter. It disappears right away though, but it being barrel aged so that’s fine. Dont see anything for carbonation up the sides but those big bubbles on the head says there should be something.
Chocolate, nutty, vanilla aroma. Don’t get much for bourbon in the nose, but does have a boozy note. Every time I take a wiff there is something else happening. Late pruney or lite raisin starting to peak out, but it far in the back.
The taste is definitely barrel aged. Both bourbon and oaky tannins. Lite chocolate and that vanilla again. After taste shows cinnamon and something nutty like a hazelnut.
It’s got so much happening I didn’t even notice any roast until I went looking for it. But what it does have for roast is a coffeeish roast barley. It really is buried behind everything else.
As boozy as this tastes like, it does have some body to it. Does have legs on the swirl.
Cannot tell if it is the carbonation or hops that give a tongue bitter. But it’s right where it should be. I do think the posted 27 IBU is wrong. As it does have a bitter that cuts through all of the flavor layers.
Wow.. this was quite a ride. Big flavors, big booze. But it was smooth all around.
You should know by now I look for straight style beers, and not into the added flavors or gimmicks, but this one is good. It’s has a little of everything.
So I’m going quite high on this one
4.75/5.
Stoutmaker.beer 