Central Waters Has an Answer to February

Here’s the best antidote I can think of for our currently frigid state: If you can get your car started, crank it up and steer it to Festival Foods in Oshkosh where they now have the 2011 models of Central Waters’ Peruvian Morning and Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine. If these two behemoths don’t warm you up, consider yourself ready for the worms.

The Peruvian Morning is an 8.5% imperial stout made with fresh roasted coffee and aged in bourbon barrels. It’s an incredible beer. Outsized chocolate and bourbon fumes lead you to a delicious swirl of boozed-up coffee flavors that melt into a nice and easy landing that’s full of sweet vanilla. This is the best beer I’ve had since Saturday.

If Peruvian Morning isn’t big enough for you, go straight to the 11.5% Bourbon Barrel Barleywine. There’s so much going on with this one that it’s nearly overwhelming. The barrel aging produces a somewhat piercing bourbon aroma, but the flavor of the beer is much more settled. It starts like a liquid dose of turbinado sugar giving way to a jolt of alcoholic sweetness that makes your face glow. The hefty blush of caramelized dark fruit flavors that follow will coat your mouth and grip your insides. This beer is a physical experience! It’s quite good right now, but I’m really looking forward to seeing what it tastes like in a few more months (and if I can hold out, a couple more years).

Festival Foods in Oshkosh has a very limited supply of both of these beers. Four packs are going for $10.99 and they’re worth every penny.