Oshkosh Beer Sampler 019: Central Waters La Petite Mort

A slanted and endless survey of what’s pouring in Oshkosh, tallied one beer at a time.


What: Central Waters La Petite Mort, a Weissenbock (sorta) aged in bourbon barrels.

Where: In the packaged beer section at Gardina’s in Oshkosh where they’re selling it in 22 oz. bombers for $11.99

Why: Because a beer this ugly has to taste good. And it does. Actually, this is way beyond good. First, let’s tackle the ugly: upon pouring, the beer collects into a brown pool that’s so murky you could hide a finger in it. As a Weissenbock (sorta) you expect a bit of yeasty cloudiness, but this goes straight to opaque with a limpid, little head that quickly sneaks away. Sniff it and you’ll forgive it’s putrid appearance. Central Waters describes the base beer as a “Belgian inspired Weissenbock.” Judging by the aroma, that sounds about right. There’s breeze of Belgian yeast character (think bananas and black pepper) that mixes with a wave of toasty wood and bourbon. The flavor is defined by that signature Central Waters bourbon-barrel gig, with threads of dark fruit, vanilla and bourbon swirling though the mix. It’s quite rich with a silky mouthfeel that conceals the alcohol. The ABV isn’t listed on the bottle, but I’m guessing it’s around 9%. This is a great beer, however, there’s a catch. It's a limited release and little of it has been allotted to the Fox Valley. If you want to indulge in this one, move quick. At last check, Gardina’s still had a few bottles left.