‘Ale, Sun, Earth, and Sky.’ At Central Waters, it’s all about the elements.
And they take their Ale, Sun, Earth, and Sky motto seriously. The brewery is committed to being one of the most environmentally friendly breweries in the country. In fact, their sustainable initiatives have earned them the distinction of being one of the greenest breweries around, and they are currently the only brewery in Wisconsin’s Green Masters program. Green beer. Pretty cool, right?
Located just a few hours north of Madison, I’m excited to make the trip up to their taproom soon. They brew some of my summer favorites, specifically their HHG APA and Sumarillo IPL. So I’m excited to branch out and try some of their other great beers.
Oktoberfest Lager – 5.5% – Märzen
Central Waters calls their Oktoberfest a “radiant amber-colored brew that finishes crisp and clean.”
In the first few sips, I noticed a nice sweet caramel flavor, with a nice subtle kick of spicy hops, and a lingering fruit/lemony finish.
‘God bless
the good earth
and the ale she
puts forth.’
Mudpuppy Porter – 5.5% – Porter
CW says the Mudpuppy is “characterized by its thick rocky head and luscious chocolate-like nose plus delicate char.”
The description is right on the money here. It has a rich roasted malt flavor, with dominant oatmeal earthiness and chocolate flavor. The finish has that burnt, smoky campfire char.
‘When the
beer is just
right. It can
illuminate the night.’
Shine On Ale – 4.6% – Amber Ale
Shine On, as per CW, “delivers baked-fresh, bready maltiness and a bright, clean finish.”
You definitely noticed the fresh-baked breadyiness. There’s a lot of grain/bready malt flavor, as well as some nuttiness. I also tasted some hints of apple/pear like fruit.
‘Her smile
like the sun
warming up a room
on a Sunday afternoon
lighting up my
life for a night.’
Rift – 6.5% – IPA
The Rift IPA has a cool backstory actually. Central Waters was inspired by the five breeds of heron that reside in the Great Rift Valley region of Kenya. So in homage to the five herons (also CW’s mascot), the brewery made “and IPA with five different hops blanketed over a foundation of clean malt.”
As an avid IPA fan, I loved it. It was a fruit forward beer, with lots of grapefruit, mango, and citrus flavor. There was also noticeable piney hop flavor, and behind all the bitterness, there was sweet caramel malts. It’s a very refreshing IPA.
‘Lake waves on my tired feet
stranded on a twilight beach
cicadas sing their summer song
setting sun like a dream on fire
isn’t it funny how simple things leave you
so inspired?’