SpringsLicker (4002) - Tennessee, USA - DEC 16, 2023UPDATED: DEC 16, 2023 2006 Swingtop from the cellar.
Dark cola brown that thins a bit at the edges. Nose of molasses, soy, booze.
Sweet boozy complex.
nimbleprop (15311) - Southeast, Washington, Washington DC, USA - APR 1, 20172009 swingtop which had been aging gracefully in my cellar. Pours a viscous, dark brown with no head a some legs. Nose is heavy with booze and port, heavy with wet wood and mushrooms, umami notes, some soy, some BBQ sauce. Flavor has more mushroom, more soy, some brown sugar, caramel, booze and port. A little tar too. Oily finish, still a touch hot.
AirForceHops (14953) - Epping, New Hampshire, USA - APR 25, 2015Waxed 12oz bottle shared by Willrunforber. Bottling date of 5/30/13. Dark amber color with mild beige head that didn’t lace much. Aroma is brown sugar, dark fruit and molasses. Flavor is mild anise, oak, molasses and mild hop character. Good amount of bitterness that lingers after the sip. Really damn smooth at this point, just how I like my barely wines.
WillRunForBeer (2859) - Massachusetts, USA - APR 25, 2015Waxed 12oz bottle straight fro the brewery. Bottled 5/30/13. Pours reddish brown with a touch of beige head. Aroma is brown sugar, dark fruit. Flavor is dark fruit, brown sugar, licorice, vanilla, oak.
AdamChandler (6124) - Enfield, New Hampshire, USA - APR 25, 201512oz from WillRun. Enjoyed @ room temp. Dark orange, very little head. Smell of chocolate, a bit of turpentine, pistachio, oak. taste is nice. alcohol and sweetness are both subdued. Toffee, caramel and oak. intense english hop bitterness that lingers with a sticky high ibu finish. not bad.
tectactoe (3125) - Michigan, USA - MAR 24, 2015Bottle: Deep chestnut brown & burnt copper color with a foamy & bubbly khaki foam on top. Aroma loaded with red grape, caramel, mild toffee, butterscotch, a bit of sherry-like alcoholic warmth, lighter hints of chocolate, roast, spicy oak, & earthy, ashy hops. Flavor is warming, full of booze but not overly abrasive. Caramel, butter toffee, light vanilla, & a nice back-end shows a good amount of bourbon soaked wood. Light prune/raisin essence with a bit of anise, roast, & earth showing up at times. Finishes with a kiss of bourbon, wood, burnt caramel, & a slight touch of vanilla. Somewhat thin mouth feel, but overall pretty nice.
Drake (21771) - Appleton, Wisconsin, USA - FEB 3, 2015Bottle shared at a tasting. Pours a clear red with a thin frothy tan head. Good head retention. Aroma of toffee, caramel, vanilla, earth, dark fruits. The taste is toffee and bitter hops. Medium bodied, low carbonation, astringent.
warhawk91 (302) - Newington, Connecticut, USA - JAN 4, 201412 oz. bottle purchased directly from the brewery. Pour is a beautiful deep crimson dark amber, mostly clear. Light beige head which reduces to a bubbly ring around the glass after a few minutes. Really good lacing considering ABV, and definite alcohol legs. Aroma stands up to the appearance. Big caramel and dark fruit notes along with whiskey, oak and vanilla. Mild hints of chocolate and espresso. Taste is boozier than the smell. Big notes of whiskey, caramel and oak. Also getting some smoke and dark fruit along with dark chocolate. Alcohol definitely makes its presence felt, this is a huge beer with a lot going on. Nice syrupy and viscous texture which is a must for this style. Takes on a little more hop and malt presence and less booze as it warms. It's refreshing to see an American brewery make a barley wine that focuses on the malt and doesn't make it a hop bomb. Great brew and I'm proud to say it comes from my home town of Bloomfield, CT!!
---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone
Durge (1) - USA - DEC 24, 2013 does not count A deep dark brown-black colored brew with a modest light tan head that forms a sturdy ring and similarly fair lacing. The aroma is chewy with woodsy malt sherry and vanilla molasses. Wonderful. The flavor brings plenty of the same ideas. The initial taste brings heavy prune and tobacco malt, cherries and walnuts. There’s a woodsy peat and root beer character to it and a slight alcohol touch that provides decent warming as this full bodied, heavy feeling barleywine slides down your gullet. Carbonation is subtle but cuts through to provide a tingle in the tongue. Excellent stuff and perfect for a holiday sipper.
jkwood04 (5969) - Connecticut, USA - OCT 4, 20132005 bottle in a snifter. Pours deep brown with a small head. Aroma of roasted and chocolate and sweet malts, some very light bitterness, and hints of oxidation. Flavor the same, with just a hint of off-notes from the age. Average to smooth texture. Interesting, and would definitely like to try a newer batch.