One-liter foil-clad swing-top bottle. Poured a very deep red/amber with little head (what little bubbles did rise were tan in color). The aroma was interesting - it was very sweet and malty (quite in style for a barley wine), but there was an interesting hoppiness and earthiness as well. The aroma also had a very subtle touch of smokiness. The taste was very sweet and malty, but a strong hop flavor was present. The hops tasted a little grassy, but mostly earthy and flowery - perhaps a touch of pine, too. On the tip of the tongue, the combination was quite complex. By mid-tongue, it was a very palatable blend of sweet and bitter (leaning more towards sweet). The finish was full bodied, but still hoppy. The burps afterward taste just like the beer did: very malty with flowery hops. The mouthfeel was thick, but had sufficient carbonation to not make it feel syrupy. Overall, it was a very nice barley wine. The hops provided just the right balance to prevent the massive malts from being cloying. I would have a hard time believing this beer is 90 IBU considering the strength (10%) and how accented the flavor is towards malt. But the labeling aside, it was very pleasant.