Aberdeen Braveheart Barleywine

Formerly brewed at Aberdeen Brewing Co.
Style: Barley Wine
Valparaiso, Indiana USA

Serve in Snifter

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Displayed a hazy reddish hue with a small off-white head and good lace. The aroma hinted of roasted caramel malts, ripe fruits (cherry, apricot, plum), aromatic hops, earthy yeast eaters, and oak wood. The taste starts out malty sweet with a big kick of alcohol the wram the chest. A nice balance of bitterness shows up for balance. The finish is dry smoked wood and a touch yeasty. The mouthfeel is slighty sticky and lush, as stated earlier, a moderate alcohol presence is noted. A good brew, not huge but still a sipping brew.

Light malt nose. Bright fruit flavors, something like a hint of cherry. Nice arming alcohol feeling. Some good hops in the finish, which gives it a good contrast and makes it smooth. Dark red gritty look. Brown head with good lacing.

These ratings are for the 2002 brew. I tasted it alongside the 2001 edition which was done by a different brewmaster and not nearly as robust and complex (even after nearly two years of cellering). The 2002 was a deep brick red offering a nose of sweet doppel-bock like maltiness and plenty of alcohol. The taste was strong and woody. Sweet malts and alcohol battled for control. A nice hoppy end to this rich ale was welcomed. Too many of these and it's a long 30 mile taxi ride back home.