Alaskan Pilot Series: Barley Wine Ale

Brewed by Alaskan Brewing Co
Style: Barley Wine
Juneau, Alaska USA

Serve in Snifter

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UPDATED: OCT 30, 2009 Bottle 2008 vintage. Deep amber pour. The nose is pretty intense. Rich sweet nose and a bit of sweet malt and light chewy caramel. A nice toffeeish character toward the back, but also with a pretty assertive fruity hoppiness. A kiss of chocolate adds another touch of malt complexity to the brew. It’s got a lot of fruity hoppiness but it doesn’t really come across as being all that bitter. Intense mix of flavour that are still nicely balanced. Sort of a dark, toasted barleywine, but it’s pretty nice really. Tap at the 2006 Hard Liver Festival. Vintage 2004. Gorgeous amber-garnet colour, nice fine-laced dark tan head. Sticky lace as well. Aroma is fairly herbal and minty. Sweet malts, well balanced. Flavour is malty but also very fruity with cherry and blackberry esters throughout. Lingering peppery finish. 8 4 7 4 15

09 vintage generously shared by shadowane. Thanks again Rich! Pours a dark ruby/plum color with mahogany edges and one finger off white head that quickly settles into a thin ring.   Spotty lacing left behind. Musty, earthy aroma with leathery malt, spicy rye, toffee, caramel and dark fruit.   Also picking up some subtle piney hops. Medium bodied and still surprisingly hoppy with resinous, bitter and dry piny hops.  This is countered by a prominent earthy malt character. Leathery and slightly boozy with caramel, toffee and faint dark fruit notes.  Malt becomes more prominent as it warns.  Waves of sweet booze come and go and even though the abv is relatively well masked,  I get a strong ethanol rush in the finish.

A - pours ruby red with no head. S - aromas of prunes, brown sugar and molasses. M - full bodied exceedingly sweet alcohol warmed brew. T - prunes and figs up front. Caramel, brown agar and molasses on the palate. Some spice and then sticky malts end. 6+

Bottle 2009 pours a darker brown small head. Tastes sweet caramel dark fruit bit flat not bad not great.

tap at Taste of Tops-Tempe, AZ Feb 2012-pours really deep garnet mahogony hue with a small soapy white head slightly eggshell nose is sweet sugary candy, cherries-flavors of tobacco, cherries, licorice-wow this is pretty cool for a style of barleywine that i usually dont like. long finish of leafy tobacco hops. very nice and complex. lite carbonation aids to the complexity i think here-doesnt detract from the subtle flavors. a very solid barleywine that would do well for Alaskan.

Draft. Dark ruby beerw tih a dark cream head. Malt and toffee aroma. Red/dark fruit flavor with toffee and malt. Medium-plus bodied. Red/dark fruit lingers with toffee and malt.
Earlier Rating: 2/19/2008 Total Score: 4.1
Draft. Rich mahogony beer with a tan head. Caramel and earth aroma. Big caramel flavor with rich malt, light stone fruit and slight brown sugar. Medium body. LIngering caramel, rich malt and very light fruit. Very nice beer - much more caramel forward and less hops, but it’s good.

Excellent brew! Served at a good temperature and with a nice, light tan, thick, foamy head and plenty of lace. Color is a clear, dark red amber. Aroma is malt, hop, fruit, taffy. Flavor is like nose, but with a lot more going on - malt sweet is on top with plenty of hop and yeast bitter under, then a little carbonic tang to complete the experience. Body is full and lush but with ever so slight bitter points. Carbonation is spot on. Finish is just as it should be for the style: long, boozy, and satisfying. One or two would be just right. Very well crafted product.

2009 bottle. Pours dark brown with tan head. Nose/taste of light candi sugar, brown sugar, toffee, caramel and baked bread. Medium body. Alcohol completely hidden. Smooth.

A complex crimson-red-brown with a light brown head. Had this at a Barley wine tasting and this one actually won that night. Has great floral notes and a silky smooth finish.

Bottle 2011. Aroma has roasted nutty malts, dark dried fruits, caramel, licorice, ginger, vanilla and resin hops. Lovely aroma. Very dark ruby amber hue with an average sized off-white head that mostly diminished and left good lace. Flavor is very sweet and heavy/medium bitter. Palate is very full bodied, sticky, oily and softly carbonated. Overall a very lovely Barley Wine that is a true sipper. Great aroma and appearance. Big sticky mouth-feel and very sweet flavor. Wonderful all around. Loved it.

Corps sirupeux, collant mais facile à boire. Caramel et mélasse suivi d’une légère amertume terreuse.