 Ibrew2or3 (2402), Safety Harbor, Florida, USA
May 24, 2009 This 2008 vintage (courtesy of Beerman6686, thanks again) pours deep clear amber with thin tan head. The aroma is a bit boozy, to be expected considering the youth of the beer and its ABV, followed by prunes, cherry compote and some sticky malts. The taste is full and rich with prunes, figs, cherries and a full load of malts and roast. To midway it gets a little grape jam like and sends this into richer and more complex territory. I get mild caramel rolling around in the background too. This is going to be frikin’ amazing with more time on the shelf (in fact, I’m putty this back onto my “wants” list). Plenty yum now.
gunhaver (1005), Tampa, Florida, USA
May 24, 2009 Bottle, courtesy of...Ibrew2or3? Dave brought a barley wine to a tasting?? Dark ruby brown pour, small amounts of lacing and no head. Big fruits in the nose, caramel, vanilla and some chalky chocolate, dry grain. Big sweet flavors of caramel and hops, some cotton candy. Full-bodied, balanced well, and hidden alcohol.
douglas88 (1314), Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
May 17, 2009 12 oz bottle thanks to machfive55. 2008 vintage. Pours a cloudy brown color with a light cream colored head. The aroma is interesting; fruity, rich malts, something akin to smoked peat as well. The flavor was nice; rich dry fruity malts, nutty flavors, dark fruity, again some smoke and earthiness. Very nice. A unique barely wine, more English than American.
Beerman6686 (1107), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
May 6, 2009 This poured a dark red to brown color with a small off white head. Aroma was lots of slightly roasted malts, sweetness, and some dried dark fruit too. Flavor up front was sticky sweet, a bit fruity and spicey with a slight roastiness to it. Alcohol is a little apparent but still hidden pretty well for how strong this one is.
TampaBrew (302), Tampa, Florida, USA
May 3, 2009 Poured dark brown. Malt nose, low hop aroma, alcohol. Slight boozy flavor, malt forward, some spicy hops. warming.
sebletitje (1499), Tampa, Florida, USA
May 2, 2009 courtesy of ibrew2or3.
2008 bottle.
Pours copper dark, no head.
Aroma was overly hoppy with some malts and caramel.
Taste, malty, sugary, boozy, light caramel notes and some resinous fruits. Some caramel coupled with a nice dark fruit mouthfeel.
TheEpeeist (1280), Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, USA
Apr 22, 2009 12 oz bottle, 2008. Dark cola brown with a beige haze. Very fruity nose with strawberry jam, raisin and caramel. A rather full body for a barleywine with a slight tang. Taste is apple, caramel and then bitter grass.
Snoop59 (59), Penn Run, Pennsylvania, USA
Mar 20, 2009 12 oz. bottle poured into a snifter. Pours a deep, deep dark red almost brown with foamy tan head that disappears quickly to a ring that lasts throughout. Not much lacing to speak of. Great aroma of sweet malt, dark fruits, molasses, and a pleasant hint of alcohol. Flavor is of sweet malt, raisins, some roasty notes, and cherries. Nice warming finish but not overwhelming for such a big beer. Full bodied. A great beer from ABC.
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