2.9 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20
Objectively speaking:
A highly cerealic, sweet, yet confidently hopped strong ale.
I like:
Good alcohol concealing. Toasty aspirations. Unagressive sweetness level, not highly attenuated, but residual sugars content kept under control. Fairly drinkable for its magnitude.
I dislike:
Rather frail aromatics. Limited fruit deployment, the complexity is minimal. Timid, clean and almost lean body.
3.3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
My Bottom Line:
Simple caramelized cereals support the bountiful resinous and fruity hoppiness in this bold and brash American-style Barley Wine.
Further Personal Perceptions:
-A slim veil of foam tops the murky amber.
-Alcohol is warming, but never exaggerated.
-The caramel malts are shallow for the style; this is on the verge of marching into Double IPA territory.
-A strawberry-like fruitiness (dried though) emanates from the union of grassy hop resins, yeast, and sugary malts.
-The basic residual sugars give the impression the body is rather lean for the style; a few more caramelized love handles would have been more seductive.
-The nose is muddled compared to the flavor profile.
-The finishing hoppiness is firmly bitter, playing in grassy and resinous lands, even adding some citrusy tones once in a while.
-All in all, this is still leagues better than the 1st batch of Barley Wine I tasted from them (bottled as Cuvée du Dép de la Rive). This hop bill suits the linear maltiness a lot better and the overall flavor profile is better expressed.
On tap at Vices et Versa.
3.5 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
A golden orange ale with a thin lacing white head. Pleasant floral hops aroma with caramel and light vinous notes. A sweet raisiny ale with loads of floral hops, light grapefruit, residual candy sugar, close to a I2PA, not a barley wine. Good beer thought. On tap at Vices et Versa, 6 Feb. 2008.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Verre de 12oz au Vices et Versa. Belle couleur ambrée tirant sur le roux, mousse qui tient bien. Arômes de fruits rouges et d’alcool. Goût fruité, assez malté, le caramel sucré ressort bien. L’alcool y est bien dosé, on sent une touche de houblon également. Un alcool doux et réchauffant termine l’arrière-goût, celui-ci n’étant par contre pas très long. Cette bière est probablement bien meilleure en fut que les anciens brassins embouteillés.
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