 Crosling (1635), Loveland, Colorado, USA
Sep 13, 2007
Light red, with basically no head. Sweet dark fruit aroma, somewhat muddled and unpronounced. Amazing flavor of dried fruits, pear, peach, cherry and lingering banana peel and banana. Finish reminds me of a tawny port, with notes of macadamia nut, pecan and caramel. It’s very, very impressive. Complex, dramatically flavorful. Extremely well hidden alcohol (I detect no alcohol flavor at all) Immensely satisfying, but unfortunately, this one empties the wallet too fast.
argo0 (6167), Washington DC, USA
Aug 9, 2008 (BCTC, 50cl bottle, thanks acrdz) Cloudy red-brown body that lacks head. Aroma is moderately sweet, plum/raisin, amaretto, some molasses, alcohol. Taste is super sweet, molasses, plum, alcohol. Sticky full body with no carbonation.
MartinT (4316), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Aug 9, 2008 My Bottom Line:
Luxurious prunes and their caramel swell from this portly and still sipping experience, as sweet soy, raisins and cherries develop with time. This is very well done and has to be commended for efficiently extending the Barley Wine concept to realms rarely explored.
Further Personal Perceptions:
-There is no head at all atop the dark ruby brown.
-The body is liquorous but velvety smooth when served at the right temperature.
-Served cool at the Mondial, I found this to be quite harsh, overly sweet and alcoholic. But served at room temperature at Isola Della Birra, a classy beverage appeared, much like port wine or ice wine. (3.8) Next time I have it, it’ll definitely be at room temperature.
-Alcohol was not too perceptible at room temperature, which is quite a feat at this gravity.
-Don’t drink this when you want a "beer". A fireside strong sipper is what you should have a hankering for.
From the bottle at the Mondial de la Bière, Montréal, and Isola Della Birra, Milano.
acrdz (4283), Boulder, Colorado, USA
Aug 5, 2008 500ml bottle. Pours still and flat, but with high viscosity and intimidating thickness. Murky brown in color. Nose is big, sticky maple and bacon scented bourbon, with a softer malt/brad/bread/plum note. Flavor is essentially the same: sticky, big, sweet maple and bread malts, some overripe/moldy apples and plums, some sweet tobacco juice, wet bran, etc. Way too sweet, difficult to drink, difficult to even find polite words for such a messy beer.
kmweaver (1973), Takoma Park, Maryland, USA
Aug 4, 2008 500mL bottle, generously supplied by acrdz, Friday at BCTC. Thanks, Mike! Pours a murky, orange-amber color; minimal light-tan head. Loads of dense, chewy caramel, dried dark fruits, and intense brown sugar; boozy, sugary, hugely brown sugared and tea-infused nose. Full mouthfeel: intense brown sugar, oily caramel, maple syrup, and boozy alcohol in the mouth; paint thinner; enormous, sticky, boozy beer; loads of brown sugar. Huge finish: loads of brown sugar, sticky sweetness, and chewy caramel.
pineypower (861), Pine Barrens, New Jersey, USA
Aug 3, 2008 Thanks to a few Santas ago for this one. Pours out a thick reddish brown with no head, no carbonation, was like that I’d think pouring Mrs Butterworth’s into a snifter would be like. Aroma was very sweet with some dried fruit, earth and alcohol. Thick, syrupy mouthfeel with notes of dried fruit, caramel, alcohol, toffee and some port also. Sweetness dominates. Interesting but at the price tag I thank Santa for this one, because I’d probably never buy it.
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