<b>Date:</b> 12/01/2005<br /> <b>Mode:</b> Draft<br /> <b>Source:</b> Brewery<br /> <br /> muddy dark amber, rich malt aroma with earthy hops, rich malt flavor, great fruity character, earthy hops, nice bitter finish, an easy drinking barley wine, aged 1 year<br /> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /> <b>Date:</b> 12/02/2005<br /> <b>Words:</b> blend of 3 years<br /> <br /> nice citrus in the aroma, but a lots of the rich malt has thinned<br /> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /> <b>Date:</b> 11/30/2006<br /> <b>Mode:</b> draft<br /> <b>Source:</b> brewery<br /> <b>Vintage:</b> fresh batch<br /> <br /> very similar to the 1 year old, a bit more harsh on the hops, <br /> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /> <b>Date:</b> 12/01/2006<br /> <b>Mode:</b> draft<br /> <b>Source:</b> strong ale fest<br /> <b>Words:</b> 10 year blend<br /> <br /> rich caramel balanced by the earthy hops, picking up a sour oak flavor, <br /> <br /> <b>Aroma:</b> 7/10; <b>Appearance:</b> 7/10; <b>Flavor:</b> 8/10; <b>Palate:</b> 7/10; <b>Overall:</b> 17/20<br /> <b>Rating:</b> 4/5.0<br /><b>Drinkability:</b> 8/10<br /> <b>Score:</b> **4<br />

Deep amber pour with neglectable head. Typical nose pointing straight to the West Coast through a dash of fresh sprucey hops that clean the surface of rather raw, sweet vinous malts that shine through their various fruit undertones more than sheer richness. Carbonation is low, even for the style while the palate is rather thin. Undemanding, but clean example.

10 year blend on tap at the 10th Annual San Diego Strong Ale Festival: Transparent bright copper color with a frothy, light tan head. Complex sweet toasty caramel aroma has some light fruity complexity and grapefruity hops. Body starts sweet, viscous and caramely fruity with some cherry and strawberry flavor toward a crisp, warming bittersweet finish. Good complexity and seems to have aged quite well. <br /><br /> 1 year old barch sampled at the brewery on 11/30/06: Pours a transparent dark copper amber with a nicely-lacing light tan head. Sweet, fresh big grapefruity hoppy aroma has nice caramel malty backing. Body starts viscous and caramely sweet with good fresh piny hoppy bitterness and complexity toward a warming, resiny sticky finish.

Draft... <b>RBSG ‘08</b>... Looks like caramel in a glass with a small, creamy, lightly tanned head. Terrific retention. Plush, lightly acidic, caramelly aroma. Full-bodied with a velvety mouthfeel and subdued carbonation. Bows toward the bitter side of balance... citrus and earthy hops are layered upon a caramel malt backbone. Lengthy, caramel and grapefruit rind finish.

<i> Draught </i> Good yellow-creamhead; maroon beer. US hops, milkchocolate, coffee cream, grapes and a fruity finish. Good bready, well-balanced sweet-bitter; finish is very dry-bitterish; flavours of exotic fruit. Well-balanced, quite slick, dry-out effect in the end. Good, if unbelievably discreet in the alcohol for a barley wine.