Barley Creek Expedition Strong Ale

(draft) Hazy mahogany/brown with beige head. Aroma is moderately sweet, caramel, nut, raisin/plum, some sourness. Taste is medium sweet, infection sour (lemon, some cherry). Medium body, some acidity. Scary thing is this rating is based on impressions once the beer had warmed, and thereby improved.

On tap at Barley Creek. Arrived at the table very dark brown with clear ruby highlights when held up to the sun. Very thin biscuit colored head faded to ring by the first sip. Very nice aroma of chocolate and lightly roasted malt. The flavor was disappointing. Initially some very sweet (too sweet even for me) lightly roasted malt, followed up by a very thin chocolate flavor, with soy sauce at the finish. The mouthfeel was thin. This one needs some work.

Draft at BCBP. Hazy dark brownish pour which had some ruby through light, but stayed pretty much black looking, with very little off-white head that quickly dissipated. Aroma is dark roasty malt, with some figgy fruit, brown sugar, and chocolate. Medium palate, with dark malt and fruit flavor up front, some mid-palate chocolate, figgy fruit, and mild finishing rauchy notes. Not bad, but has a flat mouthfeel.