Barleys Auld Curiosity Ale

Brewed by Barleys Brewing Company
Style: Altbier
Columbus, Ohio USA

Poured a cloudy red brown color with a medium sized, light tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of caramel malts, light floral hops, citrus, nuts, and toast. Taste of toasted malts, nuts, caramel, citrus fruits, light smoke, and a bitter, hoppy finish.

At the Alehouse. Name caught my attention. Weak nose, very light aroma. Beautiful brown coloring with light caramel coloring. Quarter inch head, light foaminess. Lacing lasts throughout the drink. Moderate hops, nuts, toasted. Thick but not overbearing palate. Bitter finish, long finish. I’d drink it again, solid beer.

Thanks to hopdog for passing this growler onto me. Pours a mostly hazy deep amber with a medium off white head that left tons of lacing. Aroma of spicy noble hops, caramel, toasted malt, floral notes, light chocolate notes, surprised at how hoppy this was...but more noble than "citrusy". Flavor of some resiny hops, moderate hop bitterness, toffee, nuts, toasted malt and grapefruit. This was interesting...not sure I would really consider it an altbier.

Thanks to moejuck for the Growler! Poured a deep/dark and cloudy amber color with a large sized off white head. Nice lacing left on the glass. Aromas of chocolate, toasty, floral, and some nuttiness. Tastes of chocoalte, nutty, the same toastiness, caramel, and lightly fruity.

Tap. Pours a dark brown color with hardly a head. Aroma is sweet malts, dark fruit, raisin. Flavor is dark fruit, chocolate, raisin, caramel. palate is medium to full bodied, mild carbonation finished lightly sweet. Somewhat watery mouthfeelm I think from the lack of carbonation. So-so at best, like most of Barleys stuff.

Firkin at the Alehouse. Pours dark brown/black with a cobweb of huge fat clear bubbles for a head. Aroma is subtle at first but eventually I pick up red grapes, raisin, faint chocolate, a tiny bit of toasty malts and chocolate and maybe just a hint of hops buried somewhere. Taste is smooth and creamy from the firkin with a flavor of subtle dark fruits and roast with a bitter finish. Not very hoppy but bitterness is definitely evident. I knew nothing of this beer when I ordered it. I thought it tasted like a mix between a brown, porter, and Belgian. Interesting concept but not one of my favorite Barley’s beers.

Date: 11/08/1997
Source: Brewfest, Real Ale Festival

dark amber, fruity malty aroma, rich malt flavor, slightly sweet, low bitterness

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.4/5.0
Score: **4
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Draft at Brewhouse #1. Poured cloudy brown color with an average frothy off-white head that was mostly lasting with good lacing. Moderate complex balanced aroma. Medium body with a slick texture. Moderate balanced flavor with a bittersweet finish of average duration. Good drinkable brew.