Berkshire Holidale

Brewed by Berkshire Brewing Co.
Style: Barley Wine
South Deerfield, Massachusetts USA

Serve in Snifter

2006 Vintage. 22oz bottle. Strawberries, Caro syrup. Molasses and kerosene. very sweet. Woody, vanilla flavors

2006 Baby. Cellar kept for four years, served cool at 5 o’clock on a gorgeous New England spring evening. Poured to a hazy, murky amber glow, with some light tan head that dissipated within a few moments. Something in the nose reminds me of Cellebrator or the Paulaner Dopplebock, sweet with toffee notes and citrus spice. The mouthfeel is a rich thickness of malty majesty, and the aftertaste brings out a fruity warming alcohol. This is quite a treat, a long time in the making, and certainly the best BBC I have ever tried. (A lot by the way : ) Can’t wait to try the ’07 next year...

Pours reddish brown that starts with a heavy beige head that disappears as fast as it came. The body is clear with dark pockets, the nose is fantastic. Sweet fruit with a candy rum soaked back drop. Intense raisins and a vinos quality is very present. The taste is raisin, dark plum, black cherry, a very malty presence that really fight to be balanced out with the hops in the beer. The alcohal is faint in this brew, it starts sweet with the alcohal infused raisin flavor on the palate then moves to a berry fruitiness and finishes bitter. So many rides this beer takes you on and I can’t wait to take another trip.

Poured from a 22oz. bottle into a stemmed glass. The color is a somewhat cloudy reddish/maroon with three fingers of off white head with a bit of lacing left on the glass. The smell is a very sweet with some spicy hints of clove and some rye. The taste is mild with some nice rye flavor and a nice floral hoppiness. Some nice dark fruit flavor and is bit of a creaminess that is slight but present. The feel is light with a bit of age on it. The burn has calmed and is now a bit warming and ticklish. Has a medium body but is easy to handle.

Drinks as the label on the bottle claims it will, with a long sweet finish. A great example of this style, Id like to get another bottle & keep it for a couple years, as I tried the 2010 version while rating this.

2011 six year vertical 2006-2011, christmas eve tradition. Briefs on each. 06 was the english-style, held together so much better than the last year I had it, but no where near the toffee and vanilla from 2 years ago, still solid. 07 was the heavy hopped boldly American style. Bitterness was still there, but the finish was starting to get a little thin, still enough maltiness to be decent. Both the 08 and 09 were rye based varying on hops. Both were still boozy, yet balanced enough to the point where I thought the malts shown through very well. The 2010 after 1 year was doing so well, the hops were very lively and the malts were big, but the citrus element was bright. The 11 was fantastic fresh, not as overly aggressive with hops or malt and the ABV was well controlled. Decently successful.

2008 version enjoyed on the 1st of January 2009 around 12:30 AM. Popped this 22oz bottle and got smells or orange and a lot of sweetness. Once it was poured a light reddish brown color topped with a thin head showed. Bubbling carbonation raised up the side of the glass. the taste was a light hoppiness and a red-berry/strawberry. very dry finish. Best thing I have ever had from BBC.

22 oz. bomber, 2007 vintage, Pours a deep red, almost burgundy color with a 1/2" off white head. Good lacing that stayed until the end. Upon pouring, the aromas released are of dark fruits and fresh baked holiday bread. Mouthfeel is moderate to thick. There’s a chewyness to this brew. Flavors were of dates, figs, plums and raisins. There is a warming alcohol burn. Think chocolate covered cherries with liquor. Just the right amount of hops for balance. Dry and slightly bitter finish.