Berkshire Holidale

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

Serve in Snifter

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Sharp sweet malt aroma. Clear dark orange color with a small white head. Sweet beginning with a mild bitter finish.

Thank you Siobhan for picking up the 2011 version of this beer. Poured from a large bottle into a trappist style glass to drink. The beer was cloudy and thick, with a dark amber color and almost no head, save a very thin, bubbly, white head without any retention and minimal cling. The aroma had some earthy and grainy hops, but featured a candy and sugar mixture, along with some spices, a bit of caramel, and some dark fruit scents. It tasted predominantly sweet with a candy flavor mixed with some sour fruit tones and a touch of grain, but very little bitterness at all. The body was pretty thin and dry without much carbonation, fizz, or liveliness. There was a distinct presence of alcohol in the taste, and it had a dry finish.

Bottle. Moderate malt notes of grain and caramel, light orange for the hops, with background notes of raisin, wood, brown sugar and artificial fudge sticks. Head is small, frothy, slightly off-white with fair lacing and is mostly diminishing. Color is slightly hazy orange/tan. Flavor starts moderately sweet and lightly acidic, then finishes lightly sweet and bitter. Palate is medium, creamy with a soft carbonation and a moderately alcoholic finish. Fairly lightly for the style, but very unique flavors and aromas from this Barley Wine.

Bottle at Paul’s tasting. Brown pour with white head. Notes of fruit, citrus, caramel, sweet malts. Slightly messy, with moderate warming.

Nice not offensive sweet aroma. A bit cloudy amber. Malt and hops that made nice combination,

2005 bottle thanks to OldGrowth: Pours a transparent copper orange with a thin wispy, lightly-lacing off-white head. Aroma of orange spice, some caramel malt and alcohol. Starts with some mild toasty caramel maltiness and light orange peel spice with a light peppery warming finish. I’d like to see a little more malt and hops in this.

Malt, hops scent, chestnut colour, small toffee head. Woody, dried fruit flavour. Bitter, with a hint of burnt malt. Good, but not much of a Barley Wine.

22oz. Bottle (2009 Vintage, 9.5%ABV): Aroma of malt, hops, light vinegar, slight cherry, and some raisin. Poured deep amber in color with a medium-sized, creamy, dense, beige head that lasted throughout. Cloudy. Sparkling. Full of tiny particles throughout. Excellent lacing. Flavor is medium sweet. Tastes of malt, slight vinegar, light cocoa, light chocolate, slight caramel, slight toffee, and more malt. Medium body. Average texture. Medium sweet, slight caramel, malt, slight cocoa, finish. 9.5%ABV is completely hidden throughout.

This barley is different, like or hate it. Hazy gold color, bead of pearl around the rim of the glass. Aroma is sweet with American hops(cascade/continenial?). Hops are light sweetness is bright, and I don't think I like this one goodnight.

Bottle. Pours a dark amber body with a thin head. Aroma is fruity orange, sweet malt, caramel. Flavor is such with a presence of hoppiness. weak offering.