Brimstone Big Ale

Formerly brewed at Wild Goose LLC (Flying Dog)
Style: Barley Wine
Frederick, Maryland USA

Serve in Snifter

12oz Bottled in October 1999. Pours a hazy orange copper with a 1/4 finger beige head, fades to a ring fairly quickly. Surprised this wasn’t still after almost 8 years. Aroma of fruity raisins, cherries, a little sherry oxidation, molasses, alcohol, and a bit of scorched caramel. Fruity and sweet. Flavor added a bit of vanilla, spicy alcohol and vanilla. There is still some hops bitterness to keep this thing from being crazy sweet, but in the flavor and aroma they’ve all but died out. Light alcohol warmth, but I would never have guessed 13%. Full body with with very light tingly carbonation. This has held up pretty darn well for being as old as it is.

Sampled at the RBSG 07 Grand Tasting. Thanks to MilkManDan for bringing this one in. Part of a tragedy earlier in the day - picked up a bottle of this at the Blue Max to bring to the tasting and it shattered in my car’s trunk. At least there was a decent smell in there. Sweet sugary body and a sweet malty nose. Not bad.

Sweet, fruity aroma. Flavor is sweet with brown sugar. Very light fruit, some plum. No hop presence at all. Very smooth. It lacks complexity but has great flavor. RBSG 2007.

RBSG 2007 Grand Tasting. 1999 bottle. Clear golden amber body with a small frothy white head. Sweet caramel and tea aroma. Somewhat oxidized caramel flavor with a hot alcohol ending.

1998. Solid loud hiss, a promising sign upon opening. Pours a very cloudy, multi-faceted deep orange/amber. Half creamy and half fizzy, a yellowed off-white head quickly and fully diminishes. Apple tinged caramel malt and oxidation are evident during the pour. A looming, distinct cherry sweetness is encompassing. Smells very fruity. Also noted are tangelos, brown sugar, figs, full-bodied maltiness. Flavor expands on these notions with additions of chocolate, vanilla and alcohol all in light expressions. Just a great flavor at this age. An amazing, full throttle hop bitterness still lingers. Lively carbonation produces a vibrant and crisp mouthfeel. Medium full bodied. Finishes dry and with minor sourness, tannic in style. Pretty good for its age.

Courtesy Dorwart. 1998. Hazy amber/ruby/orange. Small fizzy tan head disappears quickly. Aroma of dark fruits, dried and fresh- figs, raisins, plums, rich malt- caramel and cocoa powder, subtle sourness and old woodsyness. Flavor is similar with more sourness, moderate oxidation, warming alcohol in second half and finish. Finish is also dry and yeasty. Medium/full body, balanced carbonation. Twisted, but very good.

1999 Vintage: Poured a deep almost clear ruby color with a small beige colored head. The aroma was very thick and sweet and fruity. Nice aged malt quality. A little candy like. It help up so fine. The flavor is very fruity and full. Good sweetness. This must have been huge when fresh. Now it is very drinkable right up to the finish. then you get some pepper and burn from the alcohol. 13% is very believable. I only wish I had more of this monster. Ok I just glanced down at some other ratings and it looks like we think alike (about buying more). Fullbodied.

vintage bottle-1998-comes with a wonderful wax covering that took forever to remove and irrated my skin under the fingernail however disregarding minor setbacks- pours a dark amber almost brown in color with a medium sized head offwhite in color. It smells cherries, and something tart, and almost a caramel smell, malts. Tastes everything promised in the scent. sour cherries, caramel malts, it is very light however syrupy at the same time. a likeable mouthfeel in between syrupy and thick which coats the throat with a nice alcohol warming great finish.