 cquiroga (370), Sylmar, California, USA
Mar 18, 2006
3/18/06. Poured out of 12 oz. bottle, purchased at Liquor Max in Loveland, CO 9/30/05. Rated blind. Muddy brown-orange with a rocky, soapy head of cream froth, strangely lasting. Very little lacing. Aroma steers towards the berry end of barleywines, rich with juniper and prevalent higher alcohols, sweetly resinous with a tangy, zesty sappiness. Some aged piney hops but somewhat little caramel depth, masked mostly by the sweet fruitiness. Like berries tossed in a few teaspoons of melted brown sugar. Flavor strikes immediately with oxidation, a sweet papery taste, even in this relatively young age (though, to be fair, it HAS been 6 months). Also lots of sticky berry skins and a light earthiness. Soggy-dusty hop resins mingle with the malt. Pretty good balance, actually, and I’m not overtly offended with the oxidation. Medium body with an interesting cooling sensation and prickly, sappy finish. Quite dry and stiff, alcohol blending with a puckering twiggy earthiness and still the ever-present berries. Like licking sweet sap from a smooth piece of tree bark. Warms the belly within the first few gulps. A solid barleywine for those lazy winter weekends of three days’ growth on the facial hair when a feeling like your tongue being tickled with light sandpaper doesn’t seem so bizarre.
jcwattsrugger (4272), Florida and, New Jersey, USA
Dec 16, 2008 750ml bottle-pours an off white bubbly head and murky orange/amber color. Aroma is medium malt-caramel/molasses/brown sugar, pine hops. Taste is medium malt-caramel/molasses/brown sugar, pine/resin hops and some lemon, some alcohol. Nice sipping. Thanks bitterbill & jwc215 for trading this.
Cletus (3602), Connecticut, USA
Nov 1, 2008 Pours brown with a thin white head. Smells of sweet malt, dark fruit, some spice. Tastes very syruppy sweet with some dark fruit on the finish.
doubleo (1000), San Diego, California, USA
Oct 27, 2008 12oz bottle. Pours murky looking brown with a thin, offwhite head, specks of lace. Smells big and sweet malty with a bit of alcohol and a hint of spicy hops. Slightly fruity. Tastes big and malty sweet, with some alcohol and a touch of hops. Warming alcohol on the finish. Syrupy body, ok carbonation.
durhambeer (700), Durham, USA
Oct 26, 2008 2005 bottle, thanks to jjpm74! Cloudy medium/light amber orange pour. Almost no head. Buttery caramel and wet dog on the nose. Earthy and old. Malty. Overripe fruit. Hops have diminished greatly, but this is drinking pretty well.
lb4lb (1605), Austin, Texas, USA
Oct 26, 2008 Bottle in trade from BlackForestCO. Thanks Jake!<br />
Pours a rich, deep opaque maroon with a beige head. Smell is rich, fruity, malt and pretty balanced between hops and malt in the nose. Taste is nutty, pecan like caramel malt and a bit of smooth booze. Light gummy, fruity character. Full mouthfeel, a bit warming and soft carbonation. Pretty tasty barley wine.
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