Brooklyn Monster Ale

By barley-wine standards, this beer struck me as little better than average. I liked the appearance and aroma, but flavor and mouthfeel disappointed a bit. This beer had a sparkling body with very minimal head. It smelled good; I noted what to me was a very pleasant cereal quality, and I am not big on cereal- or grainy-flavors. Flavor however was overly grainy, and without the the-mash-is-boiling-and-you’re-in-the-brewhouse notes that I got out of the aroma...more like a malted milk ball, which is not a flavor I am a fan of. Mouthfeel was pretty thin, particularly compared to some other barley-wines I’ve had lately, notably Old Crustacean and Curmudgeon. Not a terrific effort for this style. I’d only weakly recommend it.

2005 Bottle from Barley Wine, Copenhagen. Clear oragne/ruby with a vinous aroma, some peppery hop. It’s quite a well balanced, subdued, understated barley wine. Alcohol is well hidden. Some syrupy malts. Reminds me of Fullers Vintage ale. Good toffee and plum and rich fruit. Hops are peppery, white pepper, but balanced vs the malt.

Brewed in the USA !! (KSBF) Pours a nice copper color with a sm white head. The aroma is of sherry and fruits. The taste has a citrus, malts, and of course alcohol flavor. Finish has a bitterness to it, but pretty enjoyable.

2007 bottle at home. Red copper colour with tan spritzy head. Drops to a thin ring after not too long. Sweet and fruity aroma, some hops. Strong taste with sherry and some fruits and bread. Very thick and high acidity.
6-3-7-4-13

2007 vs 2005 bottle line-up with gnoff. Dark copper with low tan head, -07 is clear while -05 is hazier. Fruity, hoppy aroma, malts, -05 has that aged earthy aroma too. Taste has berries, malts, hops. -05 has a lot more alcohol and is a bit more acid, also some metal.
2007: 6-3-7-3-13
2005: 6-3-6-3-12

Clear dark copper, almost no head. Poured one giant bubble that sat for a minute. Big caramel nose, notes of alcohol, slightly smoky. Flavor is big on alcohol, mcuh like rubbing alcohol, almost nothing else.

Courtesy of Skyview. Copper color with a thin head. Light fruity aroma. Big, thick, chewy malt flavor. Plenty of caramel and toasted malts. A little unexpected roasted malt as well. Not much in the way of noticeable hops, but it did not seem overly sweet, either.

2004 vintage bottle (Consumed oct-08) As the commercial description above reads it has aged well and this aged one is a lot more enjoyable than a fresh one.

Pours a coppery color with thin white head. Aroma is malty and cidery. Flavor is big malty, sweet, and noticeable alcohol on the aftertaste. Some wine characteristics there too. Body is heavy with low-medium carbonation.