Bushwakker Strathdee Old Barleywine

Formerly brewed at Bushwakker Brewing Co.
Style: Barley Wine
Regina, Canada

Serve in Snifter

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Gotten in trade a while back, the porcelin bottle is a work of art. An English style barleywine, though some noticeable bitterness. Pours a massive amount of light brown foam on Mahogoney brown body. Aroma is hoppy and yeasty, then malt. Taste is spruce and the subdued hops. I am sure this has mllowed a great deal from December 2003. Lighter than average mouthfeel, it is creamy. Easy and yet dangerous drinking. Closer to a well-aged British style IPA.

Poured from a 1/2 liter stone flip-top I get a deep chestnut colored ale with ruby highlights in my trappist snifter. A modest 1 finger sticky cap reduces to a surface and glass clinging lace which lasts the drink out......Aromas of rich caramel nuggat, walnuts, stewed figs and and earthy, musty, wet burlap under tone...rich malt spine, oily mouth feel medium-heavy body, rich mellow character....Starts with a big malt wallup up front that gives the impression of liquid raisin bread, midway there are come layerd flavors: caramel, nuts, vanilla, grass, dried fruit, then the finish surprises; english hops show up in spades and give a slow bittering to the long finish and clean up any potential sweetness....tinny aftertaste...and virtually no indication of the alcohol in this beer.....a great drinkable Barley wine and another crown jewel for this brewer.

A dark golden orange foofering with a thin white head. Sweet hoppy aroma, with caramlel notes, raisins and vinous in character. In mouth, alcohol is in your your face, with lingering hops, and licorice notes. Rich and sooth in mouth. Very nice offering from Rudge. Enjoyed with Capflu on Feb. 18, 2006. Merci Todd!

(500ml ceramic bottle) Purchased at the brewpub on December 29, 2006. Pours a quick-dissipating tan head with a reddish-amber body. Raisins, roasted malt and black olives dance in the foreground. A mouthful of pre-chewed Giant Thompson raisins feed an aroused palate while thick, oily toasted malt coats one’s throat and a quick centennial hop bitterness passes nearly unnoticed. A touch of licorice and vanilla simmer in the background. A highly recommended adventure.

2003 bottle. My new resolution is to only have one Barley Wine in a single tasting. Dark red amber. Heavy lasting head and lacing. Alcohol and buterscotch aroma with a hint of chocolate. Thick on the palate. Lots of spice in the flavour. Overtones of butterscotch or toffe with moderate alcohol presence. Plenty of hops in the finish and taste. Over the tasting the cloves adn nutmeg become overpowering. I’m sure this beer could cellar for many years. Too bad Rudge has moved on.

Redder than rubies, with barely any bubbles, they were quite soapy and frail, but quite normal for this style, methinks.
Dark fruits prevail in the aromas, it felt surprisingly fresh. Rarely have I detected that awesome, strawberry jam-like hops in anything aged for so long. After a year or so it seems to taper off but not this case, 2 years old and still going strong. It also had a touch of smoke, and a sugary cinnamon that I enjoyed.
Just a warm, roasted maltbomb! Just a touch buttery, with a lingering yet pleasing bitterness. Very nice balance of hops and malt, the former getting the edge in the finish, the latter had a nice roasted grain feel.

UPDATED: DEC 13, 2006 Thanks for the opportunity to try this rarity Kevin! Much appreciated! Pours a brown body with just a touch of being head sitting a top. Aromas are malt, mild prunes, and slight alcohol. Taste is slightly boozey, malty, bitter and mildly rasins. Perhaps a little weak, but still a great barley wine, and maybe some more age would have done it well. A nice brew!

Thans for the rare treat Kevin! Pours brownish orage body with off white rimmed head. Aromas are sweet malts, bread, caramel. Taste is citrtus, malt, brown sugar, slight hazelnut. Biutter aftertaste, with nice caramel sweetness. Nice!

A treat shared at my monthly homebrew club meeting, presented in a nice 500 ml ceramic flip top bottle. Brewed December 2003, no bottling date, but indicates aged since January 2004 in Bushwakker’s cellar. Golden amber colour with a thin layer of tan coloured foam. Caramel, butterscotch, earthy, and fruity aroma. Butterscotch, caramel, and fruit flavours with a light alcohol and fruity bitter finish. Full bodied but very smooth. Very nice now, and I would expect this will be even better as it ages.