Cricket Hill Brewmaster’s Reserve Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine

Brewed by Cricket Hill Brewing Co.
Style: Barley Wine
Fairfield, New Jersey USA

Serve in Snifter

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Thanks to Armin for bringing the bomber! Poured clear light-medium amber with a nice cap of beige head.. sticky lacing followed it down. The aroma picked up sweet, deep caramel, toffee, and bourbon sugars with some sticky vanilla and molasses accenting.. very assertive with the sweetness, but there was some intrigue from wet, woody bourbon barrel accents. The flavor found sticky-sweet, warm fruits and moderately-aged caramel at the core, with sweet vanilla, bourbon, and tart oak around.. the finish had more sticky sweetness (mostly fruitage), plus less tart, grainy, woodiness. Heavier-bodied with a full feel on the palate.. very sweet, and difficult to drink toward the end of the evening.. a lot of warm sugars, but not that much subtlety.

Bottle thanks to Dmac. Pours out a nice, amber color with a small whispy white head. Aroma is caramel, wood, bourbon, dried fruits and some sweetness. Taste is of very sweet caramel, toffee, wood, golden raisin, bourbon, and honey-like sweetness.

22oz bomber from John. Poured a good looking deep reddish/amber body with a smaller off white foamy head. Aroma of has some strong raisin notes, caramel, molasses, toast, vanilla, bourbon, oak and green grapes. Rather full bodied with soft carbonation and a milky mouthfeel. Flavor of caramel, malts, bourbon soaked oak, green grapes, alcohol and spiced rum. Overall I was surprised how full bodied this was and the overall sweetness despite some serious barrel aging which imparted a good dose of heat.

Bomber shared by BeerandBlues2 (thanks Brad) poured a clear orange amber with a small lingering amber head. Aromas of bourbon, oak, plum, vanilla, light cardboard and light carmel. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of bourbon, oak, vanilla, carmel and light spice with a smooth dry lingering bourbon finish.

Big thanks to BeerandBlues2 for bring this to Ratmans. Poured a cloudy orange with a small white head. Aromas of bourbon, vanilla and caramel apples. Flavor is dry with a sweet coconut finish. Decent carbonation and easy drinker for a 8%+ ABV Barleywine. This is one of the better brews I have tried from Cricket Hill and worth seeking out. Thanks again Brad!

Bottle @ ratman’s, courtesy of beerandblues2. Huge thanks Brad! Ruby appearance with a bubbly white head. Rich toffee, vanilla, oaky, whiskey, rich caramel malty aroma. Rich caramel, toffee, vanilla, oaky, vanilla, a touch fruity, light espresso flavor. Nice beer.

22 ounce bottle. Bourbon with no bite. This 8 percent barley wine goes well with the bourbon. Very smooth.

Copperish colored pour, white head. Oak, vanilla, bourbon, spicy hops, caramel aroma. Flavor plays well with the bourbon, some oak, fair hop bitterness. Good stuff.

Bomber. Pours hazy coppery with ruby edges. Nose was fruity fuselly oaky esters, hops, caramel malt. Tastes rich, with a front end oak, bourbon, and fruit element, mid-palate hops, and fusel malt throughout. A bit harsh, not the most complex BW I’ve had, but not bad.

Bottle with ’BBA’ written in marker on the back of the bottle from jcwattsrugger...thanks John! - Pours clear brown with a thin ring of off-white head. Lots of toffee and caramel, with a smooth bourbon note--the barrel was kind to this beer. Really sweet toffee in the taste, caramel corn, nice bourbon sweetness--this sucker has mellowed out nicely. Buttery, but it works. Slick and big in the mouth, with minimal carbonation. Impressed with this one.

Bottle shared at Natifest ’11. Poured clear copper color with a minimal frothy off-white head that mostly diminished with fair lacing. Moderate to heavy dark fruit, nutty malt and small bourbon aroma. Medium to full body with a smooth texture and flat carbonation. Moderate to heavy complex sweet woody bourbon flavor with a medium to heavy complex bittersweet finish of moderate to long duration. This is was a standout beer.