De Molen Bommen & Granaten (Bombs & Grenades)

Brewed by Brouwerij de Molen
Style: Barley Wine
Bodegraven, Netherlands

Serve in Snifter

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33cL bottle, bottled on 11/25/2008, #103 of 240. Poured murky, deep brown with just a swirly dusting of toasted beige head. The aroma picked up a heavy dose of aged caramel, molasses, raisins, and vinous notes.. peppery alcohol, oxidation, and a little green apple accented.. warmth brought out a bit of blood orange that I really enjoyed. The flavor found peppery alcohol, apple skins, and orange zest throughout.. molasses and caramel supported.. vinous notes and tobacco showed at times.. finished hot, but acceptable considering the ABV, with mostly aged malts and some tanginess. Heavy-bodied with low carbonation on the palate.. slick and a little too tangy at times.. overall a big, solid brew.

Bottle at home, thanks to an IP trade with Dennis, 04/01/13. Pours a lightly hazed dark amber approaching brown with no head other than a few bubbles. Nose is dark fruits, toffee, marzipan, almond, ripe orange, sugar, light wood, touch of booze. Taste is more powerful than the nose, dark fruits in abundance, good booze presence, woody, earthy, sweet sugars Full bodied, smooth on the palate, very fine carbonation - absolutely spot on in this respect! A decent enough barley wine but no world beater. The alcohol is very well integrated for 15%, surprised at the lack of depth in the aroma.

Bottle, 33 cl. Clear golden orange with a thick white head that slowly diminishes leaving nice lacing. Aroma is vinous and sharp with over ripe fruit, pear, leather, some orange/ citrus notes as well. Taste is thick, creamy, sweet nearing syrup but very rounded and somehow not overly sweet (for my taste at this exact moment), reminds me a bit of a vintage port only this is not quite as thick and alcoholic. Plums, prunes, sweet fruit, oranges. Finish is sticky and sweet. No alcohol burn, just sweetness.

Sampled 33 cl. bottle (thx. to tderoeck / Tim) – bottled on 07/02/2012 – alongside a 75 cl. / 2010 Vintage bottle – bottled on 08/11/2010 – (thx. to Martinus) & 33 cl. Cascade BA bottle (thx. to Sebletitje I believe, hope that is correct) @ Tim’s De Molen & assorted beers tasting. Been meaning to get this one for a while but price has been always holding back me to be honest. I did try the Cascade BA & Cascade dry-hopped versions before. Main review is for the 2012 / 33 cl. bottle. Pours a sherry amber / red with white bubbles for a head. Smell is sweet oxidized barley wine goo, thick malts, caramel, toffee, oranges, marmalade, thick dried fruits, grapefruit, lots of sugar, booze covered by the sweetness. Taste is light oxidation, caramel, toffee, marmalade, sweet candy, sugar, fruits, light bitter herbs, sweet liqueur, touch exotic fruits, flowers. Less carb, light oxidation body. I didn’t expect it but I liked the Cascade BA way more & more Cascade dry-hopped which is slightly below Cascade BA for me. 2010 Vintage is limited to 492, 75 cl. bottles, touch bitter, oxidation has become way more significant, will dominate soon, age doesn’t go well for this one despite what you might expect, the other versions I tried before were really fresh, sweeter, fuller,… lovely. Still not bad but dig the others more.

Ruby red colour, off white head. Aroma of ripe fruits, toffee, red fruits, caramel, lots of marmalade, light alcoholic, light raisins, vanilla, orange peel and furniture wax. Light bitter flavour, somewhat sweet. Quite full body, quite rounded (at least more rounded than a fresh one), bit cloying. Finish marmalade, honey and light hops.
It does improve with age, at least in my opinion.
(At the DMT @ Tim’s living, Gent. Side by side tasting of an aged bottle -75cL, 2010, brought by me- and a fresh one -33cL, shared by tderoeck-, next to a 33cL bottle of Cascade BA B&G for comparison. Rating of the aged bottle. Fresh: 8-4-7-3-14=3.6)

UPDATED: JAN 9, 2013 Note: this is a combo of two versions of the same beer.

30/XII/12 - 33cl bottle (can’t remember from where, probably from Geers, Oostakker) @ home: De Molen & assorted beers tasting - bottled: 7/II/12 (2012-1433)

Ar: 7, Ap: 3, T: 8, P: 4, O: 14, Total: 3.6
Clear orange to amber beer, small irregular white head, unstable, adhesive. Aroma: sweet grain, malts, strawberry jam, sugary, syrup, bubble gum. MF: soft carbon, full body. Taste: very sweet, strawberry jam, sugary, red berries. Aftertaste: sugary, little bitter, citrus, hoppy, little dry in the end, still mainly sweet, wayt too sugary, alcohol is well hidden though.

30/XII/12 - 75cl bottle @ home: De Molen & assorted beers tasting - brewed: 18/X/10, bottled: 8/XI/10 - bottle #475 (2012-xxx) Thanks to Martinus for sharing the bottle!

Ar: 7, Ap: 4, T: 7, P: 4, O: 14, Total: 3.6
Clear ruby red beer, irregular small yellowish head, unstable, non adhesive. Aroma: bit fruity, piny hops, bit sugary, sweaty feet, alcohol. MF: soft carbon, full body. Taste: sugary, sweet, syrup, some cough syrup, red berries, strawberry jam, sugary. Aftertaste: sugary and sweet, syrupy, little hoppy, dry ending, red berries.

33 cl bottle from Vinmonopolet Vika. Pours a clear amber with a two fingers light brown head that is very small bubbled. Aroma is very fruity with notes of tangerine, sweet yellow apples and some other citrus stuff. Taste of tangerine and a weak alcohol warm in the background. To be a 15.2% this is well done. Full body, sticky texture, flat carbonation and a long fruity finish with some hoppy notes.

Bottle shared by ygtbsm94. Thanks Brad! The beer is amber to orange in color, with a thin, rapidly fading head that leaves virtually no lacing on the glass. The aroma is sweet and fruity, with malt, apples, grapes, alcohol. The flavor is reminiscent of a port wine. Sweet, earthy, rich. Additional notes of caramels soaked in alcohol. Medium bodied with low carbonation. Ideal for sipping slowly. Best in small quantities, I certainly enjoyed my portion. I would have this again. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 06-04-2012

Deep amber colour with almost no head. Rich vinous aroma with some oak and light fruity notes. A round dominating sweetness and a oily texture. Very well hidden alcohol. Rich fruity and some suger. Should have stayed longer in the basement.
[Bottle from Slijterij & Wijnhandel Meijer in Egmond Aan Zee, Netherlands]

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