Deschutes Mirror Mirror Barleywine

Brewed by Deschutes Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Bend, Oregon USA

Serve in Snifter

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This is one of my favorite BW’s very well balanced great color, great nose, this one has been getting better with age. I suspect the 09 might start hitting a wall within the next year or so. I think it is drinking at it’s peak now, and will enjoy that ride for another 6-8 months or so. Don’t get me wrong I think it will still be good, but I think it’s at it’s best right now.

Pretty delicious beer. Very strong esters and fusel alcohol at the nose, body is full of toffee and caramel. Not bad to sip on.

Dark orange to red, clear body. Aroma of sweet red fruit, sweet malts. Aroma is deep and complex, balanced. Very earthy, liquorice tones. Massively enjoyable.

2009 Bottle thanks to Scott. for sharing Pours out a moderate amber color with no real head. Aroma is of caramel, honey, light fruit and some sweet earthy notes. Taste is complex, caramel, soft fruity notes, light oak, and some lingering, but never overpowering alcohol notes. Solid, sipper that has held up well.

2009 vintage bomber. Nice sweetness and deep purple fruit flavors. A little bit of raisin and vanilla aromas. Syrupy molasses, raisin, fig, a little bit of booze on the back end of the palate. All in all this is holding up well. The flavors are subtle and complex and nothing is incredibly overpowering including the alcohol or barrel aging. Pour is a deep auburn almost brown with a red hue. Somewhat of a tan head that disappears after a little while. Lasts longer than you would expect it to. Malt body is sweetly caramel and smooth creaminess. Lots of toffee working in there as well. Again subtle but complex. Well put together beer that is holding up pretty well.

22oz. Bottle: (2009): Sweet aroma of malt, Bourbon, light oak, caramel, toffee, slight hops, dark ripe fruit, raisins, and slight alcohol. Poured amber/orange/brown/tawny in color with a small, loose, tan/beige head that greatly diminished but lasted throughout as a film on top of the beer, as well as around the edges. Hazy. Very sparkling. Flavor is medium to heavily sweet and slightly bitter. Tastes of malt, Bourbon, slight oak, caramel, toffee, slight hops, slight alcohol, dark ripe fruit, and light vanilla. Medium to full body. Viscous, lightly sticky, then lightly dry texture. Average to slightly lively carbonation. Sweet, caramel, malt, toffee, slight alcohol, slight hop, dark ripe fruit finish is slightly sticky and slightly dry. 11%ABV is present but well hidden.

C: Slightly red. S: Hoppy, some wort.. T: Hoppy again and some barley. P: Quite nice.

Nice pretty clear red color, small head. Smell barley, abricot and syropy. Tastes good but a little too much alcohol. Nice mouthfeel though.

Bottle: 2009: Off white head, turns quick into a lacing, on top of a light cloudy dark orange colored beer. Smell barleys, molasses, sticky, sweet, syrup, toasted malt, fruit, orange, abricot and yeast. Taste sticky barleys and malts, sweets, hops, sticky, light molasses, fruits, sweets, hint of honey, fruit and some spices. Perfectly balanced. Nice sticky sweet light bitter aftertaste. Low carbo, soft creamy mouthfeel, full body and a light creamy texture. Lovely beer!

Pours a deep murky amber or copper color with just under 2 fingers of head. Smells malty with caramel and dark fruits. No signs of infection, just a good barleywine. Taste follows the nose. Malty with caramel, raisins, figs, and some hops still present. Some alcohol heat is present, but with a high ABV and less than 2 years on it I expected that. Definitely thick and a bit sweet, but no more so than expected for the style. Adequate carbonation make this pretty drinkable for a slower drinking style. I had no problem finishing a bomber and would have had no problem polishing off another.