Deschutes Mirror Mirror Barleywine

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

Serve in Snifter

Bottle… Clear, electric orange ale with a small, fizzy, khaki head. Decent retention. The aroma is of caramel, date, grassy/peppery hops, ethanol and a touch of dried plum. Full-bodied with a thick, chewy mouthfeel and delicate carbonation. The flavor is sweet and caramely up front; followed by a gentle bitterness that lingers right on through the caramel/toffee, mostly sweet finish.

Vintage 2009. Pours murky copper with a small tan head. Flavors of caramel, dried fruit and a smattering of oak. Overall a very tasty barley wine.

Location: 22 oz bottle via trade trade with NickD717, Vintage 2009, 8/26/10

Aroma: The nose is a bit boozy, with some wood, spice, caramel, vanilla, and resiny hops
Appearance: It pours a hazy orange-brown color with a white head that leaves streaky lace
Flavor: The taste is rather malty, some bourbon/wood to it, with a bitter/hoppy finish to it
Palate: This one is full bodied, it has a little bit of heat, and a rather long duration
Overall Impression: Thanks, Nick. Another top quality West Coast beer that you’ve sent my way. This is some pretty good stuff. It makes for a big and flavorful Barley Wine for sure. Beyond that, it seems to be pretty well-made.

Copper pour with a loose white head. Toasty caramel body with notes of creamy vanilla, almond, wet oak, anise, and a kick of alcohol. Sticky, medium body with soft carbonation.

Bottle with yalnikim (in NZ). Started off with a hiss and a roar. But a big beer, even when shared between two. Became a bit too sweet at the bottom of the glass - and was shown up by the Fullers 2008 Vintage Ale. One of the best looking beers I have had this year though - stunning colour. I’m suffering the day after now though...

Aroma: Caramel malt, dried fig, dried grassy and floral hops with some earthy notes. Palate: Smooth, rich mouth feel without being excessively heavy. Flavor: Evolving flavors of fig, chocolate, caramel, candied orange (reminiscent of fruit cake), toasted and lightly smokey malt and earthy flavors. Long malt finish with understated but present bitterness Comments: I like the rich, moderately earthy character of this barley wine. It is big without being cloying and should "improve" (become both smoother and possibly more complex) over the next year or two at least. Still, at one-year-of age, it is drinking well now.

Just about the perfect barley wine for me. Sweet bourbon and malt, some dark forest, overripe fruit, wi all in good balance, lots of linen which I always appreciate.

West USA trip 2010. On tap @ PIB. The aroma has overripe fruits, some booze, sugar. Hazy, brown coloured beer with an off-white head. The taste is sweet, has sugar, caramel, mandarins, some ripe dark fruits. More bitterness towards the end. Good.

Vintage 2009 Enjoyed August 2010

Appearance: Pours a dark auburn with a creamy cap of beige head. Aroma: Ripe fruit, perhaps apricots, plums, chocolate, herbal hops, brown sugar. As it warms up, the oak barrel pops out at you. Taste: Spicy carmel and dark chocolate notes, dried dark fruit, big sturdy bitter hops. While incredibly bold, it isn’t all that boozy. Leaves an oaky aftertaste you don’t get til you put your glass down for a few seconds. Mouthfeel: Coating, medium bodied, a tad creamy, with moderate carbonation. Overall: I really enjoyable barleywine. Not too sweet, not hot, above average barleywine.