Drakes Barley Wine Brandy Barrel

Formerly brewed at Drakes Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
San Leandro, California USA

Serve in Snifter

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UPDATED: JUN 8, 2007 6 Oz. Bottle. Intoxicating rich aroma flows forth with integrity and suave currents of candied apples, plums, pears, stewed figs drizzled with pomegranate syrup, lucious rose blossom, shavings of Valhrona and heavy viscous port sugars, dripping with caramlized brown sugars, praline, scotch whiskey, charred oak tannins and fragrant floral orange rinds. Seductive, silky, milky, sweet and wafting. Can an aroma get much better? The pour is a maelstrom of the deepest murky browns, as in the pitch of a mulling apple cider. On the surface, curls of finely hewn white oak sea foams wrap around each other and lace the glass. Flavor is intense, no other way to put it. At first the mouth-filling rich creaminess of puddings, pies, creme brulees topped with heated raspberry sauces and aching wheat. This is a four movement beer, which is unprecedented in my experience. Second, I latch on to a sweeping tartness of wild fruits, passionfruit seeds, papaya husk, cranberry skins and the flesh of a thousand tawny grapefruits. It singes the mouth with biting acidity, awakening one for the following pleasures. Thirdly, an almost too harsh alcohol, keeping the beer from achieving perfection in the category. But the alcohol plays well, with impressive stoic character, ferrying rafts of scrupmtous and fulfilling tannins, woody notes and balancing dryness. Here, the more delecate of the fruits prance in fields of ergot and honeysuckle. Life is fragrant and sweet as the dripping morning dew filled with the longing pine musk and fresh moroccan figs, black as night, with curried aged lemons and coriander on the plate, concealing the overtly grainy presentation. A shot of mid-level cognac is poured and fresh green peppercorns are dredged into a tenderloin. Finally, a rushing crescendo of harmonizing flavors and facets. Here and there dance the jitterbugging hop cones, light and tender with alpha acids gentle and caressing, marrying the saccharin nature of grain to aromatic. The parchness balances, the fruity floral resin alights into the evenings breeze with exquisite symphony. Finally, adding a sheer exultation of glory is the dates, figs, plums, currants and candied everything in one fell swoop, holding on until the others won’t let go. In the end, a triumphant smack of grapefruit flesh and date husk, with a wistful eye of raisin tears. Pass sweetly and gracefully o’er mine tongue, thoust true ambrosia. Thanks Andy!

Finally get to try this thanks to madmitch76 for sending this tiny little nip bottle back across the pond. Pours murky muddy sludgy brown mahogany with micro thin head. The aroma offers up soft aged notes of molasses, a touch of sherry, earthiness, muted sweet brandy, smooth dank wet wood notes and booze at the end of the draw. The taste has a thin feel to it and delivers pleasing notes of earthy aged molasses and brown sugar followed by soft muted wood notes. This gets nectar sweet at times too with a hint of tart barrel thinly ringing the experience. Dynamite stuff.

Bottle generously shared by Ibrew2or3 @ Dak’s Cantillon tasting. Tiny little bottle that produced a muddy Oak Creek Canyon pour (rusty penny with hints of Sedona red) with zero head. Very little, if any carbonation but the bottle definitely had some age on it. Aroma was rich and complex with lots of molasses, raisin, plum, fig, brown sugar, vanilla, wood, and brandy present. Flavor is similar but there are signs of oxidation. Quite sweet and definitely a sipper. Chewy mouthfeel that would have benefited from a bubble or two. Still a really tasty brew that I am glad to have sampled...thanks again Dave!

(sampled at Dak’s 5000 tasting). Pours a cloudy dark caramel color with no head. Aroma has caramel, wood, light bourbon. raisin and a bit of oxidation. Taste is sweet with some roast and wood. A bit of tartness, but not much. Full bodied and a slick texture. Nice beer. Thanks Dave!

Getrunken beim RB Treffen in Düsseldorf am 6.1.07 Fruchtig-hopfiger Geruch. Das Bier brennt etwas im Hals, wird am hohen Alkoholgehalt liegen. Allerdings ist es gleichzeitig auch zu süß, auch im Nachgeschmack unangenehm süßlich-klebrig-malzig. Naja.... Test vom 7.1.2007, Gebinde: Glasflasche Noten: 8,8,6,7,9,7 - 7,20

Thanks to SJ for this. I think I found a new brewer to rave about. Enthralling mahogany pour with redish highlights. A big aroma of dark fruits, chocolate and wood. A beautiful full thick body with tastes of sweet malt, chocolate, vanilla and oak. At 14.7% the alcohol was blended to perfection. I love tihs brewer. This is what it’s all about. Finding the perfect beer of the day.

Bttled. Haxe dark brown in color. The aroma is yeasty with plums and raisins. The flavor is sweet... something the beer has gained from alcohol.Madeira, vanilla, oak brandy barrel beer :)

Deep brown pour. The nose is intense and loaded with rich tobacco and dried fruit. Rich and quite woody with a nice herbal hoppiness as well. A little kiss of tartness on the back along with a fairly sherryish oxidized note. Lots of vineous character and a distincly oaky contribution. Rich and sweet but it’s quite appealing nonetheless. I’m glad that I got a chance to try this one out.

Bottle that’s been in the mini-fridge since purchase a few years ago (it didn’t take up much space!). I wasn’t expecting much from this beer since recent raters have said it’s past it’s prime. The pour is dark brick red and has lost all carbonation. Aroma has lots of brandy and sour notes. The taste has held up pretty well. It’s oxidized but that doesn’t detract from the taste. Lots of up-front alcohol, brandy, astringent berry, prune, light caramel. Definitely a sipper. If still have a bottle lying around, you should crack it soon.

#100. Bottle into snifter. Reddish brown with no head. Aroma is moderate oxidation, tart fruit, caramel, old wood, cashews(?). Flavor is sweet and a little tangy with sherry, raisins, prunes, brandy. Oh so smooth with the barest hint of alcohol. Medium full and soft and a bit dry in the finish. Past its prime and fading, but still very tasty.

A: The pour is a flat, muddy dark brown color with no head at all, which isn’t surprising. S: While this is most certainly oxidized, the beer is not any worse off for it. A wonderful chocolate aroma that goes nicely with the brandy, oak, and vanilla notes. A nice sweet caramel and toffee aroma is present as well. T: The flavor is not quite as good as the nose, but still good. A fair amount of chocolate and vanilla with a more noticeable brandy presence, which is surprising given the age of this beer. The base barleywine still comes through with the caramel sweetness. M: The body is smooth and full bodied, and has a nice texture to it despite the lack of carbonation. D: The beer was maybe a touch heavy on the brandy, but still absolutely delicious. It’s too bad I probably won’t get another chance to try this one.