Durham Benedictus

Brewed by Durham
Style: Barley Wine
Durham, England

Serve in Snifter

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Barley wines are not really my thing, but this was a very good example. Lots of malt and fruit - apples and oranges -, but a good balancing acidity too and not too chewy. Handpump, Head of Steam, London NW1

Cask conditioned at Harbury Beer Fest ’07. Deep gold with white head. Heavy sweet winey fruity beer, smooth but with heavy strokes of cough medicine about it. Tongue stripping alcohol in the cask, could be one where the bottled is better.

Bottle. Ornage-brown with small head. Quite fruity, estery, alcohol, pine, dry. A little unrefined flavorwise. Medium-full and silky mouthfeel.

Huge fluffy yellowish head, stable, over unclear orange beer with olive shine. Toasted, caramel nose, parsley, herbal-based liqueurs. Very liqueurish taste; syrup, alcohol & herbal bitterness. Very creamy MF from the head. Well-carbonated, slick & warming. Alcoholsweetness wars with the burning-bitterish throatfeel. Only medium bodied, all the same. Absolutely not bad, but for it to grapple with the big Belgian abbey ales, might be a bridge too far. <i> Big thanks to Darren! </i>

Bottle shared with Hogtown Harry and Blankboy, blankboy’s bottle from England. Nice dark golden hue, small thin white head. Good dry yeast aroma with some sweet malt. Taste is that of a nice strong bitter - very earthy/Uk like. Straightforward, simple and decent.

Thorups, Aarhus, DK. Bottled, 130608. Golden with small head. Complex aroma and flavor of malty sweetness, balanced hop bittereness, added sugar and a tangy tone from the well hidden alcohol

Bottle from Drink of Fulham. It pours golden yellow with a thin bubbly white head. The nose is orange, peach, nectarine, golden syrup and spice. The taste is brown sugar, ripe nectarine, peach, spice, caramel, citrus rind, orange syrup and alcohol warmth in the finish. Medium to full bodied, soft carbonation and sticky mouth-feel. Decent stuff.

Amber colour, unclear, sediment. Lasting offwhite head. Floral and real nice aroma, flavor is nice, medium malty. The 8,4 abv isnt unpleasent, but warming.

Bottle (from Bottles York). Sweet fruity malt but not overly so, you could almost take it for a strong bitter if it wasnt for the hint of almondy alcohol trying to get you to notice it. But on the whole its well balanced with gentle hops in the finish. I was pleasantly suprised but not impressed.

slightly alcoholic nose with hints of orange and cardemom. Beautiful orange colour with a milky shine. Low head. A bit watery feeling with a fruity finish and palate. Aftertaste of somewhat bitter like orange shells...