Figure Eight Jumbo Love

Brewed by Figure Eight Brewing LLC
Style: Barley Wine
Valparaiso, Indiana USA

Serve in Snifter

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Went back and forth with the brewer and a local as to whether this was in fact jumbo love. Nothing like a barleywine at all, but the brewer told me he hooked up the right keg. My local friend shook his head no when he walked away....

Appearance: Pours a deep amber with a creamy beige head.

Aroma: Nuts, toast, dark fruit, alcohol. Taste: Bread crust, herbal hops, bitter yet fruity finish. Mouthfeel: Medium, way to thin to be a BW. Overall: Might have been Ro Sham Po? Anyway, it was drinkable!

Tap: Deep brown with purplish highlights, small head and slightly oily appearance. The aroma is very roasty and bready, some notes of Carafa malt for sure along with a hint of smoked meat, sherry, fig, and cherry pit. Earthy house yeast esters along with some alcohol noted. The taste starts twangy and malty with a background of char and smoke, fig pudding. Hint of old school oxidization, a good thing in this case. Noble hops and some resiny tones too, slap of alcohol cleanse palate. The mouth feel is sharp and aggressive, oily with slight warming. Sort of cross between a Black IPA and an Old Ale, quite yummy. Would love to see this barrel aged.

Draft sample at IBGW 2011. Poured clear dark brown color with an average frothy off-white head that mostly lasted with fair lacing. Moderate complex malt aroma. Medium body with a smooth texture and flat carbonation. Medium to heavy toasted sweet flavor with a medium to heavy bittersweet finish of moderate to long duration. My expectations were met.