3.7 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
On tap at Toronado. Pours a clear reddish amber with a small white head that settles quickly to a ring and leaves a decent amount of lacing on the glass. The aroma is big caramel, bourbon, vanilla, a bit of raisin, some grape, and a decent amount of booze. The taste is sweet caramel, bourbon, vanilla, some leather, and a hint of plum. The finish is boozy with a decent amount bitterness, and a mild astringency. Full bodied, sweet beer that borders on being syrupy. Low carbonation.
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Tap at West End. Now this is a barleywine bitches! Pours murky brown, small beige head. Sweet upfront, lots of molasses/dark caramel, warming booze, moderate barrel character (not overpowering bourbon). Hell yes, i ordered 3 and slept like a baby. They should’ve just made this their anniversary beer, had next to XV and to me this is the clear winner, better body more flavor
4.4 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Draft; my favorite at the FWXV release. Nose is vanilla, toffee, raisins, oak, and very light bourbon. Lightly hazy copper with a small beige head. flavor is golden raisin pie, toffee, oaky vanilla, and some very light bitterness and bourbon. Nicely balanced for a 14.3% BA BW as I tasted it.
3.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 13/20
Sampled at Deconstructed event during LA Beer Week, big and bourbony but with a mild medicinal kick to it. Pours a deep dark brown. Aroma is very strong.
3.1 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20
San Diego Strong Ale Fest 2010. Clear copper color/ tan head. Big boozy vanilla bourbon, caramel aromas. medium bodied. Decent toasted coconut, vanilla, whiskey, wood flavors, huge boozy finish- too much booze in fact.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
A: The pour is a sort of cloudy dark amber color with a sturdy tan colored head.
S: The nose is quite sweet and mostly of caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, and a touch of chocolatey oxidation. This is supposed to be a hoppy strong ale, but I don’t really get very much hop character.
T: A mild chocolate note to this one but still lots of caramel and brown sugar to go around. A slightly nutty note and lots of creamy, rich, vanilla and bourbon flavor. There is a subtle bitterness to this one, which I suppose is the "hoppy" character.
M: The body is medium with a smooth, moderate level of carbonation.
D: This didn’t impress me much initially, but as the beer warmed up, I enjoyed it more and more. Really quite nice.
4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Draft at the San Diego Strong Ale Fest 2010. Amber pour, off-white head. Caramel malt, oak, vanilla, light fruit notes, bourbon, and a fair amount of hops. The flavor blend together in a strange way, almost "chalky". Lots of alcohol warmth. Very nice.
3.9 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
On tap at San Diego Strong Ale Fest 2010
Appearance: Pours a deep translucent amber with a creamy beige film for a head.
Aroma: Leather, old books/basement, bourbon and related odors (wood, vanilla, caramel).
Taste: Cherry, booze, caramel and bitter hops.
Mouthfeel: Sticky with very modest carbonation.
Overall: Very tasty, very hot. Perhaps this is the beer that lends the warmth in Firestone 14.
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