Fish Tale Leviathan Barleywine (Barrel Aged)

I had the 2002 version of this. I must say that straight up this doesn't have all the funk that most barley's do and that is why it is great. It still has the strong licorice aroma to it, yet the body doesn't have that sour licorice gut wrenching funk. Just some sick amounts of caramelized malts, hops and alcohol. Damn impressive.

Had from bottle at the San Diego Strong Ale Festival, Pizza Port Carlsbad, December 6th, 2003
Batch No. 4, bottled Nov. 2002. Pours with no head and an amber/brown coloring. The aroma is hoppy with a bit of floral sweetness. The flavor is an interesting mix of sweet & sour with an oily finish. Quite good, and one of the best at the festival - thanks to the other Ratebeerians there for providing this fine sample.

Dark copper pour with a decent head. A very nice beer. Hoppy with a hint of wine tart/sour coming through near the finish.

Batch # 3 Winey huge aroma, intense woodyness, chocolate, carmel, very robust hops in the nose, quite nice so far. Brown color with a tan head. Chocolatey, mollasses, maple syrup, figs, a little bit of alc, gummy flavors. Very creamy and soft, resinous hops late for the finish. Lots of oakiness, quite nice.

Batch 3. Sweet malty aroma, touch of sherry. Smooth sweet maltiness, some oak character initially. Some cinnamon and a touch of hot alcohol. Oak character becomes more and more pronounced. Thanks Slikwily!

Batch #3, Brewed November 2001. Aroma is intoxicating. Silky malt aromas greet the nose. A bit of citrusy hops as well. Things are shaping up well so far. Appearance is right on the mark very dark reddish brown. Now for a taste. Flavor is strong and distinctive. Strong sherry like flavors. The finish is alcohol burn. Very good, but not my favorite.

Thanks to jcalabre for this one. Enticing dark cloudy red appearance with a fruity, hoppy, wine-like aroma. A very distictive example of the style that contains an array of flavors so nicely blended that one never suspects the 10% abv. An absolute world class brew.

Hazy dark-brown beer with slim, but quite stable white head. nose is vinous and grapey, but really reminds me of spilled and soured wine. Oak vat, yes, but the vat is on the verge of collapsing. Taste is vinous, woody, Marsalla but less sweet, vintage port. Sourness in a very fruity way - plums, grapes. There is some acetic acid, but remains subdued. Taste is much better than the off-putting nose. Heavy-bodied, oily mouthfeel. Long fruity, but also burning aftertaste. Definitely some acetic. Pity about the nose. The rest is more than decent.