Fish Tale Leviathan Barleywine (Barrel Aged)

Formerly brewed at Fish Brewing Company/Leavenworth Beers
Style: Barley Wine
Olympia, Washington USA

Batch 2, 2000 bottling, tasted Jan 2009.

What a treasure to open this gem after it spent nearly a decade maturing. Pours brown with modest head and a fair amount of cloudy micro-sediment. Beautiful caramelly aroma with graceful and well integrated vanilla oak, just an absolutely love aroma. After the vanilla nose, I’m expecting sharp bourbon on the flavor, but instead it’s soft merlot grapes, a beautiful surprise, slightly musty, slightly fruity, that lovely sweet caramel coming through, still a touch of those hops on the late finish but so laid back, none of the hop-oxidation problems that one might have envisioned, just an overall beautifully integrated, sweet, and very different barleywine. Glorious rich chewy mouthfeel. What a treat!

Pours a bright copper brown with a thin off white head. Wonderful nose of bourbon, fruit, caramel and toffee. Same in the flavor with a smooth mouthfeel.

Woodshop 4. 2001 bottling. Old school! Massive mellow...rich, sticky, rich, malty, rich, awesome. Assortment of sweet malts/fruits. Aged to perfection...lovely, seriously

(750ml bottle, Batch 3, 2001 vintage) Pours a clear amber with a small beige head. Aroma of caramel, vanilla, cherry, bread, and chocolate. Flavor of caramel malt, roastiness, raisins, plum, and vinous with a dry, somewhat bitter finish.

Batch 3 2001, 750ml via trade with SuzyGreenburg, shared at Strong Ale 08. Pours orangey brown with a tan head. Nose is sweet, rich, sick and fantastic. Taste is sweet fantastic, rich and big, very nice and incredibly well aged.

2008 GABF, Dr. Bill’s tasting, Batch 3. Poured a deep murky brown color with a moderate beige head that faded to a layer but left some decent lacing. Aroma of sweet caramel malt, toffee, a bit of brown sugar, some nice fruity hints (plum, apple, grape), vanilla, a bit of bourbon spiciness, and some dry oak. Smooth, sweet entry leads into a nice vanilla caramel maltiness with some light roast and a bit of soft toffee that leads into a nice dark fruit hit with some plum, grape, and fig. Finishes with a light bourbon spiciness with some dry oak and soft undertones of apple and caramel. Moderate carbonation, full and slick on the palate. Very good beer.

2008 GABF, Dr. Bill’s tasting, Batch 3. Pours clear tawny with a small, fizzy, off-white head, somewhat lasting with fair lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (bread, caramel, toffee), average hops (flowers, perfume), average yeast (dough) with notes of alcohol, apple, and pear. Full bodied, sticky texture, lively carbonation, and a bitter finish. Long duration, moderate sweetness, acidity, and bitterness.

Big thanks to Mike for sharing this big bottle. 2001 bottling. Dark brown appearance with a fluffy tan head. Aromas of caramel, vanilla, and spice come through. Flavor is sweet, caramely, brown sugar, and no lasting bitterness. Palate is sticky and big.