Fish Tale Leviathan Barleywine (Barrel Aged)

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

Major thanks to EDA for the hook-up! November 2002 bottle, Batch 4. Poured clear (at least initially) deep vinous-brown with a short cap of deeper beige head. The aroma picked up huge doses of chocolate and darker vinous notes, rich caramelization, and dried floral.. a pinch of alcohol rides out the back, and the hops have faded to near-nothingness (still worked by all means).

The flavor had rich chocolate and caramel at the core, with the vinous influence really picking up at the swallow.. heavier almost molasses-ey sugars on the edges, with just a mild herbal bitterness remaining.. a little warmth at the back. Entirely smooth on the palate, rich, and malty.. very little alcohol apparent.. warm and lenghty finish. Just a touch of oxidation present here.. I think this still has some time left before it really degrades. Thanks Mike!

Bottle in trade from demolayfire. Pity I let this sit for so long. This was enjoyed at the RBSG. Still lots of butterscotch and ripe fruit. I shouldn’t have waited so long.Just a bit past prime.

2001 Bottle shared by Landseer. Pours deep ruby brown with a tan head. Aroma of caramel, sherry, and something odd that I could not pinpoint (I joked around and said it was "dead mouse behind the stove"). Flavor has a rich caramel and toffee maltiness, with some accents of vanilla and sherry. Finish is semi- dry with some alcohol and subdued oakiness. Very nice, but may be past its prime.

Name: Leviathan
Date: 02/24/2001
Mode: Bottle
Source: Belmont Station, Portland
Vintage: 1999

dark amber, whispy head, heavy malt hop aroma,big body, rich malt flavor with lots of balancing hops, lasting bitterness, no apparent alcohol, typical nw barleywine

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.7/5.0
Score: *4
-------- /> Name: Leviathan
Date: 03/14/2002
Mode: Bottle
Source: dogwood tasting
Vintage: 2000

dark amber, whispy head, rich malt flavor, slightly sweet, hint of oak,

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.6/5.0
Score: *4
-------- /> Name: Leviathan
Date: 01/10/2004
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting

clear dark amber, lots of tiny bubbles, light malty aroma and flavor, hint of sweetness, touch of alcoholic heat, light fruity character, grows on you as it warms

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.6/5.0
Score: *4
-------- /> Name: Leviathan
Date: 01/04/2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Ale Atlanta
Vintage: 2002

muddy brown, wispy beige head, sweet and tart woody cherry pit aroma, rich malt flavor, lots of brown sugar character without too much sweetness, finishes with a tartness

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.4/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: **+/4

Dark orange-brown in colour, off white coloured head, average retention, some lacing. The aroma is of cherries, caramel, some hops, moderate sweetness, noticable alcohol, some red wine. The flavour also has noticable red wine characteristics, the alcohol is ever present, some light hops, dark fruits, some oak. Lightly bitter in the mouthfeel, medium body, medium carbonation. Finishes with some caramel sweetness, alcohol heat, vinous. This is good, slightly better then the Barrel Aged Old Numbskull I just had, the vinosity helps.

750ml bottle obtained in a trade with <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/ViewUser.asp?U target=blank>ClarkVV, thanks Clark.
Opened on March 16, 2007.
Batch #4, Bottled in November 2002.

Batch 3, 2001. A six year old sample that held up remarkably well and really turned into a mimicry of a crazy winemakers fantasy. Hazy pour, light browns and deep reds, very pretty. Low carbonation, but a steadfast beige head. The aroma is sweet and seductive. Vinous notes, liquor soaked cherries and wood trample the air in between my nose and the glass and arrive with a purpose. There is a slight tartness that reveals itself further with each increasing degree of warmth. Also noted is toffee, caramel and floral hops. Very solid and really contradicts the stylistic normalcy typically unearthed with a barrel aged barleywine. The flavor is full of red wine notes and soured malts, tannic shrapnel and scorched caramel. Wild. Fruit notes are stronger and sweeter. Bitterness from hops is light but effective. Acidity is medium-high and plays off the vinous component admirably. Finishes hoppy with caramel and brisk dryness. The mouthfeel is lightly carbonated, full bodied and shares many traits with low velocity wines that have reached full maturity and are in need of aeration. A wonderful treat, balanced and unique. Wow, intoxicating in every imaginable sense of the word.

This had some age on it but has done a decent job of holding up. Dark murky amber/maroon. Lots and lots of dark dried fruits. Thick sticky palate, full bodied. Tons of sweet malts make up the not very complex flavour. I wonder how much it has lost.

750. Thanks, BitBucket! I have to admit this beer fell far short of expectations, but, then again, it HAS held up very well given that it was on 01 sampled in June of 07.
Pours deep cloudy amber, very dark, caramelly highlights. Big dark fruit and oxidation on the nose. Sticky syrupy smelling, and same on the body. Still. Sharp old leaves, grain husk, and ash on the mid-palate. Sticky finish, not too lingering. I can’t believe how simplistic the flavors are, even with all this age...but it’s a disappointment no matter how you stack it.