4.5 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20bought the bottle as an xmas present for my dad - but figured I really should try it first. had at room temperature. syrupy and a little sweat - but not cloying. nice oakiness. hops are present - but in the background. good maltiness - alcohol taste is there - but at reasonable levels. wonderfully easy drinking - very very nice.
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Batch 4 bottled November 2002. What a treat to drink this alongside of a Poseidon from 2001. This barleywine was a mix of caramel and wine with a slight bitterness. Enjoyed this one a lot.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Big thanks to Brad for this one. Batch 2 (2000; merlot barrel aged) and Batch 3 (2001; cab franc barrel aged) served together.
Merlot barrel aged. Nose is quite smooth with a bit of wine in the background. Flavor is surprisingly hoppy. Super smooth.
Cab Franc. Nose is hoppie than the batch 1 and the nose isn’t as wine heavy. Flavor has a bit more booze. Great caramel and fruit
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 15/20
750mL thanks to ygtbsm94. Had both the Merlot and Bourbon BA versions. For the batch 1 2001 Merlot version: Pours a clear deep red with decent yellow foam. Nose is excellent tawny maltiness, toffee, caramel, barrel, strawberry. Taste is still quite bitter, minty, hoppy, tangy strawberry candy. Palate is nutty, spicy, some sweet maple and balancing lemon dark chocolate. Very impressive palate.
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Bottle, batch 2, courtesy of ygtbsm94, thank you! Hazy golden color. Aroma of vanilla, tannins. Taste is boozy ruby port and caramel. A big beer.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Merlot barrel, batch 2, 2000. Thank you Brad!
The beer is ruby chestnut with over an inch of tan head. Surprising carbonation. The aroma offers wine, oak, malt, booze, fruit. The flavor brings sweet, boozy barleywine. Well done. Medium to light in body with moderate carbonation. Fun!
Bourbon barrel, batch 3, 2001.
Similar flavor and appearance. Well water and booze with a silky feel. Aged gracefully. Delightful.
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
2000 Merlot Barrel Aged Batch #2 thanks to alen. Pours with a clear amber-orange hued body with a small off-white head that lasts. Aromas are floral, hardly any oxidation, rich malt, bready, caramel, honey, light wine. Flavors are huge, baked bread, blackberry, black currant, malty, bready, honey, sweet, medium wine barrel. Very well aged, hardly any oxidation. Still great carbonation, wine, medium tannin. A touch thin, but otherwise great!
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Bottle of batch 2 sampled at Muckfest III. Clear reddish copper pour with a medium beige head. Malty and grainy nose with notes of wine, whiskey and caramel. Grainy malt flavor with some bourbon before a sweet red wine finish.
3.5 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Bottle at Muckfest III - Pours murky brown with a tan head. Nose is sweet bready malt, dark fruit, toffee, but not too sweet. Taste has creme brulee, brown sugar, sweet honey bread, toffee, and a light yeastiness. Smooth and full-bodied. Feels past it’s prime, as some papery cardboard creeps in but that’s fine--it’s still a solid beer.
4.5 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 19/20
Bottle. Pours cloudy orange/red/dark brown. Aroma of caramel malts, toffees, dark fruits, red wine barrels. Flavour the same with red fruits. Gorgeous, smooth, light carbonation and well balanced.
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
8/20/11 batch #3 via dak.
rich dark amber with a small creamy pale khaki head.
the aroma and flavor show loads of vanilla, bs, green barrel notes, maple syrup, soft bourbon, oak and vinous qualities. it is over the top oxidized and very oniony as well... despite those two things, it has held up quite well. 8/4/7/3/16+
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