 Gregis (884), Overland Park, Kansas, USA
Dec 27, 2007 Updated: Apr 21, 2008
Original Rating: ’07 Vintage, on tap at the brewpub. Ah, Old Backus...at last we meet.
Pours a deep, chocolate brown, with a ruby hue, and a creamy, light tan head. On the nose are plums, brown sugar, biscuity malt, fruity hops and alcohol. Medium to full-bodied and slick with fine, yet assertive (almost prickly) carbonation, the palate segues into a dry, hoppy, bitter finish. The flavor is of big, malty, sweet caramelized brown sugar and dark overripe plums with a conclusion that features solid alcohol warmth, a dry Popsicle-stick woodiness and a significant hop bite. I am not generally someone that likes hoppy barley wines, and this one certainly brings the goods with 150 ibu. But unlike fresh Bigfoot, which I find a bit "rough", this youngster is quite tasty. I think that given a year or so to mellow, this will be an amazing barley wine. Fresh, it’s just merely exceptional. :) Original #s: 8/5/8/4/16=4.1
If you enjoy hoppy barley wines, this is certainly one worth seeking out while it’s still young. If not, I’d recommend waiting for when they bring out one of the older vintages.
Rerate from 3/22/08; ’06 Vintage, on tap at the brewpub Pours burgundy brown with a thin, creamy, off-white head and nice lace. the nose is of roasty raisins, dark fruit and brown sugar with mild, spicy hops in the background. Medium bodied and oily-slick with a bitter hopped finish. An additional year of time to mellow has improved the palate from good to great. The flavor is a nice blend of dark fruit, some brown sugar and spicy/piny hops (much like the nose). Sweeter, better integrated across the flavor profile and the palate and more "mellow than the ’07 (which I sampled a few months back), this brew only seems to improve with age, and it is pretty impressive when fresh. If you get a chance to try this beer don’t hesitate.
Papsoe (9980), Frederiksberg, Denmark
Jul 30, 2008 (Hand bottle 65 cl) Courtesy of Storm. Pours an almost clear reddish brown with a beige head. Aroma of nuts, caramel, overripe fruit and alcohol. Quite full-bodied with sweet caramel, yeast, overripe fruit and aroma hops. Rather bitter finish. 260708
KimJohansen (3026), Copenhagen V, Denmark
Jul 29, 2008 Clear brown with tiny beige head. Sweet vinious aroma with caramel, ripe fruit, chocolate and roasted malt. Sweet flavor with bourbon, roasted malt, caramel and roasted malt.
yespr (6162), Copenhagen O, Denmark
Jul 27, 2008 22 fl bottle. Pours clear and golden dark brown with a tan lacing head. Smooth vanilla and chocolate malt aroma. Flavour is solid caramel and liqourice and towards chocolate. Dark and roasted malt and liqourice flavour. Ends warming and roasted. Great.
Grovlam (2984), Copenhagen, Denmark
Jul 26, 2008 Bottle [Sk8viking great American blind tasting] Small beige fizzy head that mostly diminished. Spare lacework. Pale mahogany color. Aroma of lovely thick vinous notes, bread, caramel, dried fruit. Over the palate came some hoppy notes with again alcohol, mild spice feel. Full bodied with a soft carbonation and thick alcoholic texture. Moderated to have sweet flavor with good counter bitterness. Lingering alcoholic and mild spicy – malty finish.
HogTownHarry (3174), Toronto (Harbourfront), Ontario, Canada
Jul 8, 2008 Thanks to glouglouburp for hooking me up with this rare treat!! 2007 vintage. Pours thick, lively, cloudy brown-red, with a solid tightly fizzy / foamy tan head. Dry aroma, woodsy and nutty, like strong sweet caramel malt aged in old oak, with hints of cocoa, marzipan and burnt rye toast. Taste - wow, that’s amazing - strong, near-boozy, but smooth, sweet-yet-bitter; I get light dry wood over a solid body of softly sweet malt, and it seems infused with lightly chocolatey hazelnut - damn that’s tasty. Thick, almost sugary body, not somewhat still, but softly astringent, and a long, long nutty balanced semi-boozy finsh - goddamn this is good stuff. I want more! Big, big thanks, Dany.
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