General Lafayette 275th Anniversary Ale

22oz bottle. 13.1% ABV. Red-copper. Aroma of alcohol. Flavor of raisins and malt. Rich, full bodied.

Date: 03/22/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: hazy dark ruby red, fine beige head,
Aroma: sweet dark caramel malt aroma, nice fruity tartness,
Overall: sweet fruity malt aroma, dark caramel sweetness, touch of fruity tartness, light earthy balance, peppery alcohol adds extra complexity rather than distraction,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **+/4

Suprised to run into another General (as we say in the south Luh-fay-it) beer. This place was cool as hell. Anyway a dark amber apperance with a moderate head. The aroma has an oaky presence with some cherries, raisins, cherries, and caramel. The flavor is quite sweet and complex with some vanilla, molasses, brown sugar, raisins, and caramel. The alcohol is masked well for 13% but still shows. Dear god is this a nice barleywine!

Appearance: Pours a clear, dark amber body, but I fear the alcohol killed any chance of a head here. Ever onward! Smell: Luscious aroma laden with notes of dark caramel, brown sugar, hand-picked cherries, and good ole booze. Taste: Sharply sweet caramel maltiness with a touch of dark brown sugar. Cherries floating in simple syrup. The hops are, at best, subtle here. Slint hint from the alcohol. Candyish finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Sticky mouthfeel. Drinkability: A good barleywine, so long as you like’m sweet.

Pours a transparent dark copper mahogany with a thin ring of off-white head. Aroma of sweet biscuity pale and caramel malts with rich fruity estery cmplexity. Body starts rich and dark caramely sweet with a good amount of light fruity esters before a drier sweet bready finish. A pretty complex barleywine, but could use some time to age.