Great Dane Barleyport

Brewed by Great Dane Pub & Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Madison, Wisconsin USA

I’m not sure that ‘pours’ is the right word, as I’m not convinced that a spatula wasn’t involved, but anyways… Pours an incredible purple-brown color, looking like a port wine with some brown thrown in just for spite. Aroma of port wine, with plums, raisins, and cherry. Oh, and alcohol. Lots of alcohol. No head. No foam would dare stand up to this stuff. ‘Legs’ like a port wine. Incredibly sweet beer, full fruity port-like taste, then some intense honey malt and caramel. Thick with honey and molasses flavor. All this sweetness going on, and just when you think if might be cloying, it finishes with this tart, thick, alcoholic, pomegranate flavor - and lots of it. Silky smooth full body, no carbonation, powerfully tasty.

On tap.
Pours a cloudy ruby-auburn with a ring of bubbles around the rim that leaves no lacing. Gorgeous rich vinous sweet malty aroma with loads of fruity esters. Flavor lacks the intensity the aroma suggests, but it’s still a lovely fruity, sweet, malty barleywine with strong notes of raisin, dried cherries & cranberries, and a steady buildup of hop bitterness that provides nice balance without ever becoming acrid, all backed up by warm, soothing alcohol. Huge thick full mouthfeel and a thick, slightly sticky palate. Intensify the flavor by one notch and this is a grand slam.

Rated 9/24/2004 (never entered). Dark amber color, thin off-white ring of head around the glass. Licoricey caramel hops. Sweet with dark fruit; a bit overwhelming, but very delicious. Would have liked to have more.

Draft in Madison: still dark brown maple syrup appearance with straggly bubbles around the edges. Coast the glass with a thick copper film…thick maple, soy aroma with plenty of alcohol present to go along with dried fruits, sweet resin, black cherry skins and dark honey. Sweet alcohol laced vanilla beans and strikingly bitter oranges. Palate is sticky, thin & flat, but works all right here. Lingering sticky candy flavour & texture…would work very well as an aperitif…

Dark chestnut color with a tinge of rudy on the edges. Only a few bubbles on floating on the top. Rich, lightly oily feel. Aromas lean to malt, but a fulsome of fruit also abound. Caramel and rasians, nuts and figs seem to waft about. Flavors come out a little thinner than the nose, but are still present and fulfilling. Mild warmth fills the stomach. Mild wood flavors come out late in the linger. A more traditional barley wine that was a good finish for the day.

Cask Conditioned, Madison: Deep rustic brown hue with an oily body which coated the glassware nicely. The aroma is very malty (caramel, toast,smoke), fruity (plum, raisin, apple, blackberry), with additional nose of vanilla, slight oak, bourbon hints and cardamom like spiciness. Nice! Twangy taste upfront with molasses and a fruity attack on the palate. It is heavy and displays good depth with additional undertones of vanilla, mocha, light bitters, and an oaky character. The feel is a bit burning after a while, oily and lush. This is a top notch strong brew and is something to savor. A bourbon barrel done right!