Great Divide Old Ruffian

Curiously, though a stout lover, I avoided barley wines for years, probably thinking they would be too sweet for my taste. Old Ruffian is one of several that changed my thinking. One of the things I like most about it is its hop bitterness. That’s obviously not a trait of most barley wines.

7/5/08 at the Seattle International Beerfest. Aroma is highly alcoholic with caramel, dried fruit and heavy c-hop balance. Appearance is hazy copper with a surprisingly well maintained cream colored head. Flavor is a little harsh from heavy hopping, and some reisny taste lingers. Still, strong caramel malt makes up for it somewhat. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, warm, with a very low carb texture. Overall, strong and complex, but could do with some more sweetness.

V - light head, dark red color A - typical barley wine sweet aroma T - caramel, sweet candy P - good aftertaste, a little bite to it.

22oz @Total Wine $4.99 served @room temp. Starts wonderfully smooth & malty, the powerful hoppy finish; however, was way to much for my taste. Smells wonderful (I felt decieved) A barleywine I had to force myself through due to its finish. Does well on the palate, akin to most barleywines. I let myself down in failing to read the description.

Nice and malty. Reminds me of old crusty but not as much candied sweetness and not as oddly woody. Cherry. Hop profile is tasty.

Bottle. Deep amber to brown pour with a healthy off white head. Has a nice hop aroma with a taste to match. Sweet malt flavor is matched by a wonderful hop bitterness. Outstanding.

Bomber. Big, fresh hoppy nose, floral and strongly citric with a touch of grass and pine. Very nice! Sticky caramel, slight wood and alcohol. Tons and tons of hops - but with balance! One of my favorite BW noses. Murky amber-copper pour with a creamy, densely rocky tan-beige head. Taste is extremely bitter with a good punch of alcohol knocking its way through, followed by waves of hops in the long, dry aftertaste. Caramel and wood, earth and toffee, not to forget the contributions of the enormous, fat malt base and strong backend grapefruit. Lovely rounding pine and faint spice. Big body and boozy, with just a splash of sweetness in the beginning to compel another dive into the snifter. Alcohol makes this a sipper, which is good, otherwise it’d be gone too quickly!

Tap at brewery. Amber body with nice white head. There’s a lot of malt going into the flavor here, and the hops just don’t balance it off. It does finish bitter, but I just think it’s too sweet for my tastes. Drinkable, but there are better beers out there.