Great Divide Old Ruffian

Brewed by Great Divide Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Denver, Colorado USA

Light roasted malt aroma. Clear copper color with a small tan head. Light sweet malt beginning with a mild bitter finish. Creamy palate. Alcohol well hidden.

THOUGHTS: I still haven’t met a barley wine I didn’t like. Not spectacular, but still a really nice beer and a pretty good barley wine. Hides ABV incredibly well. A littl heavy on the hops but it has a nice transition and balance. Great on a freezing cold night. It warms you up without burning (had this in February). The warmer the beer is the better. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured a dark brownish red with and average, off-white head that mostly lasted and left excellent lacing that almost completely coated the glass. The aroma was light to moderate caramel malt and heavy citrus (orange, lime and lemon) hops. The initial flavor was moderately sweet and lightly acidic and bitter; while the finish was heavily sweet, moderately to heavily bitter and slightly sour with an average to long duration. The flavor was caramel malt then citrus hops and a touch of chocolate. The medium to full body was sort of creamy and a little syrupy with very fizzy carbonation and a moderate astringent, light alcoholic and slight metallic finish.

Bottle. ’06 Vintage. Pours brown with amber highlights. Creamy head. Strong, raisin and malt aroma. Smooth, creamy texture. Still pretty hoppy. Another winner from a great brewery!

Aroma is very hoppy. Appearance is a reddish brown color, kinda hazy, but looks delicious. Flavor is slightly creamy, with hints of grapefruit . Palate is very smooth, easy to swallow, almost no alcohol bite to it. This is my first barley wine, and I am impressed by it.

Highly hopped barley wine. Copper color. Lacing, thin white head. Was perfect with mom’s southern slow cooked roast with stewed veggies. ..raspberry and cherry pie, with yeast rolls. All combined well, although it might be a little over the top. Sour, malt, then hops..hops hops..I’ve never had a barley wine this light in color, or this hop heavy. Is it really a barley wine? I have 1/8th of an inch lacing...never seen that before. A strange brew indeed. Should a barley wine be see-through? I guess by definition yes." American Barley Wine" anyone?

(Re-rate, draught at Pikkulintu, Helsinki, on 2009-01-27) Dark brown and hazy. Lightly tan coloured medium sized long lastin head. Strong grassy and hoppy aroma. Full bodied and dry palate with medium carbonation and warming alcohol. Hops, grass, bitterness, malts and light sweetnes in taste. Bitter aftertaste. Old rating: 8-4-8-4-15

Great Divide Old Ruffian Barleywine Style Ale ABV: 10.2% RateBeer rating: 98 Calories: estimated at 400C Volume: 22 fl oz Glass: snifter Purchased at: Circle Liquors Super Saver, Pennington, NJ Price: 4.99 on special who knows why. Consumed at: home First Impression: Impressive in presence and aroma. Aroma is raisins, prunes, and cherries. Sour is the leading scent. Visuals are mostly deep red and ruby body with a thin tan head. Taste is amazing. Active all over the mouth. Sweet, sour, bitter, hoppy, fruity, toasted. Grapefruit, nuts, cherries, and alcohol dominate. Palate is crisp with a dry long, very enjoyable finish. Second Impression - really takes a hold of you and does not let go. A deep and hoppy experience. Delicious, and very good. This is only my second Great divide brew, but they are very clearly my favorite brewer. Aroma: 9 out of 10 Visuals: 5 out of 5 Taste: 10 out of 10 Palate: 4 out of 5 Overall: 19 out of 20

Pours golden-red, maybe a little more brown than Horizontal or Behemoth. Small off-white head. Scents are dominated by lemon, bread, caramel, slight roasts and even mint. Flavor retains bitterness but has more sweetness to it than Behemoth, with caramel, citrus, roasts, and hints of alcohol. Another great barley wine.