Great Divide Old Ruffian

American style barley wine with a very pungent, citrusy hop aroma and flavor with a malty and refined taste followed by a somewhat decent palate. May be a bit less astringent with some age, but overall this is up there among my favorite barley wines.

Vintage 2005 Pours dark copper with a mohagany tinge. Barely hazy at cellar temperature, with a one-inch head of dense beige. Sheets of clingy, fine lacework. Very nice. Aromatics are still brash after three years. Massively malty with an aggressive high-alpha blast. Oxidation is plenty apparent, with sherry and damp paper shining through. The nose rounds out with citrus-rubbed cedar bark and some smoke-funk. On the large side of medium bodied, plenty chewy and tacky. The pallet has an assertive bitterness up front, drying malt and pine-bark midway, and lingering citrus pith and alcohol follow through. Finishes with lingering bitterness, grapefruit zest, woody tannins, and a building warmth. Three years has not mellowed this ruffian much, and the oxidation is detracting in the nose. Past prime.

Bottle with a little age on it (not sure how much). Pours a deep auburn with an off-white head. Huge citrus hops flavors, plus roasty caramel malts, some dark fruits. No surprise, huge hop flavor on the front transitions to caramel maltiness and finally hints of chocolaty alcohol and backing hop bitterness. A little thick in the mouth, though the carbonation cuts it quite nicely. Really good.

Bottle. Red/amber colour with medium creamy off-white mostly lasting head. Sweet malty aroma with notes of caramel. Sweet bitter flavor.Heavy bitter finish. Oily palate.

tap @ papago... pours a dark caramel color with a frothy white head which leaves a bunch of sticky lacing. floral aroma with notes of brown sugar, citrus rind, pine and a burn from the spice/alcohol. flavor is the same as the aroma. not overly sweet with a dry bitter piney finish. alcohol burns a little on the breath as it warms but that’s to be expected. medium body for the style with a really smooth oily texture. no stickiness or cloying sweetness as too many BW tend to have...nice.

Pours dark copper with light tan head. Aromas of malts and caramel. Flavor is sweet and malty and finishes with a nice hoppy bitterness. Alcohol is well hidden for over 10%. Full body with minimal carbonation and a creamy, syrupy mouthfeel. This is a very good barley wine. I will definately have this again.

draft at barley’s in greenville. pours a darker ruby color than some other barley wines. aroma is very sweet, with floral hops and citrus dominating and maybe a bit of vanilla. mouthfeel is very solid. the beer coats the palate leaving a warm feeling due to the 10.2% abv. flavor came through very well with bitter hops all around and spotted with caramel malt. overall, a great beer.

Bottle. Nice sweet malt aroma with heavy hop and vanilla tones. Cloudy amber color very slight lacing. Very sweet malt flavor with aftertones of candy and hops. A very good barley wine style brew. I will buy this again!