Green Flash Barleywine

This is a very good barleywine. Good balance of hops and malts in a San Diego traditional way. And that’s not a bad thing. All hops aside, there’s no doubting this is a barleywine that’ll kick you in the teeth and show you the door.

Clear dark amber with a frothy tan head. Good smell is equal parts caramel malts and west coast hops. Full bodied with a super smooth mouthfeel. Very easy drinking flavors of sweet malts, apple peel, spices with a nice sting of alcohol and hops to finish. The 10% does not get in the way here. enjoyed this one. 3167

Jan. 2007 - Beer poured deep orange hue with tremendous head for a barleywine...outstanding lacing as well. Rich full sweet caramel malty base and some other flavor I couldn’t put my finger on...with grapefruit and a touch of pine bitterness in the backend. Really thick and smooth mouthfeel. Really enjoyable...I’m needing more Green Flash!

Pours thick but not as thick as I expect from a barleywine. The hops are course and dirty with no discernable fruit or flower. The malt is sweet but not in the enveloping caramel blanket that comes with the better BWines. Not a big fan.

The bottle states "Vintage" but there is no date..Odd. Pours hazy, dark amber, with a inch-plus head of off-white foam. The dense froth settled slowly leaving a small amount of lacework. Aromatics are somewhat subdued for what you would expect from an American-style barleywine, letalone a "west coast" version. Wet cardboard and stale malt up front, with some earthy, peppery notes, dried figs, and grapefruit zest. The mouthfeel is on the sticky side of medium with some tacky creaminess. The pallet is malt-forward, with subdued bitterness and an underlying grapefruit base. Caramelized malts, dusty toffee bits, and the tart citrus twang make for an odd combination. Finishes with warming alcohol, lingering powdered grapefruit, and wet paper. Oxidized and lacking in redeeming qualities.

Fresh bottle poured into snifter. Hazy mahogany colour with a medium tan head. Sticky lacing. Sharp pine aroma but a little hop in the back. Flavour dominated by grapefruit hops but hints of chocolate and fruit in the finish. Interesting barley wine but maybe a little heavy-handed with the hops.

Pours org/brn with minimal ring head. bitter/sweet flavors both come alive to make a nice brew.

22oz. bottle, approximately 1 year old. Aroma is sweet, malty, floral and spicy, with touches of doughy yeast, cotton candy and fresh, green, leafy herbs. Dark rosy amber color, mostly clear, with a subsiding, fine head and spots of lace. Flavor profile is generously hoppy, malty and fiery, with plenty of fresh citrus, pine, a penetrating spicy bitterness, toasty, sugary, caramel malts, a faint dried apricot character and a dose of peppery alcohol. Some lingering grapefruit and pineapple. Palate is ultimately drying and warming, thinly effervescent and sharp with a full body. Powerful and decidedly West Coast Barleywine. Would likely age very well for at least a few more years.