 IMtheOptimator (1161), Bethel, Connecticut, USA
Jan 2, 2006 2004 vintage. Poured a murky dark red with a small off-white head. Fresh aroma of strawberries, grapefruit, and a touch of pine, alcohol. Flavor is lightly sweet with som e caramel and cherries with a huge kick of fresh grapefruit hops and a dominating alcohol character that attacks you up front and retronasally after the swallow. Body seems a little thin. Not a fan of tons of hops in a BW, but these were so citrusy and fresh that it really didn’t put me off like I thought it would have.
robertsreality (2460), Minnesota, USA
Dec 31, 2005 Tap at Barley Johns: Cloudy Brown/Orange Coloring with Light Tan Head. Very Sweet Malty Aroma. Syrapy Sweet Mouthfeel with a every ounce of the 10% Alcohol Apparent. Rich Malt, Sweet Citrusy and a bit Piney. Nice Barleywine.
npdempse (931), St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
Dec 27, 2005 Brown, with a small, off-white diminishing head. Sweet, spicey nose with notable alcohol and prunes. Fairly sweet flavor, with warming alcohol notes, reasonably bitter, and great spice-cake tastes--hints like nutmeg or cinnamon--and fruity notes--cherries and plum. A bit too fizzy, but overall very nice.
Nuffield (2718), Roseville, Minnesota, USA
Dec 25, 2005 I just had a bottle while cooking and opening some presents on Christmas Day 2005--I didn’t even realize until opening it that this is intended as a Holiday beer. They put joy into this barleywine with enough honey sweetness to make it compulsively sippable, and they put in plenty of hop spirit as well. Warming of orange, pine, caramel, a touch of spice (only a touch, and a little dried fruit. Warming alcohol. It helped me fall asleep during the present opening. Though initially it seemed too much for me, it was a great sipper and by the end it seemed to capture just the right notes without ever sinking into bitter negatives when it warmed. Sticky, syrupy, sweet, beautiful palate. Happy Holidays!
DougShoemaker (2855), Toronto, Canada
Dec 25, 2005 2004 Magnum!
Aroma is malt and hops out the wazzoo! Cloudy brown, tiny tan head. Flavour has full throttle malt, hops, lots of pitfruit, some spice. Very full bodied, wonderful mouthfeel, complex, alcohol is noted and appreciated. Majestic!
A Huge Thank You to Steve !! (wohlfs)
spkldhenlvr24 (446), Newburgh/Buffalo, New York, USA
Dec 24, 2005 Great beer I’m glad I got a hold of. Cloudy deep copper/amber with a thick light tan head. Some floaties. Great lacing. Spicy, hoppy aroma. Some alcohol and fruity scents. Full bodied, spicy flavor. Sweet fruits and hops. Alcohol is there but, who cares? Warm, hoppy finish. Complex but very well balanced. Another awesome beer from HOTD.
waveman352 (178), Walden, New York, USA
Dec 21, 2005 12 oz bottle/2004 vintage. 12/19/05. Pours a deep copper color with a red tint and a thin brown head. I dont know what kind of hops are in this beer but they are very spicy. The initial sip of the beer seems to be very heavy and spicy but after a second and then swollowing the intensity and complexity of the beer settles and yuor left with a more thin feeling in your mouth. The high alcohol content is very noticable unlike some strong beers. An unbelieveable balance by the brewer of spice and still managing to keep a great flavor without over powering the entire beer. Possibly the best barley wine I have tried.
bigrond (1043), factoryville, Pennsylvania, USA
Dec 20, 2005 this was a good drinking brew. But barley wine is not my cup of tea. It was smooth but man what a bite this beer packed. good but not great
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