4.2 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
I have an enduring soft spot for Barley Wine. A style that I was introduced to by Thomas Hardy’s Ale, refined by the Twisted Hop’s barrel aged Enigma and throw in a few overseas examples and you’ve got an ingrained love for this style of beer. I love the thick unctuous, red berry, leather and biscuit smell with Madiera cake, sultanas and plum sauce. The flavour should be viscous, velvety and enticing and after finishing the glass you should feel a sort of dizzying sensation like you’ve just had your first kiss all over again.
This beer has a lot to live up to, but it should do quite well as it has around three years of aging in a bigger bottle on its side. Does it live up to my expectations? Smell: yes. I say yes, I mean Yes! Oh yesssss! Oooh! Take what I wrote initially and add some fragrant crystallised orange peel and marinaded Montmorency cherries. Flavours: yes. I say yes, I mean... you get the picture. It has the body, it has the flavour and it has that Barley Wine character that is a big autumnal embrace. Is it first kiss material?
Yes.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
This is a first time Barley Wine drinkers review. So I have no idea how to rate this. As a beer it’s great, as a barley wine I have no idea. I love the sweetness and I actually like not having a hop bite .
It gives me a good place to go and try more Barley Wine, and that made me smile.
3.1 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20
A softer style, this beer has all the characteristics of a barley wine, but lacks the wow factor that a good barley wine can have. Just not rich enough for my liking.
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