muddyfeet (72), Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Jul 16, 2007
Caveat: The day this beer was released I purchased two cases. I have either drank or traded almost all of these bottles and am down to four or five and finally decided to review this beer. Honestly, when I opened my first bottle I thought this beer was a high octane, whacked-out, Barry-bonds-juice beer. So I put all the rest of the bottles on storage for 6 months.
Six months later tis beer had mellowed out and has not stopped melloing out and improving since. Perhaps one of my favorite late night aperatif beers available. I am really into port and sherry beer and this beer is a superlative of superlatives of an alternative.
Chilled it for 3 weeks before opening. I recently moved and wanted to make sure the yeast had settled down. Put it on the counter for 20 minutes before cracking it open. Poured a fairly flat garnet-black. Dense white foam at first that dissolved to flat looking wine with a slight scuzzy top. Absolutely none of the chunky yeast bits I have read about in the past.
Perhaps the only thing about this beer that has decreased with time is the nose. At first, it was full of heat and pepper. Now I find t is more subtle and malty. Some slght candy tones are present as well.
Flavors have really mellowed with time and are niceley balanced against all the alcohol. Whole lot of candy going on. I am picking out caramel, licorice and toffee. Malts are slick and sweet--really just lacquer up the tongue. Some slight heat from the alcohol balances against the candy sweetness. Very full and vinuous mouthfeel. Totally takes over the palate. Heat from the alchol does build up throughout the bottle but eases becauses of its effects. This beer has improved beyond all belief and I really do enjoy sampling this on those nights where I need to celebrate nothing.
 Rciesla (1580), Brick City, New Jersey, USA
Oct 29, 2008 Draft. Pours a brown body with a sweet malty aroma, sweet like candy and caramel. Well hopped with grassy and earthy with dark chewy fruit. Lots of etoh a solid beer, my personal favorite from harpoon.
dlovell2 (114), Columbia, Maryland, USA
Aug 16, 2008 Only had a little sample at the brewery in Windsor, VT. Brown with tan head. Sweet malty aroma and sweet molasses malty flavor. Alcohol taste is present.
ElGaucho56 (384), USA
Aug 9, 2008 On draft at Sunset grille, Allston, under the name Leviathan Triticus (also marked 14%). Pours a dark, dark ruby brown with minimal offwhite cap. Nose is rich and full of dark fruits, brandyish tones, chocolate cookie, burnt brown sugar, and many more. Musty, earthy hop character throughout. Smooth and velvety on the palate. Very nice, sippable barleywine.
TaktikMTL (2100), Montréal-Nord, Quebec, Canada
Jul 22, 2008 Verre de dégustation, provenant d’un fût, au Vermont Brewers Festival 2008 (Burlington, VT). Arôme: Odeur de chocolat et de caramel fruité avec une pointe d’houblon. Apparence: La couleur est brune foncée. Présence d’un mince col mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût de prune, de mélasse et de chocolat avec une pointe d’houblon. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement vineuse. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. (Rating #1843)
Pastor (297), Maine, USA
Jul 13, 2008 some of the original batch
geat brew a little malty should have comsumed it sooner
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