Heavyweight Barrel Aged Old Salty

Formerly brewed at Heavyweight Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Ocean Township, New Jersey USA

Serve in Snifter

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BCTC 2010, Ratebeer tent, big thanks to the generous donor. 2005 vintage. caramel color pour. loads of rich maltiness, seems a little past its peak, bourbon barrell aging seemed to be fading. medium notes of vanilla, wood, bourbon, still quite flavorful & complex. would like another stab preferably this one not being after a long beer binge like the one yesterday in Cooperstown

750ml bottle, probably 5+ years old. Pouring a hazy, dark, golden-amber hue, the dense body is topped with just a thin beige film. Though no lacing shows, it does give some nice, drippy sheeting on the glass. The aroma is big on caramel and light toffee, showing complimentary notes of vanilla and sweet buttercream. Rich bourbon warmth has settled in nicely at this age, lending weathered oak and brown sugar notes behind. Flavors sport the same caramel base, this time hinting at some dark, rich fruits, like cherries and dates. Mellowed by time, the bourbon element is subtle and approachable, lending an even-keeled warmth of vanilla, brown sugar, and faded oak. There is no semblance of hop bitterness to be found at this advanced stage of life, but that is quite befitting of this luscious malt monster. Med-full on the palate, some sherry-like oxidation has certainly set in, though that’s no necessarily a bad thing in a brew of this magnitude and style. Overall, this is a very nice brew that has held up quite well over time. I imagine it was probably pretty damn impressive a few years ago.

2005 Vintage

3/10/2010: Heavyweight Barrel-Aged Old Salty Barleywine Ale... Aroma: Caramel, lots of sugars, notes of oxidation though; subtle vanilla; faint barrel notes. Appearance: Minimal carbonation; somewhat cloudy, but uniformly so; coppery orange-amber color; shiny. Flavor: Sweet, sugary, rich caramel and toffee; dates, fig, plum, cherry, other fruits; hint of barrel char; LEATHER; tobacco; very much like a refined Belgian Quad; alcohol completely hidden; subtle bourbon notes when warmer and after letting it breathe awhile... Palate: Medium-full, not as thick and chewy as the regular version; very smooth; slightly creamy. Overall: Definitely different than the "regular" version, but not quite as good, but still delicious; DRINK NOW!

1 pint 9.4 fl. oz. capped bottle from luiss via trade. Thanks! Rating #233 for this beer.

Bottleshared by shigadeyo. Poured clear brown color with a minimal fizzy off-white head that mostly diminished with fair lacing. Moderate to heavy dark fruit, bourbon, wood and small alcohol aroma. Full body with a sticky smooth texture and flat carbonation. Moderate to heavy dark fruit and light bourbon sweet flavor with a medium to heavy sweet finish of moderate to long duration. This is another standout beer.

Sampled at RBWG 2010, possibly courtesy JW77. The barrel characteristics are there but somewhat subdued, perhaps the age. Under that, however, is an amazing barley wine.

Big thanks to jw77 for this one. A: Pours a hazy amber hue with a small off white head. Lite retention and lace. S: Aromas of dark fruit, caramel, toffee, vanilla, and light wood. F: Very much the same. Sweet candy malts, dark fruit, wood, and vanilla. Very light booze can be picked up but everything seems to meld together so nicely. M: On the fuller side of medium, light carbonation, smooth easy mouthfeel. A real wonderful brew that has aged gracefully! Thanks Jon.

Shared by jw77 at tpd975’s throwdown in December, 2009. Pours a dark amber to caramel color with thin off-white head. Aroma is sweet and malty with notes of toffee, caramel, bourbon, booze, ripe dark fruits, raisins, hints of molasses. Flavor is about the same, stronger notes of bourbon, vanilla, light wood and smoke. Medium to full body with a pleasing malty, sweet finish.

Closer to an amber than an orange in colour with a ring of a just-off-white foam. Very aromatic with lots of dark fruits and sweet caramel, maybe a hint of bone dry wood. Tastes about the same with nice ripe date sweetness, has come chewy caramel and a hint of barrel. Finishes long with a coating sweetness.

Bottle courtesy of jw77. Poured a hazy copper color with a thin off white head. Nose on this one is insane with big notes of caramel, raisin, fig, malt, oak, and vanilla. Full chewy body with an ultra smooth mouth feel. Flavor is a blend of dark fruits, brown sugar, and caramel, fairly sweet but still balanced. As it warmed I picked up some light barrel notes which blended perfectly with the dark fruit and caramel. This beer is yum, imo better than M and maybe the best barley wine I have tried to date.

Big thanks to jw77 for sharing this one. It pours big hazy brown with copper hues and thin tan head. The aroma is amazing with rich smooth musty creamy dark fruitiness of prunes, sugar stewed raisins, figs, brown sugar, ripe plums, some earthiness and chewy aged malts in the background. I think I could just smell this all night. The taste is smooth blended sweetness punctuated by near creamy dark fruitiness like prunes, stewed raisins, plums, figs and dates. Midway the barrel notes well up and bring addition complex smoothness from a modest amount of oak and vanilla. This is just plain yum. Wow!