Howe Sound Woolly Bugger

Brewed by Howe Sound Inn and Brewing Co.
Style: Barley Wine
Squamish, Canada

Serve in Snifter

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Amazing beer. Can you buy it is 6 or 12 packs? As good as any Belgian beer! A Canadian winner.........

Limited Edition bottle number 513 of 1100. Purchased on March 11, 2011 at the Howe Sound Brewery in Squamish, BC. Colour: Slightly deep red with low but stubbornly durable slightly brown head. Nose: A wonderful collection of fruits...crushed red grapes, peach, summer cherry, nibs. Swirling brings out a suttle butterscotch. All of this among mounds of candied barley. Taste: Medium-high sweet, medium sour, light bitter. An instant touch of soap that quickly vanishes and opens up a chest of vanilla and creamy caramel. The middle crackles with barley and a slight spice emerges. The finish has a distinct aged rum note that is absolutely delicious. Quite sweet but Howe Sound has recognized this by making the bottle size 187ml, so never does it become overbearing. Absolutely stunning stuff.

UPDATED: FEB 25, 2013 Wow... why do they make so little of this? An incredible barleywine, intense malt / earthy / nutty aroma and velvet mouthfeel with alcohol, caramel malt flavours. Not aggressive, just exquisitely balanced. EDIT: I’ve shared a couple bottles with barleywine virgins and it’s getting unanimous approval. Each time better than the last. I’m raising this a few points.

341 ml bottle. 2012 vintage. Pours a deep red/mahogany with medium lasting head. Aromas of wood, caramel, roasted malt and licorice. Smooth and almost creamy for a barley wine. Beautiful balance and 11% well hidden. Flavors of dark fruit/plums, roasted malt, burnt sugar, and way in the background a bit of pine. Excellent.

Cloudy light brown,lasting beige head.Great molasses brown sugar nose.Big bodied,but quite mellow malt/molasses/treacle flavor. Well masked alcohol, huge lasting hop finish

(341ml bottle) Purchased at Liquor Plus Douglas in Victoria for $5.99. Pours a lightly frothy almond colored head atop a deep reddish body. Nose is nicely smoked with toffee and cantaloup in the rear. Very warm and inviting - not to mention how well the alcohol is hidden. Fruity: figs, bruised peaches and melon lead with smooth vanilla and diluted bourbon chaser. Very impressive and nice size format, I’ve finding it difficult to stomach a barleywine bomber so this 12oz is perfect. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPod; and powered by RateBeer.com, the world’s largest and most accurate beer database.

Sample at Howe Sound brewpub in Squamish. Pours a deep brown with thin tan head. Aroma of deep and lush brandied fruit. Taste is very crisp in hop profile making me almost think this is a IIPA rather than a BW. Lovely finish that lingers nicely. Alcohol very well hidden. Excellent.

Bottle courtesy of and shared with omhper who got it from fiulijn (thanks guys!). Dark mist amber body. No head. Perfumey orange-jaffa cakes malty nose, not overbearing, not a trace of alcohol. Slightly soapy orangey hoppy notes dominate, light bitterness. Slighty warming, but not cloying at all, a huge plus. Really drinkable, nice!

Slightly hazy, copper body and creamy beige head. Delicate woody concentrated fruit flavours, malty base, well developed. Well developed taste as well and very tasty. Not the most powerful but very balanced and nice. (33cl bottle at MrHangover’s tasting)

Bottled, thanks fiulijn! Cloudy reddish brown, no head. FLoral hops over mature caramel. Mid sweet with full body where cushiony caramelly malt provides depth and a soft, yet firm foundation for grapefruity floral hops to build on. Long, really bitter finish. Relaxed and pleasant. A big, nicely balanced warming barley wine.