 Miver (477), WillowStreet, Pennsylvania, USA
Oct 30, 2008
On tap at Iron Hill Wilmington for the Cassis release party and the World Series final game. I couldn’t think of a better beer to be drinking when the Phillies won. Poured cloudy amber bronze in color with a thin beige head. Aroma of light brett funk, dark fruits, orange citrus, caramel, and vanilla. Tastes of a fruity orange sweetness and light citrus, with dark fruits, oak, brett, Very complex and quite drinkable for 10.5%. In the excitement as the Phillies won the World Series, my second mug of this was knocked over by the brewer and spilled everywhere. Oh well. I can’t wait to get more of this sometime.
fordest (1906), Santee/San Diego, California, USA
Jan 3, 2009 12 oz bottle shared with toncatcher. Wood in the aromas and flavors. Some fruit flavors too. Decent spice on the finish. Different kind of beer.
masonjer (503), Holt, Michigan, USA
Jan 2, 2009 Well, didn’t think I would get a shot at this one. Again, thanks to Pantanap. Appeared amber with almost no head, just a few bubbles out of the handbottle. Aroma was fruity, oak, with some slightly tart berries. Taste was much the same with some more tartness, red wine notes, fairly dry and earthy hops and a quick finish. This might be another case of the difference between a handbottle and tap. Good but not great.
Beerlando (1563), Orlando, Florida, USA
Jan 1, 2009 Grolsch swingtop handbottle, courtesy TheEepiest. Bottled on 10/30/08 and consumed on 11/9/08. Pours a dark and dense, muddy, caramel brown color with hints of mauve. A small, dense, creamy beige head settles to a thin film, leaving splotches of microfilm lacing on the glass. The aroma comes as a bit of a shock, as it is certainly unlike any other barleywine I’ve ever encountered. Dried sweet and sour fruit notes are first to hit, followed by caramel apples, cider, figs, berries, and sour cherries. Funky, soured French oak asserts its vanilla influence, while cinnamon and raw cacao nibs lend earthy, spicy depth. Upon the first sip, the thought of Jolly Pumpkin Maracaibo Especial immediately comes to mind, only reduced to a barleywine. Dry caramel, apple cider, cocoa, toasted oak, and vanilla are all featured prominently. Sour sherries play a surprisingly big role, with hints of bitter orange peel, cinnamon and nutmeg lending spicy depth. There is a bretty overtone throughout, contributing to the relative dryness. Medium to full bodied and sweet, but not cloying, the finish turns slightly bitter and dry. I keep coming back to the thought that if Jolly Pumpkin made a barleywine, this would be it. Fantastic beer.
cgarvieuk (2796), Edinburgh, Scotland
Jan 1, 2009 Hand Bottle at home ... big thankt to GMCC2181 ... Hazy red ... sour fruity light woodyness nose very reminicant of barnyards and chickens but in a pleasent way though the faces on some of the others while the smelt it was a picture ... low to medium carbonation but it was a hand bottle ... sweet tofffee ... juicy malts ... just a tiny amoun of lambit tones (which worked very well for me) ... light lemon cremola foam ...little pine ... lovely
JoeMcPhee (4061), Jackson Heights, New York, USA
Dec 31, 2008 Hand bottle shared by puzzl. Hazy amber beer with a thin head. Aroma is really quite impressive. Bright woody aroma with a touch of light lactic character. Fruity and lightly oaky. Bright vanilla and a touch of light white balsamic character. As it warms I get a very terrific orangey/fruity character. A bit of citrus and soft herbal undertones. Flavour is also quite nice. Slight cherryish sweetness. Surprisingly lean for a beer this big. Fruit is bright and tasty. Man... this stuff is delicious.
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