 noelcb (271), Toledo, Ohio, USA
Sep 29, 2005
2004 bottle. Nice dark copper color with little head. Aromas of malt, whisky, peat, smoke, wet grass, toffee, butterscotch, alcohol, leather and maple syrup. Flavor was exqusite sweet caramelly malt, island scotch, chocolate, sweet wine, ripe dark fruits, candy corn, butterscotch, toast, and a hint of yeast. No hops to be found, save in the slightly bitter finish. Mouthfeel was syrupy thick and velvety smooth. This barleywine is sweet but not cloyingly so. The whisky barrel aging adds a marvelous peaty/smoky character. To me there’s also the sweet alcohol bite of a good bourbon as well. Finally there’s a note of fine cognac -- warm and sweetly fruity -- that makes a great barleywine.
trokini (968), San Diego, California, USA
Jan 5, 2009 Right off, I love Lagavulin, so I was really looking forward to this one. It did not disappoint. Poured oily copper with a short-lived 1 cm off-white head. No lacing. The peaty, petroleum, salty Lagavulin is up front in the nose. Smokey grain and booze as well. First sip was a little off-putting, just like the cask of the whiskey it was finished in. After that, the beer settles in. Bitter, salty, peaty, smoky goodness. The oak and the sweeter caramel and toffee malts are a nice contrast in the finish. Some cherry and fig flavors come with it, but the star is the grain and malt of the beer balanced against the strength of the Islay malt. Slow but easy drinking without being sticky. Loved this.
mwelsh13 (263), Maryland, USA
Dec 19, 2008 Bottle pours a medium golden color with some orange highlights. Nice color but a bit of sediment even though I poured carefully. Big time smoke/peat in the aroma. Very sweet taste, like apples and pears. Goes down easily for almost 12% but a bit thick. Lighter than many barley wines that I have had. Need another, or a few, to age and try later.
tturner (46), , Washington, USA
Dec 11, 2008 Heavy apple juice on the nose. probably from a mix of barley, yeast and peated malt. a very subdued lagavulin flavor, intense sweet barely on the front of the tongue slight bitter rings on the center and sides and a malty sweet finish with fruit overtones. extremely unique. large mouthfuls go down very easy. This should age well.
Boutip (1914), Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
Dec 9, 2008 Bottle: Poured a cloudy amber color ale with a small foamy head with average retention and minimal lacing. Aroma of sweet English style malt with some whiskey notes. Taste is a complex mix between some sweet English style malt with some distinctive arming notes of whiskey and barley. Full body with limited filtration and average carbonation but no apparent alcohol. Very well done but I still prefer the Port version.
bierkoning (5134), La Tropica, Netherlands
Nov 20, 2008 2006 bottle from Lithy, thanks! Orange color, hazy. malty, peaty aroma with pineapple. Initial malty sugary sweetness challenged by oak and peat. Tangerine, pineapple. Ash and peat in the aftertaste. Very interesting beer, but the balance is gone.
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