J.W. Lees Harvest Ale (Lagavulin)

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.

The most unique beer I have ever tasted. Cellared for 3 years. I shared the bottle with a coworker and I’m not sure If I could drinking an entire one by myself. Not because it wasn’t good But because it was TOO good. With a beer like this it is just selfish to keep it all to yourself. I would highly recommend both aging it and waiting at least half an hour after pouring it before even taking a tiny sip. trust me, it’s worth the wait.

Whoa! This one has it all. Pours a rich clear orange with a slight white head. Aroma is of candi, smoke, vanilla, malt, whisky, and fruit. and I am sure someone else would find more, even. Flavor is big and sticky. Sweet. Smoke. Hot. Some lingering hop bitterness in the finish. Whiskey. If this is why Alesmiths barrel aged beer is so highly rated....

2006 bottle from City Beer in San Francisco, shared with Mes, renffisch and tashi. Ok, this is amazing. The best aspects of Harvest Ale and Lagavulin, combined. If you see this on a shelf, don’t, don’t pass it by!

2004. Robe ambrée foncée très claire surmontée d’une mousse blanche mince. Arômes de caramel, de malt fumé, de whisky et de chêne. Saveurs de caramel, d’érable, de malt fumé, de whisky et de chêne. Houblon de soutien.