Legend Barleywine (through 2008)

Formerly brewed at Legend Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Richmond, Virginia USA

Serve in Snifter

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UPDATED: JAN 12, 2008 2003 Vintage Pours a deep ruby brown with a small tan head. Nose is hoppily citrus with some lighter malt notes. The tongue is met with w sweeter than expected liquid along with a smaller hop base. Definite alcohol notes with this one. Very slight burn during the finish, but with a somewhat smooth body. This, to me, tastes like an already aged and mellower barleywine (despite it being "aged 7 months at the brewery"). Very good stuff!

2005 Vintage Pours deep copper with a tall foamy tan head. Nose is sweet malts, thick caramel, light toffee, brown sugar, wafts of alcohol, and light hops. Taste is sweet and syrupy with big alcohol, caramel and hints of dark chocolate. Lighter fruit notes in the background, especially cherries and maybe melon. The hops are there but aren’t upfront enough to balance this out properly. The body is thick and chewy with moderate alcohol warmth.Stickiness comes through a lot as well. Finish is light hops, caramel, maple syrup, and fruit. Way different than before and more an old ale than barleywine to me.

2007 Vintage Pours a deep copper with a small foamy white head. Nose is sweet and malty with lots of caramel, brown sugar, and dark fruit. Taste is pretty much spot on the same but a bit sweeter. LOTS of caramel and brown sugar, rich sweet malts, cake notes, and only soft alcohol despite the 12.5% ABV. Body is sticky and creamy with some syrupy notes in spots. Only light warmth throughout this. Finishes just as sweet. Not much in the way of citrusy hops in this version. I think it might have benefited from some piney or citrusy notes. Still good though!

Late 2007 Vintage Bottle. Label states 2007 but the previous 2007 was 12.5% and this is now 11.5%. Added the early and late 2007 notes to the description. Copper pour with a small but sturdy tan head. Nose is very malty and chock full of caramel. There is also some dark fruit notes to this. Taste is again malty and very caramelly with some toasted notes and more dark fruit. Gets a bit sweet here in spots but not too candy-like. Not too much alcohol in this one despite the 11.5% ABV. Body is chewy but only medium overall. The carbonation seems irrelevant at times. Ends with more sweet malts, caramel, soft chocolate, lighter dark fruits, some hints of candy and some toastiness. Not a lots of hops or floral notes to this at all. More an English style barleywine to me.

2008 vintage at the richmond beer dig 2011. Clear red pour and no head. Very sweet candi suger with rum and cherry and goodness. This is one of the best legend beers I’ve had. But still has some alcohol to it...

2005 bottle shared by footbalm, thanks
Appearance: Dark brown with a small off-white/orange head and some light lacing
Aroma: Brown sugar, tobacco and toffee
Taste: Smooth mouthfeel. Brown sugar, toffee, earthy with some tartness in the finish
Awesome nose and a good beer, I could have just smelt that glass all night.

2005 edition shared by Eric. Pours a cloudy brown color with a medium white head. The aroma is very good; very sweet brown sugar and toffee, some slightly sour hints. The flavor is very nice as well; tobacco, huge brown sugar, toffee, dusty, caramel, some oxidation. Very nice. Tasted like a aged English barley wine.

Bottle 22fl.oz.
Unclear medium to dark amber orange color with a average, frothy to creamy, good lacing, mostly lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate to light light heavy malty, caramel, tobaco, light moderate hoppy, overriped fruit, vitamin tablets. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and bitter with a average to long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. [20090922]

Bottle at Papsø, 2007-vintage. Hazy orange red coloured with a medium sized beige head. Sweet aroma of caramel, hops and pine needles. Sweet flavour of caramel, rye bread, dried fruits and hops with notes of cardemomme. Hoppy finish.

Bottled. A hazy amber beer with an orangey head. The aroma has strong notes of over ripe fruits, caramel, nuts, and malt. The flavor is very sweet with strong notes of over ripe fruit, caramel soup, malt, and a bit of alcohol, leading to a dry caramel malty finish with a light alcohol note. Thanks Papsoe for sharing.

Bottled. Deep amber coloured. Unclear. dense light brown head. Aroma is full of plums, sweetness, spice and roast. Flavour of raisin, plums, sweetness, spice, perfume and caramel. Nice. Medium to full bodied. Ends on a fruity sweetness with a light alcohol touch. Very nice

22 fl oz bottle. Pours cloudy dark orange with a small tan head. Aroma is dense malty, overripe fruity and roasted. Sweet malty, metallic and slight yeasty flavoured. Light sweetness and roasted caramelish flavoured. Lingering metallic flavoured into a dry finish.

Vintage 2007, 2 years old
Cloudy red-amber color; small creamy head. Mature malt and caramel aroma, light aroma of sweet nuts, light cookies. Good malty flavor, caramel, light cookies and nuts; mature; correct bitterness. Solid and balanced.

Bottle 65 cl. Courtesy of fiver29. Pours a hazy amber with a creamy, beige and lacing head. Strange aroma of bonbons, tea and tobacco. Solid body, oxidized, overripe fruit and caramel. Some vitamin C also. Slightly bitter but quite some alcohol. A strange Barley Wine - almost more British in style. 220909