Legend Barleywine (through 2008)

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

Serve in Snifter

[2006] Poured a murky red brown color with a small, off white head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of sweet caramel, light rauch, cocoa, dark fruits, raisins, a bit of cocoa, and more alcohol. Taste of dried fruits, some raisin, chocolate, light roast, and caramel, with light oxidation, and faint alcohol in the finish. Thanks Steve, a Legend beer that has actually aged gracefully!

Thanks to hopdog for sharing. 2006 Bottle. Pours a lightly hazy orange amber with a medium creamy off white head that left some lacing. Aroma of sweet malts, caramel, vanilla, light alcohol, toffee and nuts. Flavor of caramel, toffee, some nuts, citrus, vanilla, some woodiness, dry for a Barleywine some light alcohol.

Bottle 2007-12.5%. Orange hued amber color, small head. Fruity, pungent aroma with hints of spice and alcohol and hops. Full bodied, the alcohol taste is prevalent and strong. Fruity flavor up front, follwed by a well balanced hop flavor, but alcohol dominates, maybe slightly too much. Nevertheless, a good sipping drink.

2007: Pours a deep chestnut brown, with a thin but dense cap of tan foam. Nose is fruity, apple character, with some significant malt and dark fruits (plums). Alcohol is apparent but subtle in the nose. Flavor is very roasty with notes of figs, plums and raisins. Green apple returns in the finish, but not too much so. Tail is just a little cloying with lots of chocolate. Body is medium.

Late 2007 Batch:
Deep dark brown coloured body with a thinnish tan head. Aroma of roasted malt, prunes, plums, raisins and grapes. Full-bodied; Strong maltiness up front with a potent sweetness and strong alcoholic finish. Aftertaste stays strong with whiskey, oak, vanilla and prunes very noticeable. Overall, a good barleywine, a bit strong and a harsh finish - but with a new batch, it’s what you’d expect! I sampled this 65 cL bottle purchased at Norm’s in Vienna, Virginia on 25-December-2007.

2007 VIntage Deep ruby-brown beer, no head left. Sweet, lots of alcohol & fusels in the nose, raisins and madeira. Sweet-ish taste, nutbread, blue cheese, cardemoms, dry, and generally a lot of (dark) malts. Pretty complex. Very full bodied, oily & slick to viscous. Excellent barley wine, obviously of an excellent vintage. Many thanks to the American generous donator!

Bottle of 2007; pours a dark auburn color with small to medium off white head. Aroma was really good; grapefruit, banana, dark fruit, caramel, orange peels. Aroma was nice and sweet. Flavor was intense and sweet; which I liked, but it may noy work for some. Flavor reminded me a lot of their Imperial IPA; not so much that it tasted the same, but rather it was very distinct and grapefruity for the style. Other flavors were a banana/bubble gum presence, orange, brown sugar and caramel malt. Alcohol was hidden very well; maybe due to the sugary sweetness which permeated throughout this beer. I remember about a year ago me and golubj shying away from Legend beers (specifically this one) after a few disappointing Legend beers. Sort of come full circle since then. Enjoyed this one a lot.

UPDATED: SEP 23, 2009 2007 Bottle. Pours burgundy a medium short lasting head. Aroma of strong banana cream pie. Sweet with an earthy undertone. More banana, some brown sugar. Excellent.